§32-6-582. Transfer of plates.

(a)(1) The distinctive license plates shall not be transferable between motor vehicle owners.

(2) If the owner of a vehicle bearing the distinctive plates sells, trades, exchanges, or otherwise disposes of the motor vehicle, the plates shall be retained by the owner to whom issued and returned to the judge of probate or license commissioner of the county, who shall receive and account for the plates.

(3) If the owner acquires by purchase, trade, exchange, or otherwise, a vehicle for which no standard plates have been issued during the current license period, the judge of probate or license commissioner of the county shall, upon being furnished by the owner proper certification of the acquisition of the vehicle and the payment of the motor vehicle license tax due upon the vehicle, authorize the transfer of the distinctive license plates previously purchased by the owner to the vehicle, which plates shall authorize the operation of the vehicle for the remainder of the then current license period.

(4) If the owner of the distinctive license plates acquires by purchase, trade, exchange, or otherwise, a vehicle for which standard plates have been issued during the current license year, the judge of probate or license commissioner shall, upon proper certification of the owner and being furnished by the owner the standard plates previously issued for the vehicle, authorize the owner of the newly acquired vehicle to place the distinctive license plates previously purchased on the vehicle and use the plates for the remainder of the then current license period. The notice of transfer of ownership shall be recorded by the judge of probate or the license commissioner.

(b) Any person acquiring by purchase, trade, exchange, or otherwise, any vehicle bearing the distinctive plates may, upon certification of the fact to the judge of probate or license commissioner of the county and the payment of the fee now required by law, purchase standard replacement plates for the vehicle which shall authorize the operation of the vehicle by the new owner for the remainder of the license period.

(Acts 1997, No. 97-545, p. 953, §3.)