§32-8-32. Prerequisite to issuance of license plates.

(a) No motor vehicle license (or license plate) shall be issued and no motor vehicle license (or license plate) shall be transferred for use on a motor vehicle required to be titled under this chapter except on presentation by the owner to the license plate issuing official, the copy of an application for a certificate of title to such vehicle, or a certificate of title to such vehicle; provided however, this section shall not apply thereafter to the renewal of such license by such owner of such motor vehicle.

(b) No motor vehicle license or license plate shall be issued and no motor vehicle license or license plate shall be transferred for use on a motor vehicle not required to be titled under this chapter, other than a vehicle subject to registration pursuant to Section 32-6-56 or a vehicle that has been registered in this state during the current year or previous two calendar years until the license plate issuing official has physically inspected the vehicle and verified that the vehicle identification number on the vehicle is the same as the vehicle identification number on the documents required to register the vehicle; provided, however, this section shall not apply thereafter to the renewal of such license by such owner of such motor vehicle.

(c) The provisions of subsection (b) shall not apply to any utility trailer or to 1975 and subsequent year motor vehicles owned by a manufacturer or dealer and held for sale or vehicles registered under the provisions of Section 40-12-264(b) or Section 40-12-264(g).

(Acts 1973, No. 765, p. 1147, §33; Act 2009-281, p. 472, §1; Act 2009-746, p. 2236, §2; Act 2010-579, §1.)