Section 32-8-47

Transfer of ownership — When department to issue new certificate.

(a) The department, upon receipt of a properly assigned certificate of title, with an application for a new certificate of title, the required fee and any other documents required by the department, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner and mail it to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner.

(b) The department, upon receipt of an application for a new certificate of title by a transferee other than by voluntary transfer, with proof of the transfer, the required fee and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner. If the outstanding certificate of title is not delivered to the department, the department shall make demand therefor from the holder thereof.

(c) A transferor of a vehicle other than a dealer transferring a new vehicle shall deliver to the transferee at the time of the delivery of possession of the vehicle the license plate for the vehicle; provided, that the license plate does not have to be delivered where a provision of law allows such plate to be retained by the owner of the vehicle.

(d) The department shall file every surrendered certificate of title, or a microfilm of every such certificate, for a period of time deemed necessary by it in order to permit the tracing of title of the vehicle designated therein.

(Acts 1973, No. 765, p. 1147, §16.)