PawnSmarts comes pre-configured for Alabama — it auto-calculates the 25% monthly pawnshop charge, prints the three mandatory ticket statements, captures the full 8-point record, and tracks every 30-day maturity and 7-day hold for you.
Alabama pawn shop software is a point-of-sale and management system configured for the Alabama Pawnshop Act of 1992 (Act 92-597, codified at Ala. Code §5-19A-1 et seq.), which governs the 25% monthly pawnshop charge, the 30-day maturity, the 8-point transaction record, and the three mandatory pawn-ticket statements. It calculates the charges and due dates, prints the required ticket language, and keeps the records Alabama law requires. PawnSmarts ships pre-configured for these rules, so the math, the dates, and the ticket statements are handled the moment you write a pawn.
Alabama lets a pawnbroker collect a monthly pawnshop charge of up to 25% of the principal amount advanced. That charge is deemed earned as of the transaction date, with a like sum due on the same day of each succeeding month, and it stands in lieu of other charges. Charging more than the law allows voids the transaction — so accuracy matters.
Enter the principal once and PawnSmarts calculates the 25% charge and every monthly due date for you. No spreadsheets, no manual recalculations, no math errors that could void a deal.
Alabama requires pawnbrokers to record eight specific elements for every transaction. PawnSmarts has a dedicated field for each one, so nothing gets left off the ticket:
The statute requires entries to be typed or written in ink, in English — PawnSmarts records are typed, legible and searchable by design. Scan the pledgor's driver's license and PawnSmarts auto-fills the name, address, date of birth and ID number, so a complete record takes seconds instead of minutes.
Ala. Code §5-19A-4 requires three specific statements on the pawn ticket. PawnSmarts prints all three on every ticket automatically — no rubber stamps, no handwritten notices:
1. 30-day forfeiture notice. Any personal property pledged to a pawnbroker within this state is subject to sale or disposal when there has been no payment made on the account for a period of 30 days past the maturity date of the original contract, and no further notice is necessary.
2. Pledgor ownership attestation. The pledgor attests that the item is not stolen, has no liens or encumbrances against it, and that the pledgor has the right to pawn it.
3. Bearer redemption. The item pawned is redeemable only by the bearer of this ticket.
Alabama sets a 30-day minimum maturity on pawn transactions. PawnSmarts stores the maturity date and counts the 30 days for you, so you always know when forfeiture rights begin.
The law also provides for a 7-day hold on suspected stolen property when three conditions are met: a timely police report, a warrant for the pledgor, and a warrant or writ for the merchandise accompanied by a request for restitution. PawnSmarts lets you flag an item, record the conditions, and track the hold period so held property is not disposed of early.
Alabama pawnbroker records must be open to inspection during ordinary business hours by the supervisor, law enforcement, or the Attorney General, and must be retained for four years. Pawnbrokers are subject to supervision by the Bureau of Loans, with licensing and issuance fees governed by Chapter 12 of Title 40. Municipalities may not enact ordinances more restrictive than state law, and the Department of Public Safety supplies arrest and conviction records on request.
PawnSmarts keeps every transaction record retained and instantly searchable, so producing records for an inspection is a matter of a few clicks rather than a day of digging through paper.
PawnSmarts exports your transactions to LEADS Online for police reporting and runs OFAC checks as part of the workflow, so the compliance steps that used to be a separate chore happen alongside writing the ticket. For a full picture of reporting rules across jurisdictions, see our US state licensing guide.
Several Alabama cities add their own rules on top of the state act. PawnSmarts stores the local information and generates the daily reports these ordinances call for.
Pawnbrokers register with the police chief (business name, responsible individual, location and hours, residence address, permanent location, employee names), hold a city business license, and post a bond payable to the city. A record of all property received — clear description, model and serial numbers, time received, and the name and residence of the person — must be kept. Hours are restricted (closed 8pm–8am, extended to midnight on Saturdays and in December, closed Sunday). Daily reports are due by noon, and a $0.50 per-transaction fee applies to erroneous, incompatible or missing reports. PawnSmarts validates the report format before export and files daily reports on time, helping you avoid that fee.
Oxford's definitions align with the Alabama Pawnshop Act. Pawnbrokers must keep books with a minute description of all property, the time received, prominent marks, the name and residence of the person, and the manufacturer and number. Pawned property is held 15 business days before disposition (purchased dealer merchandise has no waiting period; vehicles are held 21 calendar days). Books and property are open to inspection by the city council, chief of police or police officers, all articles are stored and conspicuously displayed at the business location, and a daily copy of the record goes to the chief of police before noon. PawnSmarts tracks each hold period and produces the daily record automatically.
PawnSmarts is $89/month for the Essential plan or $129/month for Professional — month to month, cancel anytime, no contract and no setup fee. Prefer to own it outright? Professional is available as a one-time purchase for $2,995. The Professional plan adds automatic SMS and email reminders before each loan is due, with secure payment links so pledgors can pay online from home — which means fewer forfeitures and more redemptions.
This page summarizes Alabama pawnbroker law for general information. PawnSmarts is a transaction management tool; you remain responsible for understanding and complying with the laws that apply to your shop. Primary sources: Ala. Code §5-19A-1 et seq. (Alabama Pawnshop Act of 1992, Act 92-597) — including definitions, the 8-point recordkeeping requirement, the three mandatory ticket statements under §5-19A-4, the up-to-25% monthly pawnshop charge, the 30-day maturity, and the 7-day hold for suspected stolen property; Chapter 12 of Title 40 (licensing and issuance fees); the Arab Code of Ordinances (Article X); and the Oxford Code of Ordinances (Chapter 30).
Alabama law caps the monthly pawnshop charge at 25% of the principal amount advanced. This charge is deemed earned as of the transaction date, with a like sum due on the same day of each succeeding month, and it stands in lieu of all other charges. Charging more than 25% voids the transaction. PawnSmarts enters the principal once and calculates the 25% charge and every monthly due date automatically.
Alabama sets a 30-day minimum maturity on pawn transactions. After the maturity date passes, a pawnbroker must wait an additional 30 days before selling or disposing of an item — and the pawn ticket itself must include a printed notice stating this. No further notice to the pledgor is required. PawnSmarts stores the maturity date and counts the days for you, so you always know when forfeiture rights begin.
Yes. Alabama requires pawnbrokers to record eight elements for every transaction: property description with model and serial number, pledgor name, address and date of birth, transaction date, ID type and number, pledgor height, sex and race, amount advanced, maturity date and amount due, and monthly pawn charges. PawnSmarts has a dedicated field for each one, and scanning the pledgor's license auto-fills the name, address, date of birth and ID number.
Alabama pawnbroker records must be open to inspection by the supervisor, law enforcement, and the Attorney General during ordinary business hours, and must be retained for four years. PawnSmarts exports transactions to LEADS Online for police reporting and runs OFAC checks as part of the intake workflow, keeping every record searchable and ready for inspection.
Pawn shop software for Alabama should come pre-configured for the Alabama Pawnshop Act — the 25% monthly charge, the 30-day maturity, the 8-point record, and the three mandatory ticket statements. PawnSmarts does all of this on every plan from $89/month (Essential) or $129/month (Professional), or $2,995 one-time, with no contract or setup fee. It works offline, syncs automatically, and exports reports for LEADS Online.
Open the live demo and click around. If it looks right, sign up and we'll move your data.
Questions? [email protected] · 800-710-6184