Alabama Legal Ages

Legal ages in Alabama

1. Age 1

   • Rear-facing car seat age requirement ends

     The law requires a rear-facing seat until age 1; after that a child may ride forward-facing.

     Or once the child weighs 20 pounds, whichever comes first.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 32-5-222(b)(1)

2. Age 6

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 6; after that a seat belt can be used.

     After 6, Alabama requires a seat belt until age 15.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 32-5-222(b)(3)

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Alabama requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from age 6.

     A parent may delay enrollment until 7 by written notice to the local board.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 16-28-3(a)

3. Age 14

   • Can work limited hours in non-hazardous jobs (federal rule)

     Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work in permitted non-hazardous jobs, outside school hours and within weekly hour limits.

     Limits: no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out; only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) (29 C.F.R. 570.35).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can work (state minimum age)

     Alabama lets 14- and 15-year-olds work outside school hours in jobs not barred to them; the general age is 16.

     Under 14, only agricultural work is allowed.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 25-8-33(a)

4. Age 15

   • Can get a learner's permit

     A Stage I learner license for supervised driving is available at 15.

     The supervising driver must be a licensed adult 21 or older, a parent or guardian, or a driving instructor.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 32-6-7.2; ALEA Graduated Driver License

5. Age 16

   • Can work any non-hazardous job (federal rule)

     At 16, the general federal minimum working age applies: any job except those the Labor Department declares hazardous.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a first license to drive alone

     A Stage II restricted license for driving alone is available at 16 after six months with a Stage I license.

     Stage II drivers may not drive from midnight to 6 a.m. (with exceptions) or carry more than one non-family passenger.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 32-6-7.2(a); ALEA Graduated Driver License

   • Lowest marriage age with parent or court consent

     With a parent's or guardian's consent, the lowest age to marry is 16.

     Ala. Code § 30-1-4 makes anyone under 16 incapable of marrying.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 30-1-9.1(b)(2)b; § 30-1-4

6. Age 17

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Alabama's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 17th birthday.

     The statute covers children "between the ages of six and 17," which we read as until the 17th birthday; church school students are exempt before 16 if they meet reporting rules.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 16-28-3(a)

7. Age 17 and 6 months

   • Can pre-register to vote

     Alabama accepts voter registration applications from 17 and 6 months; applicants must be 18 by election day to vote.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 17-3-50 (Secretary of State voter drive guidelines)

8. Age 18

   • No work permit needed

     Employers in Alabama need a state child labor certificate to employ anyone under 18 (Class I for ages 14-15, Class II for 16-17).

     The certificate is held by the employer for each work location, not carried by the teen. Agricultural work is exempt.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 25-8-45(b), (e)

   • Can work in jobs federal law calls hazardous

     At 18, the federal bar on jobs the Labor Department declares hazardous for minors ends for non-farm work.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Teen license limits end (varies, see rule)

     Stage II limits cover licensed 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds licensed under six months, and end by 18 at the latest.

     At 17, a driver licensed six months or longer with no moving-violation conviction in the prior six months holds a Stage III unrestricted license (Ala. Code § 32-6-7.2(f)); a violation extends Stage II by six months, but not past 18.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 32-6-7.2(c), (e)-(f)

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

     From 18, a person can be tattooed without a parent's consent.

     Alabama's general age of majority is 19, but the tattoo law defines a minor as under 18.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 22-17A-1(4); § 22-17A-2(a)

   • Court emancipation (adult status) can be sought

     A court can remove the disabilities of minority from age 18 (Alabama's age of majority is 19).

     Alabama's age of majority is 19. A parent files the petition, or the minor if no parent can act; the court must find it in the minor's interest.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 26-13-1

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 18.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code 43-8-130

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 18.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 30-1-9.1(b)(2)b

   • Can vote

     The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote at 18 in every federal, state and local election.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. amend. XXVI, § 1

   • Must register with Selective Service (men)

     Men 18 through 25 who are U.S. citizens or live in the United States must register with the Selective Service System.

     Men admitted on a nonimmigrant visa are exempt while they keep that status (50 U.S.C. 3802(a)).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 50 U.S.C. § 3802(a)

   • Can be called for federal jury service

     Federal courts may call U.S. citizens 18 or older who have lived in the judicial district for a year.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)

   • Charged as an adult by default (juvenile court age ends)

     Alabama tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 18; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     A juvenile court can transfer some younger defendants to adult court for serious offenses.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 12-15-102(3) (Office of Indigent Defense Services)

9. Age 19

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult, with full rights to contract and sue, at 19.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 26-1-1

   • Adult adoptee can get the original birth certificate

     An adult adoptee can request a copy of the original birth certificate from age 19.

     Alabama law · Ala. Code 22-9A-12

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 19.

     The statute says "over the age of 19 years."

     Alabama law · Ala. Code § 12-16-60(a)(1)

10. Age 21

    • Can drive a commercial truck across state lines

      Federal rules require drivers of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce to be at least 21.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(1)

    • Can buy tobacco or vapes

      Federal law bars any retailer from selling cigarettes, vapes or other tobacco products to anyone under 21, in every state.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 21 U.S.C. § 387f(d)(5)

    • Can buy alcohol

      Federal highway funding law withholds funds from any state that lets anyone under 21 buy alcohol or possess it in public, so every state sets 21.

      Federal rules let states exempt possession (not purchase) for a religious purpose, with a parent, spouse or legal guardian 21 or older, for medical use, in private clubs, or in lawful employment (23 C.F.R. 1208.3).

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 23 U.S.C. § 158(a)

    • Under-21 credit card limits end (no cosigner or independent income needed)

      Under 21, a card issuer may open a credit card only with a cosigner or proof that you can repay on your own.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 15 U.S.C. § 1637(c)(8)

11. Age 25

    • Can serve in the U.S. House

      The Constitution sets 25 as the minimum age for the U.S. House of Representatives.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 2, cl. 2

12. Age 30

    • Can serve as governor

      Alabama's constitution requires the governor to be at least 30 years old.

      Alabama law · Ala. Const. § 117 (2022)

    • Can serve in the U.S. Senate

      The Constitution sets 30 as the minimum age for the U.S. Senate.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 3

13. Age 35

    • Can serve as President

      The Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for President.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 5

14. Age 62

    • Can start Social Security retirement benefits (reduced)

      Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, permanently reduced.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Retirement Benefits: Benefit reduction for early retirement

15. Age 65

    • Eligible for Medicare by age

      Medicare hospital insurance by age begins at 65 for people entitled, or who would be entitled, to Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 42 U.S.C. § 426(a)

16. Age 67

    • Full Social Security retirement age (born 1960 or later)

      Full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

17. Age 73

    • Retirement-account minimum withdrawals begin

      Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts begin at 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9)(C)(v)

18. Age 80

    • Can ask to be excused from jury service because of age

      From age 80, a person can ask to be excused from jury service because of age.

      The request is made in writing and makes the exemption permanent.

      Alabama law · Ala. Code § 12-16-62(b) (SB106, 2026 Reg. Sess., eff. Oct. 1, 2026)

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