Up to $6,000 · 2 years to file.
Damage to your car or property caused by someone else. In Alabama, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Court (District Court), where you can sue for up to $6,000.
Your deadline: Alabama generally gives you 2 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $95 (About $77–$95 plus service, by county.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Ala. Code § 12-12-31; deadlines: Ala. Code §§ 6-2-34, 6-2-38. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Contract 6 yrs; property damage and personal injury 2 yrs.
Suing for something else in Alabama: Alabama unpaid loan · Alabama security deposit · Alabama unpaid rent · Alabama contractor dispute.
Suing for property damage in nearby states: Georgia ($15,000, 4 years) · Florida ($8,000, 4 years) · Mississippi ($3,500, 3 years) · Tennessee ($25,000, 3 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026