(a) Every person, firm, or corporation residing in or owning a motor vehicle which is principally used in Escambia County who desires to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways of Alabama shall first return the motor vehicle for ad valorem taxation and sales taxation to the tax collector. The tax collector shall issue a certificate of assessment on a form prescribed by the State Department of Revenue, shall collect the tax as shown thereon, and shall make a duplicate of the tax receipt and keep the receipt on file in the office of the tax collector for one year after each audit. The license tag shall be evidence of the payment of the license and ad valorem taxes and sales taxes due under this subpart.

(b) Valuation for ad valorem assessment of motor vehicles shall be at the same rate and on the same basis as is provided in Article 5, Chapter 12, Title 40, and all laws relating to the assessment on a quarterly basis are hereby incorporated in this subpart and made a part hereof.

(c) The Tax Collector of Escambia County, in addition to assessing and collecting the ad valorem taxes and sales taxes due the state and county on motor vehicles, motor vehicle titles, and nonmotorized vehicles shall collect the ad valorem taxes and sales taxes on motor vehicles, motor vehicle titles, and nonmotorized vehicles due all municipalities in Escambia County and shall report and pay over the money collected for the municipalities at the same time and in the same manner as state and county taxes and licenses are reported and paid over by him or her. The tax collector shall collect and deposit into the general fund of Escambia County five percent of the amount of municipal taxes collected for assessing and collecting the taxes, and shall deduct that amount from the total amount collected before paying the city treasury. The tax collector shall not issue a license to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of this state until all ad valorem taxes and sales taxes due the state, county, and municipalities are paid for the preceding tax year as shown by the tax receipts.