Table of Contents
- What Are the Basics?
- How Do I Sign the Title?
- What If I’ve Lost the Title?
- What Information is Included in the Bill of Sale?
- Why Do I Need to Include the Odometer Reading?
- Why Do I Need a Bill of Sale?
- May I Transfer Plates?
- What If I Don’t Transfer Plates to a New Vehicle?
- What If I am Giving the Car to Someone Rather than selling It?
- How Do I, as Executor, Transfer the Car to an Heir?
What Are the Basics?
Individuals who sell a personal vehicle in Georgia need to enable the buyer to obtain a title by transferring the current title upon closing the deal. The seller also should provide a bill of sale that indicates the selling price and any terms of the transaction, if any.
How Do I Sign the Title?
You simply sign your full name on the given field near the bottom of the Georgia vehicle title and print your name and date of the transaction. If a lien was placed on the vehicle, a lien release should accompany the title transfer.
What If I’ve Lost the Title?
The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will not recognize a vehicle ownership transfer without a valid title signed by the person named as the owner. If you have lost a title, you can request a replacement in person at a local DDS office, online or by mail. Mail could take about eight to 12 weeks. Visiting an office in person is the fasted method.
What Information Is Included in the Bill of Sale?
The bill of sale typically provides the name and address of the seller, the name of the buyer, the date of the transaction, and the selling price. Any sale terms might be included. changes.
Why Do I Need to Record the Odometer Reading?
The odometer reading is a good way to track how many miles a vehicle truly has and can thwart fraud further down the road. An accurate and honest odometer reading usually is required for vehicles with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer so that new buyers know the correct mileage.
Why Do I Need a Bill of Sale?
but the bill of sale mostly is to assist with state taxation and to protect the seller. If the vehicle is involved in an accident while moving it from one location to another by the buyer, the bill of sale can affirm the seller no longer is the owner, for example.
May I Transfer Plates?
You cannot transfer license plates from the seller to the buyer. Instead, the seller must remove the plate and surrender it to the Georgia DDS in person or by mail. The buyer must obtain a new plate from DDS. If you buy a vehicle and have an existing plate from a trade-in or vehicle and want to transfer it to the new one, the state will allow that for a fee.
What If I Don’t Transfer Plates to a New Vehicle?
You must surrender a Georgia license plate if you do not have a vehicle for it. You can do that by visiting your local DDS office or by mail.
What If I am Giving the Car to Someone Rather than Selling It?
Any vehicle transfer in ownership requires a title transfer to accurately show who owns it. The DDS will charge a registration fee based on a predetermined value for the vehicle.
How Do I, as Executor, Transfer the Car to an Heir?
Anyone with legal authority over a vehicle, such as an executor of an estate, must sign the title to transfer ownership. If the vehicle has license plates, you must return them to the DDS.