Georgia Vehicle Registration

Registering a Vehicle in Georgia

To own or lease a vehicle in Georgia, you must register it by mail or in person at your local Georgia County Tag Office..

This process will depend on whether you:

• Bought your vehicle from a Georgia car dealer or from a private-party seller.
• Currently reside in Georgia or you are a new GA resident.

What to bring to the Georgia MVD :

• Proof of vehicle ownership (vehicle title).
• A valid driver’s license or ID.
• A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
• Proof of Georgia car insurance.
• Proof of vehicle inspection, if applicable.
• Acceptable form of payment for GA car registration fees and taxes.

Continue reading below for more specific details about how to register a vehicle in Georgia.

Georgia Vehicle Registration for New Residents

New to Georgia?

NOTE: Georgia law requires you to transfer your out-of-state vehicle title within 30 days of becoming a GA resident.

To register your vehicle, visit your local County Tag Office and present:

• A valid GA driver’s license or ID.
• Proof of Georgia residency (e.g., a bank statement, lease or closing documents).
• A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
• Proof of ownership (e.g., bill of sale, vehicle title, or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin).
  • If your vehicle has a lien, you must also provide the lienholder information.
  • If your previous state did not provide a title, you must also provide a Certificate of Inspection (Form T-22B).
• A passing emissions inspection, if applicable.
  • Individual counties set emissions requirements. Contact your local GA DMV office to determine if your county requires an emissions test for your vehicle.
• Proof of Georgia car insurance.
• Payment for GA car registration, fees, and taxes.
  • NOTE: Georgia has 2 different types of vehicle taxes.
    • Annual Ad Valorem Tax (AAVT) on the current value of any vehicle purchased before March 1, 2013.
    • Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) on vehicles purchased after March 1, 2013, or also applies to new Georgia residents.

Registering Vehicles Purchased from a Dealership

When you purchase either a new or used vehicle from a licensed car dealer, you have 30 days from the date of purchase to apply for Georgia vehicle registration.

Dealers will apply for your title on your behalf. However, the Georgia DOR does not require auto dealers to submit your vehicle registration application. We recommend asking ahead of time.

• If you purchase a brand new passenger vehicle in Georgia, you may select 2-year registration for a $40 fee. Annual registration renewal applies thereafter.
• Once the state processes your title application, the dealer will send you a copy of the title receipt. Be sure to register your vehicle next..

You’ll need to visit your local GA MVD office and bring all of the following items with you:

• A non-expired driver’s license or ID.
• A validated receipt for your Georgia title application.
• Proof of Georgia car insurance.
• Your Certificate of Registration for a tag transfer, if applicable.
• A current Georgia emissions control certificate, if applicable.
• Payment for GA car registration, fees, and taxes.

NOTE: To save time, you can pre-apply for your title and registration before going to your local GA county tag office to complete the registration process. You will then need to visit your local County Tag Office to complete your registration application.

Vehicles Purchased from a Private Party

In Georgia, if you purchase a vehicle from an individual you must register it within 7 days from the
date of purchase. The DOR can issue your registration during the title application or after they
process your application.

To register your vehicle in Georgia and after pre applying online, please visit your local GA County Tag Office and present:

• Proof of identification (a valid GA driver’s license).
• Proof of residency.
• A copy of the bill of sale dated within 7 days.
• Proof of vehicle insurance, or the policy number and name of the insurance company.
• The vehicle title, properly assigned from the seller to the buyer OR:
  • The Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin signed over to you.
  • The current vehicle registration signed over to you.
• Certificate of registration for tag transfer, if applicable.
• A current Georgia emissions control certificate, if applicable.
• Payment for GA title and registration fees, and the applicable sales tax.

If there is a lien on your vehicle, the lienholder will submit the necessary documents to apply for your title. After the Georgia MVD processes your title application, the lienholder will send you a copy of the title receipt.

Please remember you will need to complete an online pre-application for title and registration before visiting a County Tag Office to complete your registration.

Leased Vehicle Registrations

Your local Georgia County Tag Office processes vehicle title and license plate applications for leased vehicles. Be ready to provide the following information:

• The original lease agreement that includes the names and addresses of the leasing company and the lessee(s), OR Limited Power of Attorney (Form T-8) if the lessee is signing the title application.
• A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • The registration certificate will reflect the leasing company as the owner, and the lessee’s name and Georgia address.
• The original vehicle title, properly assigned from the seller to the buyer OR the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin issued in the leasing company’s name.
• Emissions inspection, if applicable.
• Proof of vehicle insurance.
• A completed Affidavit of Title being Held by Lienholder or Security Interest Holder or Leasing Company (Form T-17), if there is a lien on the vehicle.
• Payment for GA title and registration fees, and applicable sales tax.

Transferring your Georgia Plates and Registration

When you change vehicles in Georgia, you can transfer your old plates to the new vehicle if:

• The registration contains the same name as the previous vehicle.
  • If the vehicle is not titled in your name, then you must complete the titling process before you transfer your tags to the new vehicle.
• The vehicles are in the same class and price.
• You complete the tag transfer within 30 days of purchasing the vehicle.

Once the title is in your name, you can transfer your plates and registration. Go to your local County Tag Office and present:

• Proof of identification (a valid GA driver’s license).
• A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
• Proof of registration for the vehicle you are transferring tags from.
• The original vehicle title for your new vehicle.
• Proof of Georgia car insurance.
• Proof of vehicle inspection, if required.
• Payment for the tag transfer fees that apply for your vehicle.

Georgia Registration for Military Drivers

Georgia provides special considerations for active duty military personnel with registration and
inspection requirements. Continue reading below to learn more.

Registration for Non-Residents

The Georgia MVD does NOT require service members who are stationed in Georgia (but live out of state) to register their vehicles in Georgia. To do so, your vehicle must display a valid license plate from your home state.

When you become a resident of Georgia, you must apply at your local County Tag Office. Please refer to our section on Vehicle Registration for New Residents to learn more.

GA Military Residents

Active duty Georgia military residents must follow the steps outlined in our Registering a Vehicle in Georgia section.

Georgia military residents stationed out-of-state can register vehicles in their state of residence.
To learn more about the process of registering a vehicle in Georgia while stationed out of state, please contact the GA MVD.

Georgia Online Registration Renewals

To renew your GA vehicle registration online, visit the Georgia DOR DRIVES e-Services Online registration renewal portal.

Be prepared to have the following information on hand for your renewal:

• Your license plate or VIN number.
• Your driver’s license number or Letter ID
  • You can find your Letter IDon your renewal notice.
• A passing emissions certificate (in required counties).
• Payment for your GA registration renewal fees and taxes.

To renew your Georgia vehicle registration at a Self-Serve Kiosk, you may visit GAMVExpress to find participating counties.

Below are the eligibility requirements for self-serve kiosks:

• The county of your vehicle registration must be a participating county.
• You must have a valid GA state driver’s license.
• Your current address must appear on your renewal notice.
• You must have proof of car insurance on file.
• You must have a Vehicle Emissions Certificate on file, if applicable.