Overview

Tags expire on the birthday of the first owner shown. You should receive a bill 30 days prior to renewal. Penalties apply after the birthday deadline. Failure to receive a bill in the mail does not relieve the penalty. If you do not receive a bill, call the Tag Office with your tag number and one will be mailed to you. This must be done in time to insure registration by your birthday. If your birthday falls on a weekend or holiday, you can renew next business day without penalty.

It is the vehicle owner's responsibility to insure their vehicle is properly registered.

The penalty for late registration is 10% of the tax ($5.00 minimum) and 25% of the tag fee. These penalties begin immediately following the due date.

As of March 2013 there will no longer be sales tax on the purchase of motor vehicles. A 6.6% Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) is now required on every title transfer based on the State's fair market value and is due at the time of the title transfer.

New Residents

New residents must title and register their vehicles within thirty days of establishing residency in Georgia. A Georgia Driver's License must be obtained with your current address before registering your vehicle. New to Georgia will pay 3% TAVT and it is all due at the time of title transfer and registration.

Out-of-State Titles

Must be surrendered and transferred to Georgia titles (year models 1985 and older are not required to be titled in Georgia). If there is a lien on the vehicle and you do not have the title, we must have the current registration and name and address of the lien holder. Additionally leased vehicles require a power of attorney from the leasing company.

Georgia Liability Insurance

Georgia liability insurance is required to be transmitted to the state's database by your insurance company in order to register your vehicle. The vehicle must always be covered by liability insurance or a lapse in coverage penalty will apply. If you cancel the insurance, you must also cancel the registration.

Vehicles Bought From Dealer

Vehicles bought from dealer must be registered within 30 days from the date of purchase. The dealer will be responsible for collecting the TAVT and sending to the county with the title paperwork. Dealer title work must be applied for through ETR, unless it is an out of state title, disabled veteran exemption, non-resident, or other special circumstances.

It is the vehicle owner's responsibility to ensure their vehicle is properly registered. Vehicle owners must renew their registration every year during the 60-day period, which ends on their birthday. If the vehicle is owned by more than one person, then the birthday of the person's name that appears first on the title is used to determine the registration period. In other words, tags expire on the birthday of the first owner shown on the title. You should receive a bill 60 days prior to renewal. Penalties apply after the birthday deadline. Failure to receive a bill in the mail does not relieve the penalty.

Vehicles Acquired From Other Than A Dealer:

Effective January 1, 2010...House Bill 1005
Within seven (7) business days of purchase or other acquisition of a vehicle, the new owner shall, pursuant to O.C.G.A. 40-2-29 apply to the owner's County Tag Agent and present the Certificate of Title, previous registration, and insurance, accompanied by applicable fees. If the Certificate of Title is in the possession of a security interest or lien holder, the County Tag Agent shall issue a temporary operating permit valid for 30 days.

Individual to Individual Sales

Individual to Individual Sales are required to pay the TAVT upon applying for the title. Title must be applied for within 7 days of the date of purchase.

If you sell a vehicle, you keep your tag. Tags can be transferred to new vehicles that are registered to the same first owner. The title (bill of sale for 1985 and older) is required to purchase a tag or transfer a tag from a vehicle you no longer own.

Tags

If you trade in a vehicle...keep your old tag. As long as the tag and the vehicle are in the same name, we can transfer that tag to your new vehicle. All vehicles that are 1986 or newer requires a Georgia title in order to register it. Proof of title (bill of sale for 1985 and older) is required to purchase a tag or transfer a tag from a vehicle you no longer own.

Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) is due at the time the title is applied for on vehicles purchased from an out-of-state dealer or business and instate or out of state titles. Contact the tag office for amount.

The State of Georgia has a variety of tags from which to choose. Visit the Georgia Department of Revenue/Motor Vehicle Division for tag samples at https://mvd.dor.ga.gov/motor/plates/PlateSelection.aspx

For further information regarding vehicle registration, please visit the State of Georgia Motor Vehicle Division website at https://eservices.drives.ga.gov/.