Motor Vehicles

Vehicle Tag Renewals

New residents must register their vehicles within thirty days of establishing residency in Georgia. A Georgia Driver's License must be obtained before registering your vehicle.

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 power of attorney from the leasing company.

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 be covered by liability insurance at all times, or a lapse in coverage penalty will apply. If you cancel the insurance, you must also cancel the registration by coming into the office.

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 ensure registration by your birthday. If your birthday falls on a weekend or holiday, you can renew the next business day without penalty.

It is the vehicle owner's responsibility to ensure 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.

New and Used Vehicles

Newly purchased vehicles from a dealer must be registered within 30 days. From individual to individual, it is now 7 days. Title Ad Valorem Tax is due at the time the title is applied for on vehicles purchased from an out-of-state dealer or business.
TAVT is due at the time of titling, instate, or out-of-state titles. Contact the tag office for the amount.

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.