A Georgia “as is” bill of sale is a written record of a private sale in which the buyer accepts the item in its current condition and the seller gives no warranties. For a vehicle, Georgia’s official version is Form T-7 from the Department of Revenue.1Georgia Department of Revenue. T-7 Bill of Sale For other personal property, no state form exists, but the same “as is” language carries real legal weight under Georgia’s Commercial Code once the deal closes.
What “As Is” Actually Does
Georgia Code Section 11-2-316 lets a seller exclude implied warranties using phrases like “as is” or “with all faults,” as long as the language makes plain to the buyer that no warranty exists.2Justia. Georgia Code 11-2-316 – Exclusion or Modification of Warranties Once that language is in the document, the seller has no obligation to fix things that break after the sale, and the buyer cannot come back later claiming the item should have worked better.
Georgia courts have enforced this squarely. Wording like “I accept the above-described car in its present condition” has been held sufficient to exclude implied warranties in a vehicle sale.3Justia. Georgia Code 11-2-314 – Implied Warranty: Merchantability; Usage of Trade The statute goes further: if the buyer examined the goods, or refused to examine them, before the sale, there is no implied warranty for defects a reasonable inspection would have revealed.2Justia. Georgia Code 11-2-316 – Exclusion or Modification of Warranties Buyers who skip the inspection lose ground twice.
The clause has to be conspicuous. Georgia courts look for wording that “in common understanding calls the buyer’s attention to the exclusion of warranties and makes plain that there is no implied warranty.”2Justia. Georgia Code 11-2-316 – Exclusion or Modification of Warranties Buried in fine print or hedged with soft language, it invites a challenge.
What to Put in the Document
For a vehicle, Form T-7 lays out what the state expects. The form is available from the Georgia Department of Revenue.1Georgia Department of Revenue. T-7 Bill of Sale For furniture, electronics, equipment, and other personal property, no state form is required, but the same categories apply.
The vehicle-specific fields on the T-7 are the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year, make, model, odometer reading, date of sale, and purchase price. The odometer reading is a federal requirement rather than a Georgia preference, and leaving it blank can create title transfer problems later.
Both parties provide full legal names and complete mailing addresses, including street, city, state, zip code, and county. There is space for a secondary seller or buyer, such as a spouse. Both parties sign and date the form.
Georgia does not require notarization for a bill of sale, including the T-7. Notarizing or having the signatures witnessed adds protection if either side later disputes signing, and on a high-value item the small cost is worth it. Each party should keep a signed copy. The seller’s copy is proof they no longer own the item, which matters if the buyer causes an accident in a vehicle that has not been re-titled yet. The buyer’s copy is proof of the purchase and price, which the county tag office will need.
Vehicle Sales: What the Bill of Sale Does Not Do
A bill of sale by itself does not transfer legal ownership of a Georgia vehicle. Several other steps have to happen, and the clock is short.
Seven-Day Title Transfer Deadline
Georgia requires the buyer to complete title and registration within seven days of the purchase date.4Georgia Department of Revenue. Title and Register Vehicle Purchased from Casual Sale Missing that window triggers penalties. The buyer handles it at their county tag office, bringing the signed title, the Form T-7 bill of sale, and valid identification.
Title Fee and TAVT
Georgia charges an $18 title fee plus the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), calculated as a percentage of the vehicle’s fair market value. The TAVT replaces the annual vehicle property tax for vehicles purchased in Georgia. On a higher-value vehicle, the combined cost can be significant, so the buyer should budget for it before closing. The Department of Revenue provides an online TAVT calculator for estimates.
Odometer Disclosure
Federal law requires the seller to accurately disclose the odometer reading at the time of sale on a secure transfer document such as the title or a dealer reassignment form. Vehicles exempt from disclosure include those with a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 pounds, trailers, and vehicles that are 20 model years or older.5Georgia Department of Revenue. Odometer Disclosure Information For everything else, the reading on the title assignment must match the actual mileage. Falsifying it is a federal offense.
Emissions Inspection in Metro Atlanta
If the buyer will register the vehicle in one of 13 metro Atlanta counties, Georgia law requires a valid passing emissions inspection certificate before the sale. The covered counties are Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale. The seller is responsible for providing a currently valid certificate at the time of sale if the buyer must register in a covered county. An “as is” clause does not override this.
What the Seller Signs Over
The seller completes the title assignment section on the back of the certificate of title, filling in the buyer’s full legal name and address, the date of sale, and their own signature.6Georgia.gov. Sell a Motor Vehicle The seller should also remove their license plate. Georgia plates stay with the owner, not the car.
Where “As Is” Will Not Protect the Seller
The clause is strong, but it is not a shield against everything.
Fraud and Concealment
Under Georgia Code Section 51-6-2, willful misrepresentation of a material fact that induces someone to act to their injury gives the injured party a right of action.7Justia. Georgia Code 51-6-2 – Fraud and Deceit Concealment can also amount to fraud when a buyer asks directly and the seller evades the truth, or when the hidden defect is one the buyer could not have discovered through ordinary diligence. Georgia courts have found that when a buyer receives something fundamentally different from what the bill of sale described, a warranty disclaimer is not a sufficient defense against a fraud claim.
For sellers, the practical rule is to disclose known problems. “As is” protects you from defects you genuinely did not know about. It does not protect you from lying about or hiding defects you did. For buyers, ask direct questions and document the answers. A seller who lies in response to a specific written question has a much harder time hiding behind the clause.
The Lemon Law Does Not Apply
Georgia’s lemon law covers only new motor vehicles. Used vehicles, including those sold “as is,” are excluded.8Georgia.gov. Lemon Law FAQs If a used car turns out to be a disaster, the lemon law is not an option. The only recourse against the seller would be a fraud or misrepresentation claim under Section 51-6-2, which requires proving active deception.
Protecting Yourself as the Buyer
Buying “as is” in Georgia means you own every problem the moment you sign. The best protection is what happens before that signature.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection on a vehicle. The $100 to $200 it costs is trivial next to a transmission you did not catch.
- Run a vehicle history report. It will not catch everything, but it flags flood damage, salvage titles, odometer rollbacks, and prior accidents.
- Ask specific questions in writing. A denial in a text message or email becomes evidence if a fraud claim later becomes necessary.
- Verify the VIN on the dashboard, driver’s door jamb, and title all match. Mismatched VINs are a red flag for stolen or reconstructed vehicles.
- Budget beyond the purchase price for the $18 title fee, TAVT, and any emissions testing. Use the DOR’s TAVT calculator or your county tag office for an estimate before you commit.
Done right, an “as is” bill of sale is straightforward. It protects the seller from warranty claims on defects neither party knew about, and it puts the buyer on notice to do the inspection work up front. Deals go wrong when sellers hide known problems or buyers skip the inspection and hope for the best.