Georgia Form T-226 is the application you file at your county tag office to extend the registration period on a vehicle you bought from a licensed Georgia dealer when the dealer hasn’t delivered the title in time. An approved form buys you up to 30 additional days to register the vehicle while the dealer finishes the title paperwork.1Georgia Department of Revenue. Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs)
When You Need the Form
A Georgia dealer issues a temporary operating permit (the drive-out tag) at the time of sale, and under state law it expires 45 days from the date of purchase.2Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-2-8 – Operation of Unregistered Vehicle You’re expected to register the vehicle at your county tag office during that window. You cannot register without a title, so if the dealer is still waiting on a lien release from a prior lender, chasing paperwork, or pulling a title from out of state, you can get stuck.
Georgia law authorizes the county tag agent to grant one 30-day extension when the dealer has not provided a title more than five business days before the temporary permit expires. The agent must grant an extension when the delay is caused by a lienholder’s failure to release a lien on time, shown by affidavit from the dealer, buyer, or transferee.3Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-2-20 – Registration and License
One boundary to know: Form T-226 is only for dealer purchases. If you bought from a private individual, this process doesn’t apply.
What to Bring and When to Go
File the form in person at the tag office in your county of residence. You need to apply within five days of the expiration date on your drive-out tag.4Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner. Motor Vehicle Forms If you already know the dealer is behind, don’t wait for the last day of that window.
Bring with you:
- The dealer-issued temporary operating permit. You surrender it at the counter; the office destroys it and issues a new one if your extension is approved.1Georgia Department of Revenue. Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs)
- Proof of ownership, such as the dealer invoice or bill of sale.
- Your valid Georgia driver’s license.
- Proof of insurance meeting Georgia’s minimum liability coverage.4Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner. Motor Vehicle Forms
Filling Out the Form
Download Form T-226 from the Georgia Department of Revenue’s website or pick up a copy at the tag office.5Georgia Department of Revenue. T-226 Application to Extend the Registration Period of a Motor Vehicle Its full title is “Application to Extend the Registration Period of a Motor Vehicle Purchased from a Georgia Motor Vehicle Dealer.”
Have this information ready:
- Your full legal name, residential address, and Georgia driver’s license number.
- The vehicle’s year, make, model, and 17-character VIN (dashboard near the windshield or driver-side door jamb).
- The dealership’s name and location, plus the purchase date.
- The temporary permit number from your drive-out tag.
Check every entry against your bill of sale and the temporary permit before you submit. A mismatched VIN or a wrong dealer name slows things down at the counter.
How Long the Extension Lasts
An approved T-226 gives you up to 30 additional days past the expiration of your original temporary permit.1Georgia Department of Revenue. Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs) It is a one-time extension. You cannot file a second T-226 for another 30 days. If the dealer still hasn’t produced the title by the time your extension runs out, contact the dealer and escalate; Georgia imposes late penalties on dealers who delay title delivery.
Separately, Georgia administrative rules provide an automatic 15-day extension of any temporary plate beyond the initial statutory registration period.6Georgia Secretary of State. Subject 560-10-32 Temporary Registration That built-in buffer does not replace the T-226 process and does not excuse you from registering within the initial window.
What It Costs to Skip Filing
Driving on an expired temporary permit without an approved extension means operating an unregistered vehicle, which is a misdemeanor under Georgia law.2Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-2-8 – Operation of Unregistered Vehicle A conviction for failing to register carries a fine of up to $100.3Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-2-20 – Registration and License
When you eventually register, you’ll also owe late penalties: 10 percent of the ad valorem tax due plus 25 percent of the license plate fees, with a minimum ad valorem penalty of $5.7Georgia Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicles Fees, Fines, and Penalties On a newer vehicle, the 10 percent of ad valorem tax adds up quickly. Filing the T-226 on time avoids all of it.
Can You File Online?
No. Georgia’s DRIVES portal handles tasks like tag renewals and address changes, but there is no indication Form T-226 can be filed electronically. The process requires you to physically surrender the dealer’s temporary permit, so plan on an in-person visit to your county tag office.