The Georgia MV-16 form, formally the Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship, is a notarized statement you file with your title application when transferring a vehicle between immediate family members in Georgia.1Georgia Department of Revenue. MV-16 Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship Both parties sign in front of a notary, and the form goes to the buyer’s county tag office along with the title and the MV-1 title application. Getting it right matters because the family relationship affects your Title Ad Valorem Tax on the transfer.
When You Need the MV-16
Use the MV-16 when a vehicle is changing hands between immediate family members and you want that relationship recognized for tax purposes. Without the affidavit, the county tag office treats the transfer as a standard sale and the family-transfer treatment goes away.
The MV-16 is not a correction form. If you need to fix a title error like a wrong date of sale or a misspelled name, that is the T-11 Affidavit of Correction. For a mileage mistake, it is the T-107 Odometer Discrepancy Affidavit.2Georgia Department of Revenue. Corrections to Titles
Where to Get the Form
The MV-16 is a free PDF on the Georgia Department of Revenue website.1Georgia Department of Revenue. MV-16 Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship Most county tag offices also keep blank copies at the counter. Print it on standard letter-size paper and make sure everything is legible.
Filling Out the Form
Before you write anything, pull the current title (or whatever documentation you have) and a valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID for both people involved. The form is short, but any mismatch with those documents will get it rejected.
Vehicle Information
Enter the full seventeen-character VIN exactly as it appears on the title and the dashboard plate, then the year, make, and model. Check the VIN one character at a time. A single wrong digit means starting over with a fresh notarized copy.
Parties and Relationship
The transferor (the person giving the vehicle) and the transferee (the person receiving it) each enter their full legal names and current addresses, matching their state-issued IDs. The form asks you to state the specific family relationship. Be precise: “parent and child,” “spouses,” “siblings.” Vague answers slow processing.
The Sworn Statement
Read the pre-printed certification language before you sign. This is an affidavit, so what you put on it carries the weight of a sworn oath. False swearing under Georgia law is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of one to five years, or both.3Justia. Georgia Code 16-10-71 – False Swearing
Notarization
Do not sign the MV-16 in advance. Georgia requires the signature to happen in the physical presence of a notary public, who must witness it and verify identity.4Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority. Georgia Notary Law Bring a valid photo ID to the appointment.
Georgia caps notary fees at $2 per notarial act.5Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-11 – Fees of Notaries Banks, UPS stores, and county offices commonly have notaries available. Some tag offices have one on-site, which lets you handle everything in one visit; call ahead to confirm.
Filing at the County Tag Office
Bring the completed, notarized MV-16 to the buyer’s county tag office with your MV-1 title application. Georgia law routes title applications through the county tag agent rather than directly to the state.6Justia. Georgia Code 40-3-21 – Application for First Certificate of Title The MV-16 travels with that application as a supporting document.
Plan to bring the following:
- The signed vehicle title, properly assigned from seller to buyer on the back
- Valid photo ID for the buyer, and often for the seller depending on the county
- Proof of Georgia insurance on the vehicle
- Payment for fees and applicable Title Ad Valorem Tax; the title fee is $187Georgia Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicles Fees, Fines, and Penalties
The 30-Day Deadline
You have 30 days from the date of purchase to submit the title application. Missing that window adds a $10 late penalty on top of the standard fees.6Justia. Georgia Code 40-3-21 – Application for First Certificate of Title If your paperwork gets rejected, you have 60 days to correct and resubmit before another $10 penalty applies.
If Something Gets Rejected
Most rejections come from mismatches: a VIN that doesn’t line up with the title, a name that doesn’t match the ID, or a missing notary seal. You cannot fix a notarized affidavit with correction fluid, tape, or an initialed erasure. Georgia does not accept those on title documents.2Georgia Department of Revenue. Corrections to Titles If the MV-16 has an error, complete a fresh copy and get it notarized again.
What It Costs
The title application fee is $18 whether the transfer is between family or strangers.7Georgia Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicles Fees, Fines, and Penalties If you are also getting a plate, add $20 for the license plate fee.8Georgia Department of Revenue. Transfer Title and License Plate from Another State or Country Notarization runs up to $2. On top of that you owe Title Ad Valorem Tax based on the vehicle’s fair market value, and whether the MV-16 qualifies you for a reduced rate depends on the certified relationship.
After You File
Once the county tag office accepts everything, the new title typically arrives by mail in about two to three weeks.9Georgia.gov. Register a Vehicle If a month passes with nothing in the mailbox, call your county tag office. You can also check status through Georgia’s DRIVES e-Services portal.10Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia DRIVES The title goes to the address on your application, so confirm that address is current before you submit.