How to Fill Out the Georgia Vehicle Bill of Sale (Form T-7)

Georgia’s T-7 is the state’s Motor Vehicle Division form that records the transfer of a vehicle from a seller to a buyer, and for cars and trucks that don’t require a Georgia title, it stands in as the buyer’s proof of ownership. The Georgia vehicle bill of sale, Form T-7, is most often used for vehicles manufactured before 1986, which are exempt from Georgia’s titling requirements. You can download it from the Department of Revenue at dor.georgia.gov or pick up a copy at your County Tag Office.1Georgia Department of Revenue. T-7 Bill of Sale

When the T-7 Is Required

Pre-1986 vehicles do not get a Georgia certificate of title, so the T-7 becomes the primary document the County Tag Office relies on to confirm that you legitimately bought the vehicle.2Georgia Department of Revenue. Title and Register a Vehicle Purchased in a Casual Sale Without it, your registration application will stall.

If a pre-1986 vehicle has never been registered in Georgia before, you also need a completed Form T-22B Certification of Inspection, filled out by law enforcement to confirm the vehicle’s identity and VIN.3Consumer Ed. Private Seller Sold Me a Car Without a Title Show up at the tag office with an out-of-state classic car and no T-22B, and you’ll be sent home to arrange a police inspection first.

For a titled vehicle (model year 1986 and newer), the signed certificate of title is the transfer document. A T-7 can still accompany the sale as a record of the price and terms, and it’s useful because the tag office uses the stated purchase price when calculating the tax you owe.

Filling Out the T-7 Section by Section

The T-7 is a single page divided into five sections. Gather the information you need before you start writing. Corrections and cross-outs invite questions at the tag office.

Section A: Vehicle Information

Enter the Vehicle Identification Number, year, make, and model.4Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division Bill of Sale Copy the VIN exactly as it appears on the dashboard plate or door jamb. A single transposed digit is enough for the tag office to reject the form. On pre-1986 vehicles, the VIN may be shorter than the modern 17-character format; write what the vehicle actually has.

Section B: Seller Information

The seller writes their full legal name and mailing address, including street, city, state, ZIP code, and county. If two people jointly own the vehicle, both names go here.4Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division Bill of Sale

Section C: Buyer Information

The buyer fills in the same details. The county of residence matters, because the completed form goes to the tag office in the county where the primary buyer lives.4Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division Bill of Sale

Section D: Lien Information

List any liens or security interests on the vehicle. Most private sales of older vehicles are lien-free, but if a lender still holds a claim, the seller must disclose it. The certification in Section E includes a statement that no liens exist except those listed here, so leaving the section blank when a lien exists is a misrepresentation.

Sale Details and Odometer Reading

Record the date of sale and the actual purchase price. The tag office compares the price you write against the state’s fair market value tables when calculating your Title Ad Valorem Tax, so don’t lowball the number.4Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division Bill of Sale

Federal law requires the seller to disclose the odometer reading and the buyer to acknowledge it. Write the mileage in whole numbers, no tenths. If you know the reading is inaccurate or has rolled over, mark that the actual mileage is unknown rather than writing a number you know is wrong. A false mileage statement can carry federal civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and criminal penalties including up to three years in prison.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC Ch 327 – Odometers Many pre-1986 vehicles are federally exempt from the disclosure requirement, but the form still asks for the reading, so fill it in.6National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Consumer Alert: Changes to Odometer Disclosure Requirements

Signing the Form

Section E is the certification. By signing, the seller certifies that the odometer reading is accurate (or that actual mileage is unknown), that no undisclosed liens exist, and that the vehicle is being transferred to the buyer named in Section C. Both the primary seller and primary buyer must sign and date the form, and any secondary owners sign as well.4Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division Bill of Sale

The T-7 has no notary block, and for a standard sale where both parties are present and signing, notarization is not part of the process. If an owner can’t be present at the tag office to complete the transaction, Georgia requires an original notarized power of attorney from that absent owner. When a notary is involved, bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a Georgia driver’s license, state ID card, or military identification.

Both parties should keep a photocopy of the completed, signed form. The buyer takes the original to the tag office.

Submitting the T-7 at the County Tag Office

The buyer brings the completed T-7 and supporting documents to the tag office in the county where they live.4Georgia Department of Revenue. Georgia Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicle Division Bill of Sale You’ll also complete Form MV-1, the state’s Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application, which the tag office keeps on hand.7Georgia Department of Revenue. MV-1 DOR Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application

Plan to bring:

  • The completed T-7, signed by both parties.
  • Form T-22B Certification of Inspection, if the vehicle is model year 1985 or older and has never been registered in Georgia.2Georgia Department of Revenue. Title and Register a Vehicle Purchased in a Casual Sale
  • A valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID card reflecting your current county address.
  • Proof of Georgia insurance. Your insurer sends this to the state electronically, but confirm coverage is active before you go.8Georgia Department of Revenue. Vehicle Insurance Requirements
  • A Georgia emissions certificate if you live in one of the metro Atlanta counties that require emissions testing.
  • The original certificate of title, if the vehicle has one (model year 1986 and newer). For pre-1986 vehicles, the T-7 replaces the title.

You have 30 days from the date of purchase to apply for a title and registration. Missing that window triggers a $10 penalty added to the title fee, a 10 percent surcharge on the TAVT owed, and an additional one percent interest for each month you remain late.9Georgia Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicles Fees, Fines, and Penalties

Fees and the Title Ad Valorem Tax

Expect to pay several charges at the counter:

TAVT is a one-time tax that replaces the old annual ad valorem property tax on vehicles. Georgia calculates it from the state’s fair market value tables, not necessarily from the purchase price on your T-7, though the tag office compares the two figures. On older vehicles, the assessed value can be low, which keeps the tax on a 1970s truck manageable.

Payment methods vary. Some tag offices accept cash, checks, debit cards, and credit cards; others are more limited. Check with your county before your visit.11Georgia Department of Revenue. Renew Vehicle Registration

Transfers Between Family Members

When a vehicle passes between immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, or grandchildren), the TAVT drops to 0.5 percent of fair market value, provided the full TAVT was already paid on the vehicle by a prior owner. On a vehicle valued at $15,000, that’s $75 instead of $1,050. The T-7 still needs to be completed, and you would typically list $0 as the purchase price for a gift.

If the vehicle was never subject to the full TAVT (for example, it was titled before TAVT took effect in 2013 and has only paid annual ad valorem tax since), the reduced family rate may not apply, and the tag office will calculate your obligation based on the vehicle’s current status. Ask the clerk to check the vehicle’s tax history before assuming you qualify.

What the Seller Should Do After the Sale

Sellers have their own obligations once the T-7 is signed. Georgia requires you to transfer ownership and cancel the registration on any vehicle you sell.12Georgia Department of Revenue. Buying or Selling a Car Skip that step and you remain the registered owner in the state’s system, which means parking tickets, toll violations, and other issues tied to the plate can come back to you.

If you’re transferring your tag to another vehicle you own, tell the tag office at your next visit. If not, cancel the registration so the state stops associating that vehicle with your name. Keep your signed copy of the T-7. If a liability dispute arises later, it establishes exactly when the vehicle changed hands.