How to Transfer Car Registration to Georgia: TAVT and Deadlines

To transfer your car registration to Georgia, you have 30 days from your move-in date to visit your county tag office with your out-of-state title, proof of Georgia insurance, a completed Form MV-1, and a Georgia driver’s license, then pay an $18 title fee, a $20 plate fee, and a one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax of 3% of the vehicle’s fair market value.¹

Get Your Georgia License First

The 30-day clock covers both your driver’s license and your vehicle registration.² Order matters: the county tag office will not process vehicle paperwork without a valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID, so the Department of Driver Services should be your first stop after arriving.

The Georgia Department of Revenue oversees titling and registration, but the actual transactions happen at county tag offices.¹ Some counties offer appointments for complex transactions; most take walk-ins. A quick call ahead to confirm hours and accepted payment methods is worth the time.

Documents to Bring

Form MV-1, the Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application, completed and signed by every owner listed. It captures the VIN and odometer reading and is available from the Department of Revenue or at the tag office.³
Your original out-of-state title. If a lienholder or leasing company holds the title, bring a completed Form T-17 with your original out-of-state registration receipt instead; the tag office will contact the titleholder directly.⁴
Your valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID.
Proof of Georgia liability insurance. Your insurer must electronically file coverage with the Department of Revenue before your visit.
Proof of Georgia residency, such as a utility bill or lease agreement showing your Georgia address.

Georgia Insurance Minimums

Your policy has to meet Georgia’s minimum liability coverage before you can register: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 per incident for property damage.⁵ If you are switching insurers, confirm the new Georgia policy is active and has been electronically filed with the Department of Revenue before you head to the tag office. Showing up without insurance on file is one of the most common reasons people get turned away.

Inspections You May Need

Emissions

Emissions inspections are required only if you register in the 13-county metro Atlanta area: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale.⁶ Anywhere else in Georgia, you can skip this step.

For 2026 registration, gasoline-powered cars and light-duty trucks from model years 2002 through 2023 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less must pass. Model year 2024 and newer are exempt, along with 2001 and older, diesels, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles. The test costs up to $25 at certified stations, with the fee posted at each location.⁷

VIN Inspection

Out-of-state vehicles typically need a VIN inspection, particularly when the original title is unavailable or when the vehicle comes from a state that does not issue titles. A Georgia law enforcement officer verifies the VIN, checks stolen vehicle databases, and completes Form T-22B, which you then bring to the tag office.⁸

Fees and the Title Ad Valorem Tax

Two flat fees apply to every new registration: an $18 title application fee and a $20 license plate registration fee for a standard passenger car or lightweight pickup.⁹ Electric and alternative fuel vehicles owe additional annual fees set by state law; check the Department of Revenue’s alternative fuel vehicle fee page for the current amount.¹⁰

The bigger cost is the Title Ad Valorem Tax, or TAVT. This is a one-time tax paid when the vehicle is first titled in Georgia. It replaces sales tax and the old annual vehicle property tax for vehicles titled on or after March 1, 2013. New residents pay TAVT at 3% of the vehicle’s fair market value.¹¹ On a $25,000 vehicle, that comes to $750 due on the day you title.

For used vehicles, the Department of Revenue determines fair market value using the state motor vehicle assessment manual, which averages current wholesale and retail values. For new vehicles, fair market value is the greater of the selling price or the manual’s listed value, reduced by any trade-in or dealer rebates. If a used vehicle is not listed in the manual, the Department uses a designated used car market guide.¹² The full TAVT is due at titling. County offices vary in accepted payment methods, and many charge a convenience fee of around 1.8% on debit and credit card transactions, so a check or cash can save real money on a large payment.

If You Miss the 30-Day Deadline

Late registration triggers two penalties. A flat $10 title penalty applies for failing to apply within 30 days.⁹ More expensive is the TAVT late penalty of 10% of the tax owed once you pass 30 days. Past the 60-day mark, interest of 1% per month accrues on the unpaid TAVT.¹³ On that same $25,000 vehicle, a 10% penalty adds $75, with monthly interest stacking after that.

At the Tag Office

With documents, inspections, and payment ready, visit your county tag office in person. Hand over your completed Form MV-1, original out-of-state title (or Form T-17 with your registration receipt), Georgia driver’s license, and any required inspection certificates. The office reviews everything, collects the title fee, registration fee, and TAVT, and issues your Georgia license plate and registration.¹ Most people leave the same day with a new plate.

Hold on to your registration certificate. It is proof the vehicle is legally registered in Georgia, and you will need the information on it at renewal.

Active-Duty Military

Active-duty servicemembers who are not Georgia residents but are stationed in Georgia under military orders are not required to pay TAVT. The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act shields non-resident military members and their qualifying dependents from the tax.¹⁴ A non-resident servicemember titling a vehicle in Georgia instead pays regular sales and use tax on the purchase, though they can voluntarily opt into TAVT to avoid that. Servicemembers who are Georgia residents pay TAVT like anyone else. The distinction hinges on legal residence, not where you are stationed.

Gifted or Inherited Vehicles

If an immediate family member is giving you the vehicle, use Form MV-16, the Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship. Georgia defines immediate family as spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. Both parties must sign, and both signatures require notarization.¹⁵ TAVT still applies. Falsifying information on Form MV-16 can result in penalties up to $5,000.

For an inherited vehicle, bring Form MV-1, the original title in the deceased owner’s name, and one of the following: a certified copy of Letters Testamentary, a certified copy of Year’s Support, or a completed Form T-20 Affidavit of Inheritance. A certified copy of the death certificate is also required. If the vehicle had a lien, add a completed Form T-4 lien release. If the vehicle was titled out of state and you have not yet established Georgia residency, get the title reissued in your name in the previous state first; once you are a Georgia resident with the title in your name, the county tag office can process the Georgia title along with the $18 title fee.¹⁶

1
Department of Revenue. When and Where to Register Your Vehicle
2
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Apply For a New GA License
3
Georgia Department of Revenue. Form MV-1 Motor Vehicle Title Application
4
Department of Revenue. Registering a Financed or Leased Vehicle When New to Georgia
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Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. Auto Insurance
6
Environmental Protection Division. Inspection and Maintenance Unit
7
Georgia’s Clean Air Force. Frequently Asked Questions
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Georgia Department of Revenue. T-22B Certification of Inspection
9
Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicles Fees, Fines, and Penalties
10
Department of Revenue. Annual Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fees FAQ
11
Department of Revenue. Vehicle Taxes – Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) and Annual Ad Valorem Tax
12
Department of Revenue. Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) FAQ
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Georgia Department of Revenue. Policy Bulletin MVD-2025-01 – Penalties Doubling for Avoiding TAVT by Using Plates from Other States
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Georgia Department of Revenue. Non-Resident Servicemembers of the Armed Forces and TAVT
15
Georgia Department of Revenue. Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship Form MV-16
16
Department of Revenue. Vehicle Inherited or Purchased from an Estate