How To Get Your Car Registered In Georgia

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If you own or lease a car and want to drive it in Georgia, you must beginning register it with the state. Generally, to annals a machine in Georgia you lot must consummate an application and nowadays a valid, state-issued ID along with proof of ownership and proof of insurance for the vehicle. You lot must also pay taxes and fees, both with initial registration and when you renew your registration every twelvemonth. Consummate your initial registration in person at the County Tag Office, so you lot can typically renew online.

1
Complete the tag and title application. If y'all buy a new or used car at a dealership in Georgia, you volition probable make full out and sign this course as function of your paperwork. All fields of the form must either be typed or printed by paw in blueish or black ink.^[1]
- Download the tag and championship application at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/mv-1-dor-motor-vehicle-titletag-application if you lot want to fill up it out at home before you lot go to the County Tag Function.
Did You Know? If yous buy a new or used vehicle in Georgia, you have thirty days to register it. A dealer will typically give you a Temporary Operating Permit (Height) that allows you to drive your car during that time.
2
Gather proof of ownership and proof of insurance. Before yous can register a vehicle, you must demonstrate that you own the vehicle and that y'all take valid insurance to bulldoze it. Typically, your insurance company will file your proof of insurance with the country'south database straight after you add the new auto to your policy.^[two]
- Y'all can also print off your insurance cards or policy statement to serve as proof of insurance. Information technology's a adept thought to bring these documents with you anyway, just in case.
- Proof of ownership typically consists of a neb of sale or a Manufacturer's Document of Origin. Car dealers typically will point out the paperwork you need to apply to found proof of ownership.
- If you lot bought the vehicle from an individual, you'll likely have the championship to the vehicle, which the seller has signed over to y'all.
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3
Contact your County Tag Role. Specific procedures and requirements for registration may vary among counties. Call your County Tag Office before you go to find out what documents you'll need to register your new automobile.
- You can find your County Tag Office by visiting https://mvd.dor.ga.gov/motor/tagoffices/SelectTagOffice.aspx and selecting the county where y'all live from the driblet-down menu.
- When you register your vehicle, you'll have to pay registration fees and ad valorem taxes. An officer at the County Tag Part tin can help you calculate what you'll have to pay and tell you what methods of payment are accepted.
four
Appear in person at your County Tag Part. To utilize for initial registration of a vehicle, yous must become to the County Tag Function in the county where you live and submit your application along with proof of ownership and proof of insurance. The officer at the Tag Office will as well verify your ID. You can register a vehicle with a valid Georgia driver's license or Georgia identification card.^[3]
- You tin can also apply for championship and registration through the mail service. However, a license plate and registration will not exist issued to you until you present your valid Georgia commuter'southward license or state-issued identification card in person.^[4]
5
Place your new tags on your vehicle. Dealerships are authorized to identify Temporary Operating Let (TOP) plates on newly purchased vehicles. These plates are valid for 30 days. Surrender your TOP to the County Tag Office when yous get your new plate.^[five]
- If you ordered a custom tag, you may not receive it immediately. Instead, information technology volition be mailed to you when information technology is ready. If y'all demand an extension of your Superlative while yous're waiting for the tag, you can take care of this at the County Tag Office.

1
Get a valid Georgia driver'due south license. If yous are new to the state of Georgia, you must first get a Georgia commuter'due south license before you can annals a vehicle. Georgia driver'southward licenses are issued by the Georgia Department of Commuter Services (DDS). You will be expected to surrender your one-time country ID when you get your Georgia ID.^[six]
- To find the DDS location nearest you, get to https://dds.georgia.gov/location.
Tip: If you are a college student in Georgia and your permanent home is outside the land, you don't have to get a Georgia driver's license or annals your car in Georgia. Notwithstanding, you are still responsible for keeping your license and registration up-to-engagement in your home state.
2
Gather your out-of-country title and registration. Your out-of-land title and registration serve as proof that y'all own the vehicle. Both of these documents must list your total proper name exactly as it appears on your Georgia driver's license.^[seven]
- If you don't currently have the title to your vehicle because it is financed or leased, fill up out Grade T-17. You lot can download this form at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/t-17-argument-championship-held-lienholder-security-interest-holder-or-leasing-visitor.
- In some situations, your out-of-country championship or registration may have a different name than your Georgia driver's license. For example, you may be recently married or divorced. In these situations, bring documents showing proof of the legal proper name modify, such as a marriage decree or divorce certificate.
3
Have a law enforcement officer audit your vehicle. Vehicles from some other state must pass a condom inspection before they can exist registered in Georgia. Whatever Georgia law enforcement officer can complete this inspection. They will fill out and sign a course, which you must submit with your application for registration.^[8]
- To find out when and where you can go the inspection completed, contact your local police precinct. Make certain yous use the not-emergency number.
- Y'all tin can download and impress the inspection class at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/t-22b-certification-inspection.
4
Take your vehicle for an emissions inspection if required. Some Georgia counties, primarily those in the Metro Atlanta area, require certain vehicles to laissez passer an emissions inspection earlier they tin be registered. Generally, inspections are required if your vehicle is gas-powered, or is a hybrid vehicle that is capable of running on gas.^[9]
- Visit http://www.cleanairforce.com/motorists/frequently-asked-questions/ to find out which counties and which vehicles must accept their emissions tested.
- If yous need to get an emissions inspection, you can discover the location of the testing station nearest you at http://world wide web.cleanairforce.com/motorists/emissions-testing-locations/. Emissions inspections cost $25.
- If your vehicle fails the inspection, you lot'll become a course that gives you some information on the repairs that are needed to pass the inspection. You get one free retest if you lot return to the same station later you've made the repairs.
5
Complete the tag and title application form. To apply for a new Georgia title and registration, you must fill out Form MV-ane and present information technology at the County Tag Office in the county where y'all live. This grade must either be typed or filled in with legible print in blue or black ink.^[ten]
- If it would be easier for you, yous can download the form at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/mv-1-dor-motor-vehicle-titletag-application and make full it out at domicile before you go to the County Tag Role.
6
Visit the County Tag Office of the county where you live. Take all your paperwork to the Canton Tag Office and apply for registration in person. An officeholder at the Canton Tag Office will verify your Georgia ID and outcome Georgia registration and a plate for your vehicle.^[xi]
- If you chose a custom plate, yous may have to look for it to be produced. The officer will give you a Temporary Operating Permit to put on your motorcar. You may receive your plate in the mail, or you lot may have to go back to the Canton Tag Office to choice it up. The officer will allow y'all know.

1
Wait for a renewal notice in the mail. Most counties issue a renewal notice 30 days before your vehicle registration needs to be renewed. Your renewal date is your birthday. Some counties don't consequence renewal notices. All the same, yous're however responsible for renewing your vehicle registration every year, whether you get a notice or non.^[12]
- If you practice receive a renewal notice, check all the information on it to make sure it's right before you renew your registration. This is especially important if you've recently moved (within the state or within the same canton) or changed your name.
Tip: If you demand to change your name or address, get the information changed on your driver's license first. So you can update the information on your vehicle registration. Your registration must friction match the information on your driver's license.
2
Complete emissions inspection if necessary. Some counties, primarily those in the Metro Atlanta expanse, require emissions inspection for gas-powered cars manufactured before 2016. If y'all had to get an emissions inspection when you first registered your car, y'all probable also demand a new emissions inspection when y'all renew your registration.^[13]
- Your registration renewal notice will include an emissions inspection insert if emissions testing is required where y'all live. Cheque the insert for information on finding the nearest testing location and determining whether your vehicle is exempt.
- Emissions inspection reports are valid for 12 months. If you doubtable your motorcar may need repairs, get your inspection done early so that you have time to make those repairs and get your auto reinspected before your registration lapses. Otherwise, yous'll owe a penalty for failure to renew on fourth dimension.
iii
Calculate your taxes and registration fees. Equally of 2018, information technology costs $twenty to renew your registration. In addition, y'all may also owe ad valorem taxes based on your car's current value. Equally your car's value decreases, the tax y'all owe likewise decreases. Advertising valorem taxes are assessed on all vehicles titled in Georgia afterwards March 1, 2013.
- To summate your advert valorem taxes, become to https://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/Tap/welcome.aspx.
iv
Submit your renewal information online if possible. Near counties allow you to renew your registration online, which is typically easier than renewing in person. If you renew your registration online, you will be charged an additional convenience fee.^[xiv]
- You can't renew online if the name or address on your Georgia driver'due south license or identification card differs from the data on your vehicle registration. You must renew in person at the County Tag Part. Bring with you whatever documents that explain the discrepancy between the data on your commuter's license and the information on your vehicle registration.
- If you're able to renew online, you'll fill out the renewal application online and submit your payment for taxes and renewal fees. The online renewal system accepts payment by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and e-check.
- Impress your renewal confirmation and continue information technology in your automobile until you lot get your new decals in the mail.
5
Receive your new decals in the post. If you renewed your registration online, the Georgia Department of Acquirement will mail new decals to the accost shown on your registration. Once these decals arrive, place them on your plate every bit instructed.^[fifteen]
- If your registration happens to elapse earlier you receive your new decals, you may get pulled over for expired registration. Show the officeholder the renewal confirmation, and explicate that you oasis't received your new decals in the mail service nevertheless.

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