Registering a Newly Purchased Vehicle
Complete the tag and title application. If you buy a new or used car at a dealership in Georgia, you will likely fill out and sign this form as part of your paperwork. All fields of the form must either be typed or printed by hand in blue or black ink. Download the tag and title application at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/mv-1-dor-motor-vehicle-titletag-application if you want to fill it out at home before you go to the County Tag Office.Did You Know? If you purchase a new or used vehicle in Georgia, you have 30 days to register it. A dealer will typically give you a Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) that allows you to drive your car during that time.
Gather proof of ownership and proof of insurance. Before you can register a vehicle, you must demonstrate that you own the vehicle and that you have valid insurance to drive it. Typically, your insurance company will file your proof of insurance with the state's database directly after you add the new car to your policy. You can also print off your insurance cards or policy statement to serve as proof of insurance. It's a good idea to bring these documents with you anyway, just in case. Proof of ownership typically consists of a bill of sale or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Car dealers typically will point out the paperwork you need to use to establish proof of ownership. If you bought the vehicle from an individual, you'll likely have the title to the vehicle, which the seller has signed over to you.
Contact your County Tag Office. 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 car. You can find your County Tag Office by visiting https://mvd.dor.ga.gov/motor/tagoffices/SelectTagOffice.aspx and selecting the county where you live from the drop-down menu. When you register your vehicle, you'll have to pay registration fees and ad valorem taxes. An officer at the County Tag Office can help you calculate what you'll have to pay and tell you what methods of payment are accepted.
Appear in person at your County Tag Office. To apply for initial registration of a vehicle, you must go to the County Tag Office 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 also verify your ID. You can register a vehicle with a valid Georgia driver's license or Georgia identification card. You can also apply for title and registration through the mail. However, a license plate and registration will not be issued to you until you present your valid Georgia driver's license or state-issued identification card in person.
Place your new tags on your vehicle. Dealerships are authorized to place Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) plates on newly purchased vehicles. These plates are valid for 30 days. Surrender your TOP to the County Tag Office when you get your new plate. If you ordered a custom tag, you may not receive it immediately. Instead, it will be mailed to you when it is ready. If you need an extension of your TOP while you're waiting for the tag, you can take care of this at the County Tag Office.
Transferring Registration after Moving
Get a valid Georgia driver's license. If you are new to the state of Georgia, you must first get a Georgia driver's license before you can register a vehicle. Georgia driver's licenses are issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). You will be expected to surrender your old state ID when you get your Georgia ID. To find the DDS location nearest you, go to https://dds.georgia.gov/location.Tip: If you are a college student in Georgia and your permanent home is outside the state, you don't have to get a Georgia driver's license or register your car in Georgia. However, you are still responsible for keeping your license and registration up-to-date in your home state.
Gather your out-of-state title and registration. Your out-of-state title and registration serve as proof that you own the vehicle. Both of these documents must list your full name exactly as it appears on your Georgia driver's license. If you don't currently have the title to your vehicle because it is financed or leased, fill out Form T-17. You can download this form at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/t-17-statement-title-held-lienholder-security-interest-holder-or-leasing-company. In some situations, your out-of-state title 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 name change, such as a marriage decree or divorce certificate.
Have a law enforcement officer inspect your vehicle. Vehicles from another state must pass a safety inspection before they can be registered in Georgia. Any Georgia law enforcement officer can complete this inspection. They will fill out and sign a form, which you must submit with your application for registration. To find out when and where you can get the inspection completed, contact your local police precinct. Make sure you use the non-emergency number. You can download and print the inspection form at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/t-22b-certification-inspection.
Take your vehicle for an emissions inspection if required. Some Georgia counties, primarily those in the Metro Atlanta area, require certain vehicles to pass an emissions inspection before they can be registered. Generally, inspections are required if your vehicle is gas-powered, or is a hybrid vehicle that is capable of running on gas. Visit https://cleanairforce.com/motorists/before-you-test#motoristFAQ to find out which counties and which vehicles must have their emissions tested. If you need to get an emissions inspection, you can find the location of the testing station nearest you at https://cleanairforce.com/motorists/before-you-test/testing-locations. Emissions inspections cost $25. If your vehicle fails the inspection, you'll get a form that gives you some information on the repairs that are needed to pass the inspection. You get one free retest if you return to the same station after you've made the repairs.
Complete the tag and title application form. To apply for a new Georgia title and registration, you must fill out Form MV-1 and present it at the County Tag Office in the county where you live. This form must either be typed or filled in with legible print in blue or black ink. If it would be easier for you, you can download the form at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/mv-1-dor-motor-vehicle-titletag-application and fill it out at home before you go to the County Tag Office.
Visit the County Tag Office of the county where you live. Take all your paperwork to the County Tag Office and apply for registration in person. An officer at the County Tag Office will verify your Georgia ID and issue Georgia registration and a plate for your vehicle. If you chose a custom plate, you may have to wait for it to be produced. The officer will give you a Temporary Operating Permit to put on your car. You may receive your plate in the mail, or you may have to go back to the County Tag Office to pick it up. The officer will let you know.
Renewing Your Vehicle Registration
Look 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 issue renewal notices. However, you're still responsible for renewing your vehicle registration every year, whether you get a notice or not. If you do receive a renewal notice, check all the information on it to make sure it's correct before you renew your registration. This is especially important if you've recently moved (within the state or within the same county) or changed your name.Tip: If you need to change your name or address, get the information changed on your driver's license first. Then you can update the information on your vehicle registration. Your registration must match the information on your driver's license.
Complete emissions inspection if necessary. Some counties, primarily those in the Metro Atlanta area, require emissions inspection for gas-powered cars manufactured before 2016. If you had to get an emissions inspection when you first registered your car, you likely also need a new emissions inspection when you renew your registration. Your registration renewal notice will include an emissions inspection insert if emissions testing is required where you live. Check 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 suspect your car may need repairs, get your inspection done early so that you have time to make those repairs and get your car reinspected before your registration lapses. Otherwise, you'll owe a penalty for failure to renew on time.
Calculate your taxes and registration fees. As of 2018, it costs $20 to renew your registration. In addition, you may also owe ad valorem taxes based on your car's current value. As your car's value decreases, the tax you owe also decreases. Ad valorem taxes are assessed on all vehicles titled in Georgia after March 1, 2013. To calculate your ad valorem taxes, go to https://dor.georgia.gov/title-ad-valorem-tax-tavt-faq.
Submit your renewal information online if possible. Most 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. You can't renew online if the name or address on your Georgia driver's license or identification card differs from the information on your vehicle registration. You must renew in person at the County Tag Office. Bring with you any documents that explain the discrepancy between the information on your driver'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. Print your renewal confirmation and keep it in your car until you get your new decals in the mail.
Receive your new decals in the mail. If you renewed your registration online, the Georgia Department of Revenue will mail new decals to the address shown on your registration. Once these decals arrive, place them on your plate as instructed. If your registration happens to expire before you receive your new decals, you may get pulled over for expired registration. Show the officer the renewal confirmation, and explain that you haven't received your new decals in the mail yet.
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