Vehicle Registration Guide in Georgia State

A Georgia vehicle registration binds Georgia residents to their vehicles. The Georgia Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is in charge of vehicle registration in Georgia. Vehicle registration and titling are completed concurrently. All vehicles must be registered with the local county tag office in Georgia. The Tax Commissioner is in charge of this duty.

Required Documents

Certain documents must be provided to register a vehicle. These differ according to how the vehicle was obtained. The following documents are required at a minimum:
  • A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • Proof of a current Georgia auto insurance policy
  • A valid Georgia driver's license or state identification card
  • Documentation proving Georgia residency, such as a:
    • Your new home's lease or closing statement.
    • The utility bill.
    • Bill of lading or truck rental agreement
  • Ownership of a vehicle (e.g., out-of-state title, registration certificate, lienholder information).
  • If necessary, conduct a vehicle inspection
  • All applicable vehicle registration, title, and tax fees must be paid
Georgia vehicle registrations are valid for one year. Some counties have different cycles for renewal.

Georgia Vehicle Registration

Georgia residents have 7 days from the date of purchase or acquisition of a new vehicle (e.g., gifted, inherited, family-transferred, etc.) to register it with the GA Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Residents of Georgia must bring the following items when going to register a new vehicle:
  • Proof of a current Georgia auto insurance policy.
  • If applicable, a completed vehicle inspection.
When registering a vehicle in Georgia, residents must also provide a title. Vehicle registration consists of three parts:
  • A metal license plate
  • A registration card
  • An adhesive decal

License Plates

There are numerous license plate options available. Any plate that is not standard necessitates additional documentation and is more expensive. There are two types of standard plates: standard and alternate standard. All standard plates are $20 the first time and $20 to renew the decal. The renewal fee is $20 per year if the vehicle is in the TAVT system (purchased after March 1, 2013). Non-standard license plates have an additional fee when first purchased and renewed annually. Please find out how much non-standard license plates cost and what they require. The license plate belongs to the driver, not the vehicle. If the vehicle is traded in or sold, the tag owner may keep the license plate and decal to transfer it to another vehicle. Transferring a license plate with a current decal costs $5. The fee for plates with expired decals is the same as that for renewing registration (minus any taxes).

Registration Cards

Upon purchasing a plate, the owner will receive a vehicle's registration card and personal information. The card will include:
  • Name, mailing address, tax district, driver's license number, and County office information from customer records
  • The current registration's expiration date
  • Receipt displaying the most recent payments associated with the vehicle
  • Registration cards are supplied in two copies, one for the vehicle and one for the residence/business.
  • Vehicle data include the VIN, tag number, year, make, and model.

Decals

An adhesive decal is attached to the registration card. It displays the month and year of registration expiration, the license plate number, and the current year's color (different colors each year). As proof of current registration, this decal is placed in the bottom right corner of the license plate. The vehicle owner will receive a new registration card with a new decal with each annual registration. The new decal should be placed over the old one, or the old one should be removed and the new one placed in its place.

Non-Leased Vehicle in Georgia

To complete a non-leased vehicle registration in Georgia, residents must bring the following items to their local County Tag Office:
  • A valid Georgia driver's license or state identification card.
  • Proof of a current Georgia auto insurance policy
  • Documentation proving ownership to title the vehicle, such as:
    • You have received a signed Certificate of Origin from the manufacturer.
    • The previous owner signed over the title to you.
    • You have a current vehicle registration certificate that has been signed over to you.
  • Proof of Georgia residency, such as:
    • Lease contract
    • The utility bill.
    • Paycheck stub with address printed on it
  • If applicable, proof of inspection.
  • All applicable registration fees, title fees, and sales tax must be paid.
The owner's full legal name must appear on all documents used to prove ownership. The registration of a vehicle is valid for one year. When this period expires, Georgia residents must renew their vehicle registration.

Leased Vehicle in Georgia

Vehicle titles must be in the name of the lessor. Individuals may not register a leased vehicle with the Georgia Motor Vehicle Department unless:
  • A Georgia title has already been issued in the name of your leasing company.
  • When registering a vehicle in Georgia, a resident applies to title it in the name of their leasing company.
Residents of the Peach State can present the following documents at their local County Tag Office:
  • An accomplished Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • Proof of a current Georgia auto insurance policy
  • Power of attorney from the vehicle's leasing company or the lease agreement must include the lessor's authorization to register the vehicle.
  • If necessary, title documentation.
  • Georgia driver's license or state identification card
  • Proof of Georgia residency, such as:
    • The utility bill.
    • Lease contract
  • If applicable, proof that the vehicle has passed a vehicle inspection.
  • Payment of all required vehicle registration, tax, and titling fees

For more information on leased vehicle registration, click on the link below:

Leased Vehicle Registration