Paperwork When Buying a Car in Georgia

Once you buy the vehicle, you'll need to register, title, and tag it, so be sure to get all the documentation you need when you buy.

Steps to Take

Take the following to your local Tax Commissioner's Office to get your tags:

• Certificate or origin, or the original title.

• Bill of sale.

• Appropriate fees and taxes. The original title fee is $18; a replacement is $8. A new law in Georgia requires sales tax to be paid at the time you register and title the vehicle, regardless of the registration time period, unless you have documentation proving the tax has already been paid.

Georgia assesses numerous penalty fees for late registration, so make sure you register and title your vehicle in a timely manner. You have 90 days to register after you purchase or transfer a title; if information on the application is incorrect or further details are needed, another penalty is assessed and you have 60 days to reapply.

Buying Without a Title or Registration

Titles are not required in Georgia for vehicles 1985 or older, but you will need to provide the Bill of Sale when you register the car in your name, so be sure to take it with you to your local Tax Commissioner's Office. If the car is newer than 1985, the Bill of Sale might still work in place of a title.

If the registration is missing, you'll need to go to your local Tax Commissioner's Office after contacting law enforcement to inspect the vehicle and the VIN. With this documentation and your Bill of Sale, you'll be able to register the car in your name.

Bill of Sale

You'll need a Bill of Sale for registration purposes. If you have difficulty finding this form, you can easily download one from our Bill of Sale page.

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