Car Registration in Georgia

How to Register Your Vehicle in Georgia

  • Complete a Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • Gather proof of insurance and identity, your vehicle title, and a certificate of inspection.
  • Visit your local GA MVD office.
  • Pay your vehicle registration and titling fee.

For more information, please continue reading.

In Georgia, the process of registering a vehicle is handled by the GA Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Registering is completed at the same time as titling your vehicle,

If you already have a registered vehicle in Georgia and you need to renew your registration, visit our GA Registration Renewal page.

New to Georgia?

You will have 30 days from the date you become a resident to register your vehicle with the Georgia Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).

Before you can complete your motor vehicle registration, you must:

  • Purchase auto insurance that meets GA state standards.
  • Get a Georgia driver's license.
  • Complete a vehicle inspection, if required (see “Vehicle Inspections" below).

You must also title your vehicle when you register it as well, which means you'll need to bring your proof of ownership, such as:

  • Your out-of-state title or lienholder information, if your title has a lien.
    OR
  • Your current registration certification, if your previous state did not provide titles.
    • Additionally, if your previous state/country did not provide titles, you must also provide a Certificate of Inspection (form T-22B) completed by a law enforcement officer or County Tag agent. See “Vehicle Inspections" below for details.

Review our GA Title Transfer guide for more information on titling requirements and fees.

Steps to Georgia Vehicle Registration

Once you're ready to complete your motor vehicle registration, you must go to your county County Tag Office's Tag Office and present the following:

  • A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • Your proof of insurance.
  • Your GA driver's license or state ID card.
  • Proof of:
    • Your Georgia residency, such as a:
      • Lease or closing statement for your new residence.
      • Utility bill.
      • Shipper's bill or truck rental agreement.
    • Vehicle ownership (e.g. out-of-state title, registration certificate, lienholder information).
    • Vehicle inspection, if required (see “Vehicle Inspections" below).
  • Payment for all required vehicle registration, title, and tax fees (see “Vehicle Registration Fees" below).

Your automobile registration will be valid for 1 year. Different counties have different renewal cycles, so review our GA Registration Renewal guide for more information.

Note: For any further questions, contact your County Tag Office's Tag office or the GA MVD help desk at (855) 406-5221.

Registering a Vehicle in Georgia

Georgia residents have 7 days from the date of purchase or acquisition (e.g. gifted, inherited, family transferred, etc.) of a new vehicle to register it with the Georgia Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).

Before going to register your new vehicle, make sure that you:

Don't forget that you will also have to title your vehicle when you register it, so review our GA Title Transfer guide for more information on titling requirements.

Make sure you have an active car insurance policy when registering your vehicle.

Compare rates and buy your policy online: Visit the Insurance Center >>

Vehicles Purchased from a Dealership

When you purchase a new or used vehicle from a dealership, the dealer will issue you temporary tags good for 30 days, giving you time to register your vehicle with the MVD, or transfer an existing registration/license plate to your new vehicle. The dealer will apply for your title for you, but not your registration; you are responsible for registering your vehicle.

If your dealer does NOT obtain your title transfer for you before the temporary tag's expiration date, you can apply for an extension at your local Tax Commissioner's office. You can also fill out an online pre-application before you go.

You must provide:

*Your full legal name must appear on the documents you use to prove vehicle ownership.

Registering a Vehicle (Non-Leased)

When you're ready to complete your automobile registration, you'll need to go to your local County Tag Office's Tag Office with the items listed below. First, though, you can pre-apply online to save time filling out paperwork at the tag office.

After pre-applying, bring the following with you:

  • Your GA driver's license or state ID card.
  • Proof of car insurance.
  • Proof of ownership to title your vehicle, such as*:
    • Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin signed over to you.
    • The previous owner's title signed over to you.
    • Current vehicle registration certificate signed over to you.
  • Proof of Georgia residency, such as:
    • Lease agreement.
    • Utility bill.
    • Paycheck stub with printed address.
  • Proof of inspection, if applicable (see “Vehicle Inspections" below).
  • Payment for all required registration fees, title fees, and sales tax.

*Your full legal name must appear on the documents you use to prove vehicle ownership.

Your new auto registration will be good for 1 year, after which you must renew. Review our Georgia Registration Renewal guide for more information.

Note: Contact your local Tag office or call (855) 406-5221 if you have additional questions about completing your automobile registration.

Registering Leased Vehicle

Leased vehicles' titles MUST be in the lessor's name. You will not be allowed to register a leased vehicle with the GA MVD unless:

  • A Georgia title has already been issued in your leasing company's name.
    OR
  • You apply to title your vehicle in your leasing company's name when you register it.

Please review our GA Title Transfer page for more information on titling a leased vehicle.

When you are ready to register your leased vehicle, fill out the online pre-application to have your info waiting in the MVD's system when you arrive at the office.

Then, visit your County County Tag Office's Tag Office and present the following:

  • A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • Proof of auto insurance.
  • A power of attorney from your leasing company or your lease agreement, which must include your lessor's authorization for you to register the vehicle.
  • Titling documentation, if required.
  • Georgia driver's license or state ID card.
  • Proof of Georgia residency, such as:
    • Utility bill.
    • Lease agreement.
  • Proof that your vehicle has passed its vehicle inspection, if required (see “Vehicle Inspections" below).
  • Payment for all necessary vehicle registration fees, taxes, and titling fees (see “Vehicle Registration Fees" below).

Transfer Your Registration & Tags

You may transfer Georgia tags (i.e. license plates) from a vehicle you no longer own to a new vehicle you recently purchased or acquired as long as:

  • The license plate type and price are the same (e.g. passenger car to passenger car but not trailer to passenger car).
  • You complete the tag transfer within 30 days of acquiring your vehicle.

If your new vehicle is not already titled in your name, then you must complete the titling process either before or when you transfer your tag between vehicles. Review our GA Title Transfer page for more information on titling procedures.

To complete a tag transfer for a vehicle already titled in your name, first, consider pre-applying with the MVD to get your information loaded into their system before you arrive.

Whether or not you pre-apply, you must go to your County County Tag Office's Tag Office and present the following:

  • Your GA driver's license or state ID card.
  • The GA auto registration certificate for the vehicle you no longer own (Note: a legible copy is acceptable).
  • A completed Tag/Title Application (Form MV-1).
  • The valid title in your legal name for your new vehicle.
  • Proof of vehicle insurance.
  • Proof that your vehicle completed its inspection, if necessary (see “Vehicle Inspections" below).
  • Pay the tag transfer fee that applies to you on the form.

Remember that your registration cycle will not change when you transfer tags between vehicles, so make sure to renew your registration when required.

Georgia Vehicle Registration Fees

GA MVD vehicle registration fees vary depending on such thing as:

  • The type of vehicle you own (e.g. car, truck, for-hire vehicle, etc.)
  • The type of plate you order (standard vs. specialty plate).
  • Titling fees, if any.
  • Ad valorem tax (i.e. the market value of your vehicle), which varies by county.

You may review the GA MVD's fee chart and calculate your ad valorem tax with an ad valorem tax calculator (which will be paid to your county) to get an estimate of what you will be expected to pay when you register your vehicle.

Note: Feel free to contact your County County Tag Office's Tag office or the GA MVD help desk at (855) 406-5221 for help calculating your fees.

Vehicle Inspections in Georgia

Emissions Inspections

If your vehicle is to be registered in one of the following counties, then you will have to complete a smog and emissions inspection:

  • Cherokee.
  • Clayton.
  • Cobb.
  • Coweta.
  • DeKalb.
  • Douglas.
  • Fayette.
  • Forsyth.
  • Fulton.
  • Gwinnett.
  • Henry.
  • Paulding or Rockdale County.

There are exemptions for newer and older model vehicles as well as alternate fuel vehicles, so review our GA Smog Check guide for more information, including fees, testing locations, and what to do if you fail.

VIN Inspection

If you want to register a vehicle that is currently registered in a state that does not provide titles for vehicles, then a VIN (vehicle identification number) inspection must be completed by your county tag agent or a state law enforcement officer.

The inspecting agent will complete a Certificate of Inspection (Form T-22B) and you will have to submit this along with your vehicle registration paperwork.

Georgia Vehicle Registration Exemptions

The following vehicles are not required to be registered or titled with the Georgia Motor Vehicle Division (MVD):

  • Mopeds.
  • Motorized carts.
  • All-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
  • Off-road vehicles.

Additionally, certain non-residents are not required to register their vehicles while temporarily living in Georgia (see below).

Military & Out-of-State Vehicle Registration

GA Military Residents

Residents of Georgia who are military members and are currently in the state may simply register their vehicles using the process outlined above.

GA military residents stationed out-of-state should call their local County Tag Office first. If you cannot get the help required then you may be able to contact the Motor Vehicle Division at (855) 406-5221 or by email for details on how to register a vehicle in Georgia from your current location.

Non-Resident Military Stationed in GA

If you are not a resident of GA but you are stationed here as a military member, then you DO NOT have to register your vehicle with the GA MVD as long as you keep your the registration, license plates, and insurance from your home state current.

Should you decide to become a Georgia resident, you must register your vehicle in accordance with the steps described above.

Obtain a Duplicate Georgia Vehicle Registration

If at any time you need to order a new vehicle registration certificate for your vehicle or new plate stickers, make sure you do so right away, as you could get pulled over or, worse, a ticket for not having either one or both.

If your registration has become lost or damaged, replace it by:

Learn more on our page dedicated to replacing a lost vehicle registration.

Forms

MV-1
Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application
Application to title AND register your car with the Georgia MVD.
T-22B
Certificate of Inspection by a Duly Constituted Georgia Law Enforcement Officer
Completed by a Georgia law enforcement officer when a VIN inspection is required for registration, usually for vehicles without titles.
T-226
Registration Extension Request Affidavit
Request an extended registration deadline from the MVD if a seller hasn't provided the title to a vehicle you bought.
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