Georgia Vehicle Title Transfer Checklist
Georgia title transfers are handled by the county tag office (not the state directly) on behalf of the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division. The buyer completes Form MV-1 (Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application) and pays the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) instead of sales tax. TAVT is a one-time tax on the vehicle's fair market value (currently 7% — verify with GA DOR) that replaces both sales tax and the older annual ad valorem tax for vehicles titled in Georgia since March 2013. The buyer must complete the transfer at the county tag office within 30 days of purchase to avoid TAVT penalties. Plates stay with the seller in Georgia — the buyer either transfers eligible plates from another vehicle they own or buys new plates with registration.
Quick answer
Georgia title transfers are handled at the county tag office — not at a centralized state DMV branch. Buyers must apply and pay the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) within 30 days of transfer — check the GA DOR Motor Vehicle Division website for current TAVT rates and required documentation.
Key facts
- State
- Georgia
- Agency
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- Process
- Title Transfer
- Notary required
- No
- Bill of sale
- Conditional
- Odometer disclosure
- Yes
- Filing deadline
- 30 days
- Last verified
- 2026-05-21
- Official source
- Georgia Department of Revenue ↗
Key facts from official sources
TAVT is a one-time tax based on the vehicle's fair market value. Check current TAVT rate at GA DOR.
Georgia DOR — Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) ↗Georgia generally does not require notarization for standard vehicle title transfers.
Georgia DOR — Motor Vehicle Division ↗Buyer must apply for title and pay TAVT at the county tag office within 30 days of transfer.
Georgia DOR — Motor Vehicle Division ↗Quick reference
Notary required?
✗NoBill of sale?
◆ConditionalOdometer disclosure?
✓YesInspection required?
◆Conditional⏱ Important Deadlines
- 30-day deadline: Buyer must apply for title and pay TAVT at the county tag office within 30 days of the date of saleOfficial source ↗
- 30-day deadline: TAVT late penalty applies after 30 days10% of TAVT + monthly compounding penalty.Official source ↗
Seller Checklist
Items the seller typically needs to prepare or provide.
Buyer Checklist
Items the buyer typically needs to prepare or provide.
Required Forms
Fees
Title fee
Paid at the county tag office at the time of transfer.
Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT)
One-time tax that replaces both sales tax and annual ad valorem tax for vehicles titled in Georgia since March 2013. Calculated on the Georgia DOR fair-market-value tables (not the sale price). Rate can change — verify current rate before transfer.
Registration fee
Annual registration fee plus optional county/special-tag fees. Confirm current amount with your county tag office.
Late TAVT penalty
Georgia adds an immediate 10% penalty on unpaid TAVT after 30 days, plus 1% per month thereafter (sourceNeeded — confirm current penalty calculation).
Special requirements
Georgia does not require notarization for standard vehicle title transfers. The seller's signature on the back of the title is sufficient.
Georgia uses Form T-7 as the official bill of sale. Not required by statute when the title is properly assigned, but Form T-7 is recommended and may be required when the title's purchase price field is incomplete.
Required by federal law and on the back of the Georgia title. Completed by the seller for vehicles less than 20 model-years old.
Georgia requires annual emissions inspections in 13 Atlanta metro counties for most gasoline vehicles 3–25 model-years old. Vehicles outside those counties are exempt. Emissions must be passed before registration in covered counties.
Step-by-step process
- 1Confirm the seller is the titled owner of record on the front of the Georgia title.
- 2Check the title for liens — outstanding liens must be released before transfer.
- 3Seller signs the back of the title and completes the odometer disclosure.
- 4Both parties complete Form T-7 (bill of sale) if needed.
- 5Seller removes Georgia plates from the vehicle.
- 6Buyer obtains Georgia auto insurance in their name.
- 7If the vehicle is in one of the 13 emissions counties (mostly Atlanta metro), complete emissions inspection.
- 8Buyer brings signed title, MV-1, bill of sale, insurance proof, photo ID, and payment to the county tag office within 30 days.
- 9Buyer pays $18 title fee + TAVT (7% of fair market value) + registration fee.
- 10County tag office issues registration and new plates; the new title arrives by mail.
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✗Missing the 30-day deadline — Georgia immediately adds a 10% penalty on unpaid TAVT with monthly compounding.
- ✗Not realizing that plates stay with the seller in Georgia — driving on the seller's plates is illegal.
- ✗Trying to file at a GA DOR office — title transfers go through the county tag office, not the state directly.
- ✗Underreporting the sale price — Georgia calculates TAVT on its own fair-market-value tables, not the bill of sale price, so under-declaring won't reduce the tax owed.
- ✗Forgetting emissions inspection in covered counties — the county tag office won't complete registration without it.
- ✗Confusing TAVT with annual sales tax — TAVT is a one-time tax that replaces sales tax for vehicles titled in Georgia.
Official links
Source verification
This page covers 4 researched claims about Georgia title transfer:
Directly cited from official sources
Inferred — confirm with agency before acting
Researched from Georgia Department of Revenue — Motor Vehicle Division. Requirements can change — always verify with the official agency before submitting documents.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Georgia?
Georgia charges an $18 title fee plus Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) at approximately 7% of the vehicle's fair market value (Georgia uses its own value tables, not the sale price), plus the annual registration fee. For a $20,000 vehicle, TAVT alone is around $1,400. Total transfer cost depends heavily on vehicle value.
What is TAVT and how is it different from sales tax?
Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) is a one-time tax on the vehicle's fair market value that Georgia introduced in March 2013. It replaces both sales tax and the older annual ad valorem tax for vehicles titled in Georgia. You pay TAVT once at title transfer; you don't pay sales tax on the purchase, and you don't pay annual ad valorem tax on the vehicle while you own it.
Does Georgia require notarization for title transfers?
No. Georgia does not require notarization for the seller's signature on a vehicle title. The seller simply signs the back of the title and completes the odometer disclosure.
What if I gift the car to a family member in Georgia?
Family gift transfers between immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild) qualify for a reduced TAVT rate of 0.5% of the fair market value (rather than the full 7%). Document the gift on Form T-7 and provide proof of family relationship at the county tag office.
I inherited a car in Georgia — how do I transfer the title?
If the estate has gone through probate, the executor signs the title via the court order. Without probate, a surviving family member may use Form T-20 (with supporting documents like a death certificate) to transfer the vehicle. TAVT may be waived for inherited vehicles depending on the relationship — check with your county tag office.
I moved to Georgia from another state — what do I do?
New Georgia residents have 30 days to title and register the vehicle at their county tag office. Bring the out-of-state title, completed MV-1, proof of Georgia insurance, photo ID, and payment for the $18 title fee, TAVT (calculated on the vehicle's fair market value), and registration fee. New residents may qualify for a reduced TAVT rate (currently 3% — verify with GA DOR).
Other Georgia vehicle tasks
Title Transfer in other states
Compare all 50 states →Tools and resources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-21 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official Georgia Department of Revenue — Motor Vehicle Division sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice