Vehicle owners must apply for a Georgia car title when they purchase or transfer a car, since titles display the name(s) of the vehicle’s legal owner. Car owners must apply for a vehicle title before they may register their vehicles, or they may complete the two transactions simultaneously if drivers meet all registration requirements. As such, drivers must apply for a car title immediately after purchasing a new vehicle to avoid acquiring penalty fees. However, dealerships often handle the new car title application process when car owners purchase a vehicle from a dealer.

If the dealer does not handle the titling process or if motorists purchase a vehicle from a third-party seller, vehicle owners must submit the paperwork on their own. To obtain an auto title in GA, motorists must complete an application, gather all supporting documentation and visit a Department of Revenue (DOR) County Tag Office to submit the credentials in person. To learn more about how to get car titles and to find out how DMV car titles differ from vehicle registrations, review the information below.

Where to Apply for a Car Title in Georgia

Car dealerships generally complete and submit all certificate of title paperwork when a driver purchases a vehicle directly from a dealer. However, a motorist must submit all car title documentation on his or her own if the driver purchases a vehicle from a private seller, or receives the vehicle from a family member.

To apply for a vehicle title in GA without the assistance of a dealer, a car owner must visit a Tag Office for the county in which he or she lives. Failure to immediately apply for a new car title after acquiring a vehicle often results in penalties and fines if law enforcement stops a driver for any reason.

The Georgia Auto Title Application

To obtain a DMV car title in Georgia (also known as a pink slip), vehicle owners must complete a Title/Tag Application (Form MV-1) in blue or black ink. Alternatively, drivers who need to get car titles may complete the application electronically before printing it out and submitting the form in person.

Vehicle owners cannot submit a new or used car title application online or by mail. To obtain a GA title for car ownership, motorists must provide the following information pertaining to the vehicle:

• The vehicle’s year, make, body style, model, color and vehicle identification number (VIN).
• The vehicle’s purchase date, emission certificate number, current car title number, gross vehicle weight rating, fuel type and odometer reading.
• Vehicle ownership information, including the full name, birth date, address and driver license number of the vehicle owner and co-owner.
• The name and address of the seller.
• The name, address and driver license number of the lessee.
• Details of the security interest or lien, if applicable.

Once motorists complete the GA car title application, they may submit the form in person at a DOR County Tag Office.

Documents You Must Provide When Applying for a New Car Title in Georgia

In addition to completing a Georgia DMV car title application, vehicle owners must submit supporting documentation as well. To get a car title in GA, motorists must visit a County Tag Office and provide the following information:

• A state driver license or identification card.
• Proof of vehicle ownership, including the vehicle’s original auto title (the previous owner must sign the title over to the new vehicle owner).
• A bill of sale, if the vehicle’s model year is older than 1985 and the vehicle does not require a title.
• A Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin or current registration certificate if the current vehicle title is unavailable.
• Proof of automobile liability insurance.
• Payment for all titling fees.

Note: When getting car titles on out-of-state vehicles without current car title certificates, motorists must complete a vehicle inspection. After completing the inspection, a state law enforcement officer must complete a Certificate of Inspection on behalf of the driver (Form T-22B), and the vehicle owner must submit the form to the County Tag Office.

What is a Georgia car registration?

Although drivers may complete the titling and vehicle registration process simultaneously using the Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application (Form MV-1), title and registration documents serve two different purposes. A GA auto registration certificate, for instance, is a document which grants drivers permission to legally operate a vehicle on state roadways.

Vehicle owners receive a new car registration certificate if the vehicle meets the state DOR’s car registration guidelines and prerequisites. Similar to the process of applying for a car title, drivers must register their vehicles in person at a County Tag Office.

What is the difference between a car title and a vehicle registration in Georgia?

The main difference between Georgia car registration documentation and titles is that a certificate of title serves as legal proof of vehicle ownership. In contrast, motor vehicle registration is proof that you can legally drive the car on public roads, and that the vehicle remains compliant with state DOR registration guidelines.

However, it is your responsibility to obtain auto registration documents and title certificates immediately after purchasing or acquiring a new or used vehicle. To get car registration documentation and a title at the same time, you must complete a Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application, present proof of auto insurance and proof of completing a vehicle inspection and emissions inspection, if applicable.

Drivers must renew DMV car registration certificates on an annual basis. However, vehicle owners do not renew their car titles. Instead, drivers must apply for a new title when a vehicle changes ownership.

Car Title Costs in Georgia

The standard Georgia car title cost is $18. Conversely, applicants seeking a duplicate copy of an existing title only have to pay $8.

California Privacy R. Request

California Opt-Out