Do I Need A Ga Driver's License To Register My Car

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If you ain or lease a machine and want to drive information technology in Georgia, y'all must first register it with the state. Generally, to register a machine in Georgia you must complete an awarding and present a valid, land-issued ID along with proof of ownership and proof of insurance for the vehicle. Y'all must besides pay taxes and fees, both with initial registration and when you lot renew your registration every year. Complete your initial registration in person at the County Tag Office, then y'all can typically renew online.

1
Complete the tag and title awarding. If you buy a new or used car at a dealership in Georgia, you will likely fill out and sign this form as part of your paperwork. All fields of the form must either be typed or printed by hand in bluish or black ink.^[1]
- Download the tag and championship application at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/mv-i-dor-motor-vehicle-titletag-application if you desire to make full it out at home earlier you go to the County Tag Office.
Did You lot Know? If y'all purchase a new or used vehicle in Georgia, you have 30 days to annals it. A dealer will typically give you a Temporary Operating Permit (Peak) that allows you to drive your car during that time.
ii
Gather proof of buying and proof of insurance. Before y'all tin can register a vehicle, you lot must demonstrate that you own the vehicle and that you accept valid insurance to drive it. Typically, your insurance company will file your proof of insurance with the state'south database directly after you add the new car to your policy.^[2]
- You can also print off your insurance cards or policy statement to serve as proof of insurance. Information technology'south a expert idea to bring these documents with you anyway, just in case.
- Proof of buying typically consists of a neb of auction or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. Car dealers typically will point out the paperwork y'all demand to use to institute proof of ownership.
- If yous bought the vehicle from an individual, you'll probable have the title to the vehicle, which the seller has signed over to you.
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Contact your County Tag Function. Specific procedures and requirements for registration may vary amongst counties. Phone call your County Tag Office before you go to notice out what documents you'll need to register your new car.
- You can find your County Tag Part past visiting https://mvd.dor.ga.gov/motor/tagoffices/SelectTagOffice.aspx and selecting the county where you live from the drop-down menu.
- When you register your vehicle, you lot'll take to pay registration fees and advert valorem taxes. An officer at the County Tag Role can help you calculate what you lot'll have to pay and tell you what methods of payment are accepted.
iv
Appear in person at your County Tag Office. To apply for initial registration of a vehicle, y'all must get to the County Tag Office in the county where you live and submit your application along with proof of buying and proof of insurance. The officer at the Tag Office volition also verify your ID. You lot can register a vehicle with a valid Georgia driver's license or Georgia identification bill of fare.^[3]
- Yous can also apply for title and registration through the mail service. However, a license plate and registration will not be issued to you until you present your valid Georgia driver'due south license or state-issued identification card in person.^[four]
5
Place your new tags on your vehicle. Dealerships are authorized to place Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) plates on newly purchased vehicles. These plates are valid for 30 days. Surrender your Tiptop to the Canton Tag Office when you become your new plate.^[v]
- If you ordered a custom tag, you lot may not receive it immediately. Instead, it will be mailed to you when it is ready. If you need an extension of your Superlative while you're waiting for the tag, you tin can take care of this at the County Tag Office.

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Get a valid Georgia driver's license. If you lot are new to the land of Georgia, you must first go a Georgia commuter's license before you can register a vehicle. Georgia commuter'due south licenses are issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). You will be expected to surrender your sometime state ID when you get your Georgia ID.^{[half dozen]}
- To find the DDS location nearest you, become to https://dds.georgia.gov/location.
Tip: If yous are a higher pupil in Georgia and your permanent home is outside the state, you don't take to get a Georgia driver's license or register your car in Georgia. However, you are nonetheless responsible for keeping your license and registration up-to-date in your home land.
2
Get together your out-of-state championship and registration. Your out-of-state title and registration serve equally proof that you ain the vehicle. Both of these documents must listing your total proper noun exactly as it appears on your Georgia driver's license.^[7]
- If you don't currently accept the title to your vehicle considering it is financed or leased, fill out Form T-17. You can download this course at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/t-17-statement-title-held-lienholder-security-interest-holder-or-leasing-company.
- In some situations, your out-of-land championship or registration may accept a different proper name than your Georgia driver's license. For example, you may be recently married or divorced. In these situations, bring documents showing proof of the legal proper name modify, such as a marriage prescript or divorce certificate.
3
Have a law enforcement officer inspect your vehicle. Vehicles from another country must pass a safety inspection earlier they can be registered in Georgia. Any Georgia law enforcement officer can complete this inspection. They will fill out and sign a form, which you must submit with your awarding for registration.^[8]
- To find out when and where you tin can go the inspection completed, contact your local police precinct. Make sure y'all utilize the non-emergency number.
- You can download and print the inspection form at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/t-22b-certification-inspection.
4
Take your vehicle for an emissions inspection if required. Some Georgia counties, primarily those in the Metro Atlanta area, require certain vehicles to pass an emissions inspection before they tin can be registered. Generally, inspections are required if your vehicle is gas-powered, or is a hybrid vehicle that is capable of running on gas.^[nine]
- Visit http://www.cleanairforce.com/motorists/ofttimes-asked-questions/ to detect out which counties and which vehicles must have their emissions tested.
- If you demand to get an emissions inspection, you can discover the location of the testing station nearest you at http://world wide web.cleanairforce.com/motorists/emissions-testing-locations/. Emissions inspections cost $25.
- If your vehicle fails the inspection, you'll get a form that gives you lot some information on the repairs that are needed to pass the inspection. You become one free retest if you render to the same station after you've made the repairs.
v
Complete the tag and title awarding form. To apply for a new Georgia title and registration, you must fill out Class MV-1 and nowadays it at the County Tag Office in the county where you alive. This grade must either be typed or filled in with legible impress in blue or black ink.^[x]
- If it would be easier for you, you tin download the form at https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/mv-one-dor-motor-vehicle-titletag-application and fill information technology out at home before yous go to the County Tag Office.
6
Visit the County Tag Office of the county where yous live. Accept all your paperwork to the Canton Tag Office and use for registration in person. An officer at the County Tag Function will verify your Georgia ID and issue Georgia registration and a plate for your vehicle.^[11]
- If you chose a custom plate, you lot may take to wait for it to exist produced. The officer will give you a Temporary Operating Let to put on your motorcar. You may receive your plate in the mail service, or you may accept to become back to the Canton Tag Office to pick information technology upward. The officer will let y'all know.

1
Expect for a renewal notice in the mail. Nearly counties issue a renewal detect 30 days before your vehicle registration needs to exist renewed. Your renewal date is your altogether. Some counties don't outcome renewal notices. However, you're still responsible for renewing your vehicle registration every year, whether you get a notice or non.^[12]
- If you practice receive a renewal find, check all the information on it to brand sure it'south correct earlier you renew your registration. This is especially important if you've recently moved (within the state or within the same canton) or changed your name.
Tip: If you need to modify your name or accost, go the information changed on your commuter'southward license kickoff. Then y'all can update the information on your vehicle registration. Your registration must match the data on your driver's license.
ii
Complete emissions inspection if necessary. Some counties, primarily those in the Metro Atlanta surface area, crave emissions inspection for gas-powered cars manufactured before 2016. If you had to get an emissions inspection when yous showtime registered your motorcar, yous likely too need a new emissions inspection when you lot renew your registration.^[13]
- Your registration renewal notice volition include an emissions inspection insert if emissions testing is required where you live. Check the insert for data on finding the nearest testing location and determining whether your vehicle is exempt.
- Emissions inspection reports are valid for 12 months. If you suspect your motorcar may need repairs, go your inspection washed early so that you have time to make those repairs and get your car reinspected before your registration lapses. Otherwise, you'll owe a penalty for failure to renew on fourth dimension.
three
Calculate your taxes and registration fees. Equally of 2018, it costs $20 to renew your registration. In addition, you lot may likewise owe ad valorem taxes based on your auto'due south current value. As your automobile's value decreases, the tax y'all owe also decreases. Ad valorem taxes are assessed on all vehicles titled in Georgia afterward March one, 2013.
- To calculate your advertising valorem taxes, get to https://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/Tap/welcome.aspx.
four
Submit your renewal information online if possible. Most counties let y'all to renew your registration online, which is typically easier than renewing in person. If you renew your registration online, yous will exist charged an additional convenience fee.^[14]
- You can't renew online if the proper noun or accost on your Georgia driver's license or identification card differs from the information on your vehicle registration. You lot must renew in person at the County Tag Role. Bring with yous any documents that explain the discrepancy between the information on your commuter'southward license and the information on your vehicle registration.
- If y'all're able to renew online, yous'll fill out the renewal application online and submit your payment for taxes and renewal fees. The online renewal system accepts payment by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and e-check.
- Print your renewal confirmation and go on it in your machine until y'all become your new decals in the mail.
five
Receive your new decals in the mail. If you renewed your registration online, the Georgia Department of Revenue will mail new decals to the address shown on your registration. Once these decals arrive, identify them on your plate as instructed.^[15]
- If your registration happens to expire before you receive your new decals, you lot may get pulled over for expired registration. Show the officer the renewal confirmation, and explain that you haven't received your new decals in the mail service yet.

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