Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division Motor Vehicle Manual Vehicle Registration P. O. Box 740381 Atlanta, Georgia 30374-0381 Telephone Number: 1-855-406-5221 www.dor.ga.gov Page | 1 Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 6 Section 1 – DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................... 7 Section 2 – REGISTRATION OVERVIEW ............................................................................... 13 • Vehicle Dealer, Distributor, Manufacturer, Transporter Registration ....................... 13 • Commercial Vehicle Registration .............................................................................. 13 • Vehicles Exempt from IRP Registration ..................................................................... 14 • Registration of New or Unregistered Vehicles .......................................................... 15 • Non-Resident, Visitor, Non-Resident Military Personnel or Non-Resident Student 15 • Functionally Located Vehicles................................................................................... 15 • Vehicles Not Registered or Titled in Georgia ............................................................ 16 • Trailers, Tractors, and Trailers Not Registered in Georgia......................................... 16 • Car/Tow Dollies ........................................................................................................ 16 • Vehicles & Equipment Transporting Cargo/Containers............................................. 17 • Motor Vehicle Owners Exempt from Registration in Georgia ................................... 17 Section 3 – APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................... 18 • New Residents .......................................................................................................... 19 • Homemade Trailers .................................................................................................. 21 • Permanent Trailer Tags ............................................................................................ 22 Section 4 – GEORGIA REGISTRATION PERIODS ................................................................... 24 • Year-Round Staggered Registration .......................................................................... 24 • For Individuals or Lessees That are Not Businesses .................................................. 24 • For Businesses, Lessees that are Businesses or Entities that are Not Individuals ...... 24 • Non-Staggered Registrations .................................................................................... 24 • Counties with Non-Staggered Registrations ............................................................. 24 • Four-Month Staggered Registration (One County-Talbot) ........................................ 25 • For Businesses, Lessees that are Businesses or Entities that are Not Individuals-Talbot County ...................................................................................................................... 25 • Registration Deadline on Saturday, Sunday or Holiday ............................................. 25 • Renewal Decals ........................................................................................................ 25 • Vehicles that Weigh Over 26,000 Pounds ................................................................. 26 Section 5 – REGISTRATION RENEWAL ................................................................................. 27 • License Plate Renewal .............................................................................................. 27 • Renewal Notice ........................................................................................................ 27 • Corrections to Renewal Notice ................................................................................. 27 • Internet (Online) Registration Renewal .................................................................... 27 Page | 2 • Kiosk at Retail Locations ........................................................................................... 28 Section 6 – VEHICLES PURCHASED FROM GEORGIA MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS ................. 29 • Application to Extend Initial Registration Period ...................................................... 29 Section 7 – TEMPORARY OPERATING PERMITS .................................................................. 31 • Vehicle Purchases From a Source Other than Georgia Registered Dealer ................ 31 • Tags Not in the County Tag Office’s Inventory .......................................................... 31 Section 8 – TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP ............................................................................... 32 • General Rules ........................................................................................................... 32 • Transfer of a Current Tag and Registration Certificate ............................................. 32 • Transfer of an Expired Tag and Registration Certificate ........................................... 33 Section 9 – REPLACEMENT LICENSE PLATE (TAG) RENEWAL DECAL ................................... 35 • Original Lost, Stolen, or Damaged ............................................................................ 35 • Original Tag/Decal Lost in the Mail ........................................................................... 35 • Lost or Mutilated Government Tags ......................................................................... 35 • Replacement Registration Certificate, a/k/a Tag Receipt ......................................... 37 • Replacement County Name Decal ............................................................................ 38 Section 10 – RELINQUISHMENT OF OWNERSHIP OF DEALER REGISTRATION ..................... 39 Section 11 – LICENSE PLATES; ORDERING, RECEIVING, INVENTORY ................................... 40 • Temporary Permit (TOP) Shipments ......................................................................... 40 • Tag Envelopes and T-Serial Plates ............................................................................. 41 Section 12 – AUDITS ........................................................................................................... 42 • Issuing Refunds ........................................................................................................ 42 • Electronic Funds Transfer ......................................................................................... 42 Section 13 – SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................... 43 • Reporting and/or Surrendering Georgia License Plate (Tag) ..................................... 43 Section 14 – HABITUAL VIOLATOR ...................................................................................... 45 • Important Notice Regarding Habitual Violator Court ................................................ 47 Section 15 – TAG SERVICE COMPANIES .............................................................................. 49 • §40-2-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated ................................................ 49 • Tag Service Companies Revenue Rule/Regulations .................................................. 49 • §560-10-28-.01 – Tag Service Company.................................................................... 49 • §560-10-28-.02 – Registration .................................................................................. 50 • §560-10-28-.03 – Submission of Documents, Fees, and Taxes .................................. 50 • §560-10-28-.04 – Certain Advertising Prohibited ..................................................... 51 • Tag Service Company Registration Form .................................................................. 51 • Tag Service Company Affidavit ................................................................................. 54 • Affidavit of Corporate Officer ................................................................................... 54 • T8-A Power of Attorney – Tag Service Company ...................................................... 55 • More Tag Service Company Information .................................................................. 56 Page | 3 • Submission of Documents, Fees & Tags by Tag Service Company ............................ 56 Section 16 – DISABLED PERSONS’ PARKING PERMIT/TAG .................................................. 58 • Permanent Disabled Persons’ Parking Permits ......................................................... 58 • Temporary Disabled Person Parking Permit ............................................................. 58 • Special Equipment Disabled Person Parking Permit ................................................. 58 • Disabled Persons License Plate (Tag) ........................................................................ 59 • Disabled Person Parking License Plate (Tag) for Business (MV9DB) .......................... 60 • Definitions ................................................................................................................ 60 Section 17 – MOTOR VEHICLE TAG/TITLE/LIEN RECORD..................................................... 62 Section 18 – TEMPORARY SITE PERMITS; AKA TENT SALES ................................................. 63 Section 19 – TAG PENALTIES..............................................................................................