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Georgia title transfer fees
How much is the title fee in Georgia?
$18
In plain English
The Georgia Department of Revenue's fee list shows an original title application fee of $18. The same list shows an $18 title fee for a change of ownership or when a lender's claim (a lien or security interest) is added to or deleted from the title.
“Original Title Application Fee $18”
The official words for the rest
“Title fee for change of ownership or Lien/Security interest added or deleted $18”
Worked example
Example: a $12,000 used car bought from a private seller in Georgia. Title fee: $18. Tax is left out of this example. Not included: registration and plates, a lien fee, an out-of-state inspection, county or office add-ons, and late fees.
A made-up price; every other figure is from the quotes on this page. It is an illustration, not a bill.
What other fees come with it?
- Lien fee$18not added
“Title fee for change of ownership or Lien/Security interest added or deleted $18”
What are the steps in Georgia, and by when?
In plain English
The owner has 30 days from the date the vehicle was purchased or transferred to apply for a title at the buyer's County Tag Office.
The official words
“owners have 30 days from the date the vehicle was purchased or transferred to apply for a title at the buyer’s County Tag Office.”
The fee list shows a $20 license plate registration or renewal fee for a regular passenger car or lightweight pick-up truck. Other vehicles vary according to the state's MV schedule.
The official words
“License Plate Registration or Renewal Fee $20 Regular passenger car or lightweight pick-up truck, other vehicle vary according to the MV schedule.”
What if the car comes from another state?
New residents have
30 days
“Vehicles must be registered with the state within 30 days from the date you moved to Georgia.”
In plain English
A new resident's vehicles must be registered with the state within 30 days from the date of the move to Georgia.
The official words
“Vehicles must be registered with the state within 30 days from the date you moved to Georgia.”
New residents to Georgia pay TAVT at a rate of 3%, under a Georgia law effective July 1, 2019.
The official words
“New residents to Georgia pay TAVT at a rate of 3% (New Georgia Law effective July 1, 2019).”
What about tax on the purchase in Georgia?
In plain English
Georgia charges Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), which replaced sales tax and the annual motor vehicle tax. The current rate is 7.0% of the vehicle's fair market value, and it is paid every time ownership is transferred or a new resident registers the vehicle in Georgia for the first time.
The official words
“The current TAVT rate is 7.0% of the fair market value of the vehicle.”
“It replaced sales tax and annual ad valorem tax (annual motor vehicle tax) and is paid every time vehicle ownership is transferred or a new resident registers the vehicle in Georgia for the first time.”
We don’t work out tax for Georgia.
A calculator on a state or county government site: TAVT Estimator (Calculator) (eservices.drives.ga.gov).
What does a gift or family transfer change in Georgia?
In plain English
When the vehicle has a Georgia title and the related TAVT was paid, the family member can pay a reduced TAVT rate of 0.5% of the vehicle's fair market value.
The official words
“If the vehicle has a Georgia title, and related TAVT was paid, the family member can pay a reduced TAVT rate of 0.5% of the fair market value of the vehicle.”
What happens if the transfer is late in Georgia?
In plain English
Failing to apply for a Georgia title within 30 days of the vehicle's purchase or transfer date brings a $10 title penalty. In a casual sale, not submitting TAVT within 30 days of purchase brings a penalty of 10% of the TAVT after day 30, and 1% more every month after that.
The official words
“Title Penalty for failure to apply for Georgia Title within 30 days of the vehicle’s purchase or transfer date $10”
“Casual sale Title Ad Valorem Tax penalty for not submitting TAVT within 30 days of purchase 10% of TAVT after day 30 and 1% additional every month thereafter”
What the pages we read do not cover
The pages we read do not say what papers to bring to the County Tag Office.
The quotes we hold do not say which family members qualify for the reduced tax rate.
The quotes we hold do not say whether a vehicle from another state needs an inspection.
How Georgia compares
The title fee quoted for Georgia is $18. Of the other 37 states with a figure, 22 states quote less, 14 states quote more and 1 state quotes the same. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.
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The states whose flat title fee sits closest to Georgia’s. Each figure is copied from the quote at the top of that state’s page, with its source and read date. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.
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Reference only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement
Sources
11 quoted lines from 3 official sources, each matched word for word on November 12, 2026. The state’s own titling page is dor.georgia.gov.