GEORGIA VEHICLE TITLE
& SELLING GUIDE

For most standard passenger vehicle sales in Georgia, the seller will need:

• The signed vehicle title — the seller signs the assignment section on the back of the title, which includes the buyer's name, the sale date, the odometer reading, and the sale price.
• A valid government-issued photo ID.
• The odometer disclosure — Georgia requires an odometer reading at the time of sale for most vehicles under a certain age. This is typically recorded on the title itself.
• A bill of sale — while not always legally required in Georgia, a written bill of sale is strongly recommended as a record of the transaction for both parties.

The buyer is responsible for applying for a new title in their name through the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division, typically within 30 days of purchase. Requirements can change — always verify with the official Georgia MVD.

If your Georgia title has been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement (duplicate) title through the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division. The process generally involves:

• Completing the appropriate replacement title application form (available through the Georgia MVD or your county tag office).
• Providing a valid photo ID.
• Paying the applicable replacement title fee.
• If a lienholder is listed on the original title, the lien release may also be required before a clean duplicate can be issued.

Processing times for duplicate titles vary. If you know you want to sell your vehicle and your title is missing, starting the replacement process early is worthwhile. Visit dor.georgia.gov for current forms and fees.

If you financed your vehicle, the lender (lienholder) is listed on the title and has a legal claim to the vehicle until the loan is paid in full. Before you can transfer a clean title to a buyer, the lien must be satisfied and a lien release obtained.

• Contact your lender once the loan is paid off and request a lien release document.
• In Georgia, lienholders are required to release the lien within a reasonable time after payoff. The lien release may come as a separate document or as an endorsement on the title itself.
• If your lender has already sent the lien release but you cannot locate it, contact the lender to request a duplicate.
• A vehicle with an active lien cannot be sold with a clean title until the lien is released.

In Georgia, a title transfer happens when ownership of a vehicle changes hands. As the seller, your primary responsibility is to properly complete the assignment section on the back of the title and provide it to the buyer. The buyer then applies for a new title in their name.

• Sign the title in the designated seller signature area — do not sign anywhere else on the document.
• Fill in the buyer's full legal name, the sale date, the odometer reading, and the sale price where indicated.
• Do not leave any required fields blank — an incomplete title assignment can delay or prevent the transfer.
• Once you have signed over the title and the buyer has taken possession, notify your insurance company and cancel or transfer your coverage.

In Georgia, license plates are generally issued to the vehicle owner and are associated with the vehicle's registration. When you sell a vehicle:

• Remove your license plates from the vehicle before the buyer takes possession.
• You may be able to transfer your existing plates to a replacement vehicle you purchase, subject to Georgia MVD rules.
• If you are not transferring the plates to another vehicle, return them to your county tag office to avoid continued registration fees.
• Leaving your plates on a sold vehicle can create liability issues if the new owner receives citations or is involved in an incident.

Transferring a vehicle from a deceased owner's name in Georgia involves additional steps compared to a standard sale. The process depends on whether the estate went through probate and how the vehicle was titled.

• If the estate was probated, the executor or administrator can transfer the title using Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued by the probate court.
• For smaller estates, Georgia may allow a simplified process using an affidavit of heirship or a small estate affidavit — requirements vary by situation.
• If the vehicle was jointly titled with a surviving spouse or co-owner, the surviving owner may be able to transfer the title with a death certificate and the original title.
• The Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division has specific forms and procedures for inherited vehicle transfers — verify current requirements at dor.georgia.gov.

Commercial vehicles — including box trucks, cargo vans, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) above certain thresholds — may have additional title, registration, and compliance requirements in Georgia:

• Vehicles operating commercially in Georgia may require a Georgia Motor Carrier permit, USDOT number, or other federal and state operating authority depending on the type of operation.
• Tractor-trailers and semi-trucks operating across state lines are typically subject to IRP (International Registration Plan) apportioned registration and IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) requirements.
• The title transfer process for commercial vehicles follows the same general steps as passenger vehicles, but additional documentation related to the vehicle's commercial registration may be required.
• If the vehicle was titled in a business name, documentation establishing the seller's authority to act on behalf of the business (such as articles of organization or a resolution) may be needed.

For commercial vehicle title and registration questions, contact the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Federal requirements are administered by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).