Georgia New License Plates

When applying for a Georgia DOR license plate, car owners can pick from many different car tag options, such as standard or specialty plates. Overall, new registration plates are offered as standard plates, special interest plates, military plates, university plates or alternative fuel tags. Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. The site is secure. The ensures that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Register New Business Business Taxes. Specialty/Prestige License Plates Order Specialty/Prestige License Plates. Duplicate License Plates in Georgia. If your license plates or decals are lost, stolen, or damaged, you can order duplicates from the GA DOR. To order replacement license plate or decals, you will need to: File a police report with your local law enforcement agency. Apply for a replacement in person from the GA.

If you live in Georgia and drive a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle on public roads, you must register it and get a license plate. You will most likely register and apply for plates when you get a new car or move to GA. You may even be able to transfer a license plate from your last vehicle. You're also required to renew your plate by renewing your vehicle registration, and if your plate is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a duplicate tag or decal.

Looking for vanity plates? See our GA Specialty Plates and Applying for Special Plates pages.

Need information about GA disability plates? See our Disability Placards & Plates page.

Keep reading for more information about license plates and tags in Georgia, including application forms, the cost of GA license plates, and other details.

Types of GA License Plates & Tags

You must have a GA license plate if you live in the state and operate a vehicle on Georgia's roads. License plates are required for:

• Passenger vehicles.
• Motorcycles.
• Trailers.
• Other vehicles, such as large trucks and recreational vehicles (RVs).

License plates are issued by the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) county tag offices.

Your license plate number is actually a combination of letters and numbers. It will also have the following decals:

• One listing the county where your car is registered.
• One showing the month and year that your registration expires.

The state issues standard license plates as well as vanity plates and special interest plates.

To get a license plate in Georgia, you must register your car. To keep your license plate valid, you must regularly renew your registration.

Temporary Tags

Temporary tags are issued by car dealers when you buy a car.

These temporary license plates are valid for 30 days and allow you to operate your vehicle on GA roads until you register and title it.

You must register your car with the GA DOR before your temporary tag expires.

If your car dealer doesn't provide you with the vehicle's manufacture certificate or title within 25 days, you can apply for a temporary tag extension from your local GA DOR office.

Apply for Georgia License Plates

You apply for a license plate when you register your car at a GA county tag office.

To register your vehicle, you will need:

• A completed Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application (Form MV-1).
• Payment for your vehicle registration fees:
  • License plate fees:
    • $20 for passenger vehicles.
    • $20 for motorcycles.
    • $12 for homemade trailers.
  • Ad valorem tax, which varies by vehicle and county.
• A form of identification.
• Proof of insurance.
• Your vehicle title or manufacturer certificate of origin.

Our GA car registration page has more details about registration applications, requirements, and fees.

Renew a GA License Plate

Your GA license plate will have a decal in the lower, right corner showing the date and year your registration expires.

Before the expiration date, you should receive a registration renewal notice by mail. You can renew your registration:

• Online (in some counties).
• By mail.
  OR
  
• In person.

NOTE: Be sure the GA DOR has your correct address so you don't miss any renewal notices! If you have moved, you must update your address.

Once you've renewed your registration, you will get a new decal to put on your license plate, showing that your registration is up to date.

For more information about registration renewal, including fees and other requirements, see our GA registration renewal page.

Duplicate License Plates in Georgia

If your license plates or decals are lost, stolen, or damaged, you can order duplicates from the GA DOR.

To order replacement license plate or decals, you will need to:

• File a police report with your local law enforcement agency.
• Apply for a replacementin person from the GA DOR.

To replace your license plates or decals, the GA DOR requires:

Ga Specialty Tags

• The Application for Replacement License Plate (Tag) and/or Decal (Form MV-7).
• A copy of the police report.
• The damaged plate or decal, if applicable.
• The $8 replacement fee by:
  • Cash.
  • Check or money order payable to “Department of Revenue.'

If you didn't receive your original plate from the GA DOR, you should apply for a replacement plate within 90 days. In addition:

• Include the Affidavit of Non-Receipt of an Original License Plate/Renewal Decal (Form T-200).
• You DO NOT have to pay the $8 fee.

Transfer or Surrender License Plates

In Georgia, the license plate on your car belongs to you. This means you can keep or transfer plates to a new car when you sell your current car.

Ga Dmv New License Plate

In rare circumstances, the law may require you to surrender your license plate.

Transfer a License Plate

If you sell or trade your car, you can transfer your GA license plate to your next vehicle IF the vehicles are the same type AND both vehicles belong to a GA resident. For example, you can transfer a plate:

• From a passenger car to another passenger car.
• From a motorcycle to another motorcycle.

For a license plate transfer, you'll need to:

• Have a GA driver's license.
• Submit the title and registration paperworkin person at a Georgia tag office within 7 days.
• Pay a $20 license plate transfer fee in addition to other title and registration fees.

NOTE: If your registration renewal is due, you must also include required renewal documents and fees.

State Of Georgia New License Plates

For more information about transferring your license plate, see our Georgia car buyers page.

Surrender a License Plate

If you move to another state, you DO NOT have to surrender your license plate to the GA DOR.

You may be required to surrender your plates or the DOR may take them from you for certain moving violations, vehicle abandonment, or vehicle repossession.

Fees for Georgia License Plates

There are several fees associated with GA license plates:

• New license plates:
  • Passenger vehicle: $20.
  • Motorcycle: $20.
  • Homemade trailer: $12.
• License plate renewal: Varies by vehicle type and county.
• Replacement license plate or decal: $8.
• License plate transfer fee: $20.

Fees for vanity and specialty license plates vary. See our page on types of Georgia specialty license plates for more information, and visit Applying for Special Plates for application information.

Forms

This form is provided by your state's agency/department.

Please select one of the below to continue:

Georgia New License Plate Fee

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1. Get Started With License Plate Assistance Online

In most states, you cannot apply for or replace a license plate online. Instead, most states require you to request a new or duplicate license plate in person at a DMV office. However, certain states or counties may allow you to complete these transactions online. In any case, you must apply for a new license plate within a few days of your vehicle's date of purchase. To do so, you must provide a certificate of title, odometer disclosure, smog certification (if applicable) and bill of sale (if needed). Then, you must pay any applicable DMV service fees. To prepare for this procedure and save time, download our informative online guide. Our guide contains everything you need to know about standard and custom license plates. In it, you will also learn about requesting, renewing and replacing a car registration.

2. By Mail

In most states, you cannot apply for a license plate by mail. However, many states allow you to replace or surrender a license plate by sending the required materials through the mail. When replacing a plate, you will be required to send a completed application form containing personal details and vehicle specifications to the appropriate DMV mailing address. If you wish to surrender an existing license plate after selling your vehicle, you may do so by mailing the plate to the correct DMV branch in your state. Due to mailing and processing times, be mindful that the mail-in method may subject you to certain delays.

3. In Person at a DMV Office

You will most likely need to visit a DMV office in person to apply for a license plate in your state. During your visit, you will be asked to provide proof of identity, documents that verify your car ownership and a completed application form. In addition, you will be required to pay the applicable DMV fees, which vary depending on whether you apply for a standard or personalized license plate. When visiting a DMV, you may also replace or transfer an existing license plate, as long as those procedures are offered in your state. To avoid mistakes or taking additional trips to the DMV, make sure that you are fully prepared for license plate transactions prior to filing your application.

After buying a vehicle, drivers must purchase car registration plates in Georgia through the state’s Department of Revenue (DOR), which also performs car registrations and processes vehicle taxes. Unless car owners choose to transfer their current GA DMV license plate from one vehicle to another, they must apply for new car tags as soon as they purchase a vehicle.

In addition to issuing new registration plates, the DOR oversees other registration and titling procedures. For instance, in order to transfer, replace or renew a license plate, you must follow certain steps established by the department. To learn more about the various services related to license plates in Georgia, read the sections below.

Types of License Plates in Georgia

When applying for a Georgia DOR license plate, car owners can pick from many different car tag options, such as standard or specialty plates. Overall, new registration plates are offered as standard plates, special interest plates, military plates, university plates or alternative fuel tags. Specifically, if you are interested in obtaining standard car registration plates, you may choose from a variety of basic license plates, such as standard alternative, disability plates, prestige tags or trailer plates. However, keep in mind that fees vary according to each type of license plate.

How to Apply for a License Plate in Georgia

As a general rule, you must apply for new registration plates in Georgia within seven days of acquiring a vehicle. Otherwise, you must undergo this procedure within 30 days of moving to the state. Overall, the GA Department of Revenue provides you with a car registration tag as part of your initial vehicle registration process.

In order to apply for car registration plates after purchasing a vehicle from a dealership or third-party seller, you must visit a local tag office and complete the registration and titling process in person. On the other hand, if you have purchased your vehicle through a dealership, the dealer will likely apply for a certificate of title on your behalf. However, dealers will not be able to register your vehicle or complete an application for new car tags. Conversely, you may submit all of the required documentation to the tag office by mail. To obtain car registration tags for a commercial vehicle, you must register it through the state’s official online portal.

In any case, when applying for DOR car tags, you must provide the department with a valid driver’s license or ID card number, proof of vehicle ownership, the vehicle’s current title or certificate of origin, proof of auto insurance and a completed application form. Moreover, you must pay for all of the applicable license plate and registration fees.

How to Renew License Plate Tags in Georgia

If you are wondering how to renew a license plate, you must be mindful that renewal procedures will vary according to each vehicle owner and county of residence. In most cases, you must complete the plate and car registration renewal procedure once per year within 30 days of your birthday if you own a personal vehicle. On the other hand, GA license plate renewals take place between January and April if you live in counties such as Calhoun, Clay, Turner and Stewart, as well as if you own a business vehicle. Note that the renewal month for DOR registration tags will change depending on the first letter of the company’s name.

Regardless of when you need to apply for a Georgia car tag renewal, you may do so online, by mail or in person through a tag office or self-service kiosk. However, renewing a license plate online is only possible if you reside in a participating county and have access to your registration renewal notice. If you are not allowed to renew these credentials online, you may do so at a tag office, at a self-service kiosk or by sending the appropriate application materials to a DOR mailing address. In any case, you must provide the GA DOR with the following documents:

• Your registration renewal notice
• Your current driver’s license or ID card
• Proof of auto insurance
• Proof of completing an emissions inspection, if applicable
• Payment for all of the license plate renewal and registration fees

Just like online DOR license plate renewals are not available in all counties, several counties also do not provide applicants with access to self-service kiosks. As such, you must renew your Georgia license plate in person or by mail if you cannot renew online or at a kiosk.

How to Replace License Plates in Georgia

If you damage or misplace your car tag credentials, you must replace a license plate in person at a local tag office. Moreover, you must replace these credentials if you believe that your plates were stolen from your vehicle. However, before replacing a license plate that was stolen, you must report the theft to local law enforcement. Thus, the following steps must be followed for motorists to request license plate replacements:

• Complete the appropriate application form
• Complete an affidavit if your new plates were lost in the mail
• Submit a copy of the police report if your license plate or decal was stolen or damaged by an individual
• Provide an acceptable form of payment for the applicable replacement tag fees

Note: If your new registration plates were lost in the mail before even arriving at your residence, you may request a duplicate tag at no additional charge. However, in order to qualify for this free duplicate copy, you must file your request within 90 days of the original application date.

How to Transfer License Plates in Georgia

Instead of purchasing new GA registration plates after acquiring a new or used vehicle, you may transfer your previous car tags to your new vehicle. However, in order to do so, you must transfer your license within 30 days of purchasing the new vehicle. Furthermore, in order to complete the transfer of car registration plates, you must visit a tag office and apply in person. Additionally, you may apply for a title certificate at the same time. Otherwise, you may apply for a title before you transfer your license plate.

Georgia License Plate Fees

When applying for car registration tags in GA, vehicle owners must pay regular vehicle registration fees in addition to license plate fees. However, fees for new car tags vary depending on the type of license plate. For example, regular DOR car tags and disability plates have a standard fee.

Meanwhile, prestige plates require a one-time manufacturing fee, an annual registration fee and an annual special tag fee. In addition to the cost of applying for a car tag, drivers must pay other fees when replacing a license plate or decal.

License Plate Lookups in Georgia

Before purchasing a vehicle or applying for new registration plates in Georgia, you can perform an online license plate lookup to provide you with peace of mind during the purchasing process. When you perform a Georgia DOR license plate lookup, you can learn about the vehicle’s previous owner(s), recall information and safety ratings. Additionally, a license plate search can provide you with details about the vehicle’s engine and manufacturer.

Sources

1. Choose Plate Category from mvd.dor.ga.gov
2. Order Specialty and Prestige License Plates from dor.georgia.gov