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When you title a vehicle in Georgia, you pay a one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) instead of sales tax. The Georgia Department of Revenue puts the current rate at 7.0% of the vehicle’s fair market value. You apply for the title and pay the TAVT at the county tag office where you live.
Quick answer
| Topic | What the Georgia Department of Revenue says |
|---|---|
| Tax | TAVT, a one-time tax paid when the vehicle is titled |
| Rate | 7.0% of the fair market value |
| Applies to | Most vehicles purchased on or after March 1, 2013 |
| Paid | Every time ownership is transferred, or when a new resident registers a vehicle in Georgia for the first time |
| Where | The county where the buyer resides. The TAVT is paid at the time of the initial title application. |
| Deadline | 30 days from the date the vehicle was purchased or transferred to apply for a title at the buyer’s County Tag Office |
| Title fee | $18 for an original title application or a change of ownership |
| Late penalty | $10 title penalty, plus for a private (casual) sale 10% of the TAVT after day 30 and 1% more each month after |
| Replaces | Sales tax and the annual ad valorem tax for those vehicles |
Reduced rates and exceptions
| Situation | Rate or rule | Form |
|---|---|---|
| New Georgia resident | 3% | |
| Family transfer, when the vehicle has a Georgia title and TAVT was paid | 0.5% of fair market value | Form MV-16, Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship |
| Inheritance, vehicle in the TAVT system | 0.5% of fair market value | T-20 Affidavit of Inheritance |
| Non-resident military | Exception | Service Member Affidavit, form PT-472NS |
| Disabled veterans compensated at 100%, prisoners of war, Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients | Exempt | MV-30 Georgian’s Veteran Affidavit and documentation |
| Non-titled vehicles and trailers | Exempt from TAVT, but subject to annual ad valorem tax |
If a vehicle is in the annual ad valorem tax system, a family member has the option of staying under it or paying the full one-time TAVT.
How the value is set
- Used vehicle: the fair market value comes from the state motor vehicle assessment manual, which averages the current wholesale and retail values under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-442. If the vehicle is not in the manual, the value in a used car market guide designated by the Commissioner applies.
- New vehicle: the greater of the retail selling price or the manual value, reduced by trade-in value and any rebate or cash discount from the dealer.
- Trade-in reduction: given when the sale was made by a dealer, but not when the sale was made by a private individual.
TAVT is the fair market value multiplied by the rate in effect on the date of purchase.
Examples
On a used vehicle with a manual value of $10,000 bought in a private sale, TAVT at 7.0% is $700, with no trade-in reduction. Add the $18 title fee for $718. If you applied after day 30, add the $10 title penalty and 10% of the TAVT ($70) for $798, plus 1% of the TAVT ($7) for each further month. A qualifying family transfer at 0.5% would be $50. A new Georgia resident at 3% would pay $300 on the same value. These are illustrations based on the rates above. The Department of Revenue provides a TAVT estimator for your vehicle.
Fees and late penalties
Every number below is from the Department of Revenue’s fees, fines and penalties page.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original title application, or title for a change of ownership or lien change | $18 |
| License plate registration or renewal, regular passenger car or lightweight pickup | $20 |
| Replacement title when lost or stolen | $8 |
| Mailing fee | $1 |
| Special handling for expedited title processing, in-person replacement titles and corrections only | $10 |
| Title penalty for not applying within 30 days of the purchase or transfer date | $10 |
| Title penalty for a changed or altered purchase or transfer date on the back of the title | $10 |
| TAVT penalty on a casual (private) sale not paid within 30 days | 10% of the TAVT after day 30, and 1% additional every month after |
| TAVT penalty for a dealer sale not paid within 30 days | 5% of the TAVT after day 30, and 5% additional every month after |
The Department of Revenue says to contact the local County Tag Office for details on the TAVT penalties and for accepted payment methods.
Steps
- Get the title properly assigned to you by the seller.
- Apply for the title with the county tag office in the county where you live.
- Do it within 30 days of the purchase or transfer date. Pay the $18 title fee and the TAVT when you apply. If you buy from a dealer, the dealer accepts the application and payment for you and delivers them to the county tag office.
Common mistakes
- Waiting past 30 days: a $10 title penalty and, on a private sale, 10% of the TAVT plus 1% a month.
- Expecting a trade-in reduction on a private sale.
- Applying in a county other than the one where you live.
- Not filing MV-16 or T-20 when a family or inheritance rate applies.
- Confusing TAVT with the annual ad valorem tax, which applies to most vehicles purchased before March 1, 2013 and to non-titled vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay sales tax on a used car in Georgia?
Vehicles bought on or after March 1, 2013 and titled in Georgia are subject to TAVT and exempt from sales and use tax and the annual ad valorem tax.
Who sets the vehicle’s value?
The state motor vehicle assessment manual, not the price on the bill of sale, for a used vehicle.
This guide is general information compiled from the Georgia Department of Revenue pages listed under Sources. Rates change, and this site is not part of any government agency. Confirm the current rate with the Georgia Department of Revenue before you pay.
Sources
- Georgia Department of Revenue: Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) and Annual Ad Valorem Tax, checked Sep 26, 2026
- Georgia Department of Revenue: Motor Vehicles Fees, Fines, and Penalties, checked Sep 27, 2026
- Georgia Department of Revenue: Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) FAQ, checked Sep 26, 2026