All vehicles that
move upon the public roads must be registered and tagged within 30 days
after you move to Georgia or within 30 days after you purchase the vehicle.
For all vehicles except certain heavy trailers, registration is done annually.
A metal license plate is issued for each vehicle when it is first registered.
A wide variety of plate designs is available. An adhesive decal is issued to
renew the registration each year. A single decal displays the month and year
of expiration as well as the tag number and issuing county. Place the single
decal in the lower right hand corner of the tag, on top of any year of
expiration decal that is being replaced.
KEEP YOUR TAG!
In Georgia, your tag belongs
to you, not the car. If you trade the car in or sell it, take possession
of your tag so that you will be able to transfer the tag to a subsequently
acquired vehicle (of the same tax class.) The tag transfer fee is $5 if
the expiration decal year does not change.
Registering a leased
vehicle
The title to a leased vehicle
is in the name of the leasing company. If you lease a vehicle, your name
will be on the registration. You will need to bring your lease agreement
with you when you register a leased vehicle.
Important note: the deadline
for renewing the registration on a leased vehicle is based on the birthday
of the lessee, if the lessee is a person (rather than a business).
When the lessee is a business
(rather than a person), as discussed under "Deadlines," the first letter of
the lessee business name, as shown on the registration, establishes the deadline
for renewal.
Detailed registration
requirements
The following links will provide
detailed information about requirements for registering your vehicle under
different situations. You can print the section that interests you. Please
click on the sentence that is applicable to your situation.
My
vehicle is registered in another state
My
vehicle is registered in another county in Georgia
I
purchased a vehicle and want to transfer ownership
VEHICLE
REGISTERED IN ANOTHER STATE
If you are a new resident,
welcome to Cobb County. State law requires that newcomers obtain a Georgia
driver’s license and register their vehicles within 30 days after
moving to the state. Georgia liability insurance is also required. All
vehicles entering Georgia, model years 1986 and newer, are required
to transfer title to Georgia in order to register and purchase a Georgia
license plate. Newcomers must have a Georgia driver’s license
(or Georgia ID) to title and register a vehicle. You must apply for
a Georgia title before you can register and tag the vehicle. All persons
applying for the title must be present to sign the application or provide
notarized power of attorney. If your vehicle is model year 1985 or older,
a bill of sale made out to you with a complete description of the vehicle,
will be accepted in lieu of a title. If using a bill of sale please
include the vehicle identification number, date of sale, year, make,
model and seller's signature. You must register your vehicle in person
the first time. Bring your bill of sale or title. If your title is held
by your lender, bring the last registration for your vehicle as well
as the complete mailing address including zip code for your lienholder.
Leased vehicles must have street address for the leasing company (in
addition to any P.O. Box) and a copy of the lease agreement along with
a notarized power of attorney from the leasing company. The following
things will also be needed when you come to the tag office: 1. Georgia
emissions test certificate if required. (See details at this site.)
2. Odometer reading. 3. Proof of insurance in Georgia. (See details
at this site.) 4. You will need proof of Cobb County address. Please
bring a Georgia Driver's license with your Cobb County address, a piece
of mail with a current Cobb address or a copy of your residency lease
or purchase agreement. If you are moving to Georgia from one of the
following states you must have in your possession the original title
even if you have a lienholder. Those states are: Kentucky, Maryland,
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
Wisconsin and Wyoming. Certificates of title from these states with
a lien shown on the front of the title that is no longer in effect need
a lien release with a full description of the vehicle as well as the
vehicle identification number. Documents must be originals; no fax or
photocopies accepted.
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VEHICLE
REGISTERED IN ANOTHER GEORGIA COUNTY
If you are a new resident,
welcome to Cobb County. You will need the following items to register
your vehicle in Cobb County: (1) With few exceptions, you will need a
valid Georgia Driver's License. (2) Current Owner's Certificate of Registration
(also referred to as a Tag Receipt.) (3) Proof of current Cobb County
address such as a Georgia's drivers license with your Cobb County address,
a piece of mail with a current Cobb address, or a copy of your residency
lease or purchase agreement. (4) If you are moving from a non-emission
county, you must present a valid emission inspection certificate, with
test date less than one year old, for all non-exempt vehicles. More details
on Georgia's emission program can be found at this site. (5) Proof of
insurance in Georgia. (See details at this site.)
Please note that you cannot
sign registration and title forms for anyone else except with an original
notarized power of attorney. A power of attorney form is available at
the tag office or at www.cobbtax.org.
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TRANSFER
OWNERSHIP OF A VEHICLE YOU PURCHASED
If you purchased your vehicle
from a dealer, you need to speak to the dealership to determine what part,
if any, of the titling and registration is being done for you. Typically,
dealers submit the title application and leave vehicle registration up
to the buyer. Title applications can be done prior to or at the same time
as registration. To transfer ownership, you will need the following things:
First, with few exceptions, you will need a valid Georgia Driver's License.
Second, proof of ownership. For model years 1986 and newer the title provides
proof of ownership. If the dealership applied for the title for you, they
will give you a validated receipt showing the title fee has been paid.
If a title has not been applied for, bring the Manufacturer's Statement
of Origin (MSO) or properly assigned certificate of title. If you purchased
from an individual, you will need the Certificate of Title properly assigned
showing a complete and correct chain of ownership. Note that if you purchase
from an individual who still has a loan for the vehicle he must pay the
loan off in order to provide you with a clear title before you can apply
for a title in your name. PHOTOCOPIES OR FAXES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE and
any lien or security interest shown on the MSO, title, or other supporting
document must be shown on the title application or properly released.
For model years 1985 and older or vehicles such as homemade, boat or utility
trailers weighing less than 2,000 pounds, for which a title is not required,
a Bill of Sale is used to transfer ownership and is proof of ownership.
Please note: Travel trailer or campers model year 1986 or newer are titled.
Third, a valid emission inspection certificate, with test date less than
one year old, is required for all non-exempt vehicles when changing ownership,
regardless of whether the model year is odd or even. See more information
at this site. Fourth, if the vehicle is previously owned, bring a copy
of the registration, also called the tag receipt. Fifth, Proof of insurance
in Georgia. (See details at this site.)
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