Last Update: September 16, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Georgia

Vehicle registration and title records in Georgia are administered by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Georgia Department of Revenue, with day-to-day transactions processed through the county tag offices operated by each county's tax commissioner. Registration information can be updated online through the department's DRIVES e-Services portal, by mail, or in person at a county tag office, and the procedure that applies depends on the record being changed and the reason for the change.

Georgia Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

The following events commonly require a change to the registration or title record:

• A change of residential address, which requires an update to the driver license or identification card and to the vehicle registration record.
• A legal name change, which must be documented with a certified court document such as a divorce decree, marriage certificate, or court order.
• Incorrect information appearing on a registration certificate, license plate, or certificate of title.
• The purchase or transfer of a vehicle, which requires a title application within 30 days and the issuance of a new registration.
• A move into Georgia, which requires the vehicle to be registered with the state within 30 days of the move.
• The transfer of a valid license plate from a vehicle no longer owned to a newly acquired vehicle of the same plate class, which is completed at the county tag office.

Where to File a Georgia Vehicle Registration Change

Registration, license plate, and title transactions in Georgia are filed at the county tag offices administered by the tax commissioner of each of Georgia's 159 counties. The department advises that the local county tag office is the best resource for most registration, license plate, and titling questions, and title applications for a purchased vehicle are submitted at the buyer's county tag office together with the application for registration. Many transactions can also be completed online through DRIVES e-Services, while the driver license and identification card records are maintained separately by the Department of Driver Services.

Title and registration transactions are subject to Georgia's title ad valorem tax (TAVT), which is assessed when a motor vehicle is first titled and registered in the state and is based on the price or value of the vehicle. Vehicles registered in the 13 metro Atlanta counties identified by the department are also required to pass an emissions inspection before registration.

Georgia Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

An address change on the registration record begins with the driver record. The department directed the owner to first have the address corrected on the Georgia driver's license or identification card, and then to change the address on the vehicle registration using DRIVES e-Services. The online change requires the license plate number or vehicle identification number, the driver's license number or letter ID, and proof of residency such as a lease, deed, closing statement, or utility bill. The vehicle registration address may also be changed in person at a local county tag office.

Georgia Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change affects the driver record and the title and registration records together. The department requires the name to be updated on the Georgia driver's license or identification card with the Department of Driver Services first, after which the title is changed at the county tag office. In person, the owner presents the current Georgia title, a valid Georgia driver's license or identification card, and a certified copy of the court document authorizing the change, such as a divorce decree, marriage certificate, or court order. By mail, the owner submits a completed MV-1 Title/Tag Application, the current title, a copy of the driver's license or identification card, and the certified court document, together with lien release information where a lien or security interest has been paid. The registration record is updated when the corrected title is issued.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Georgia Registration Record

Replacement license plates, decals, and registration documents for the registration record are obtained through the county tag office or the department's online services. Corrections to the title record are governed by the department's corrections to titles guidance. Corrections to the face of a certificate of title or manufacturer's statement of origin are not accepted, and the issuing agency must issue a new title or statement of origin with the correct information. Corrections to an assignment on the back of a title are made by lightly lining through the incorrect entry, writing the correct information above it, and completing Form T-11 Affidavit of Correction with the reason for the correction. Correction fluid, erasures, and complete blocking out of information are not accepted. An incorrect lienholder entry requires a lien release from the incorrectly entered lienholder, and an incorrect odometer reading requires a completed Form T-107 Odometer Discrepancy Affidavit from the seller and the buyer. An incorrect purchase or transfer date requires payment of a $10 title penalty, documentation of the payment date, or a replacement title from the issuing agency. When a certificate of title has been lost or stolen, a replacement title is issued bearing a legend showing that it is a replacement.

Georgia Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

• New residents must register their vehicles within 30 days from the date of moving to Georgia, applying at the new resident page of the department for registration, title, and license plate; the state's register a vehicle guide states the same 30-day period.
• Title applications for a purchased or transferred vehicle must be filed within 30 days of the purchase or transfer date. Failure to apply within 30 days results in a $10 title penalty, as listed on the department's fees, fines, and penalties schedule.
• Title ad valorem tax must be submitted within 30 days of purchase. For casual sales, an additional 10% of the TAVT is due after day 30, with an additional 1% each month thereafter; for dealer-submitted TAVT, 5% is due after day 30, with an additional 5% each month thereafter.
• Renewal is due during the registration period tied to the owner's birthday month. Renewals may be completed online through DRIVES e-Services up to 90 days before the owner's birthday in participating counties; owners remain responsible for meeting the deadline even when no renewal notice is received.
• Late renewal during the county's established registration period results in a penalty of 10% of the ad valorem tax due plus 25% of the license plate fees, with a $5 minimum on the ad valorem portion.
• Operation of an unregistered vehicle is a misdemeanor under O.C.G.A. § 40-2-8, and it is a criminal offense to operate a vehicle without a valid county name decal or with a license plate that has not been properly transferred.
• Liability insurance must be maintained continuously on a registered vehicle under the vehicle insurance requirements of the department. An insurance lapse results in a $25 fine, and reinstatement of a canceled registration costs $60 for a first or second offense and $160 where more than 2 lapses occur within a 5-year period.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Georgia?

Georgia vehicle registration and title records are administered by the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR), Motor Vehicle Division, which publishes a statewide fee schedule; transactions are processed through County Tag Offices. The current amounts for the most common changes are listed in the table below.

Contact Information

Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division
4125 Welcome All Road, Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: (855) 406-5221
Official Website: Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division