Overview
The rate itself swings hard depending on the transaction: 7% for an ordinary dealer or private sale, 0.5% for a transfer between immediate family or an inherited vehicle, and 3% for a new resident titling a car they already owned. This calculator applies the right rate to the right base - including the one Georgia rule that surprises private buyers: only dealers get to subtract a trade-in before the tax hits.
01 - Official fees
Georgia car sales tax fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer sale base | FMV − trade-in | then × 7% |
| Private sale base | Full FMV | no trade-in deduction, × 7% |
| Immediate family transfer | 0.5% | vehicle must already carry a Georgia TAVT title |
| Inherited vehicle | 0.5% | if the vehicle was already in the TAVT system |
| New Georgia resident | 3% | one-time, on the vehicle you're bringing in |
| Statutory cap | 9% | the legislature can't raise TAVT past this without a new law |
| Late penalty (private buyer) | 10% + 1%/mo | of the TAVT owed, after day 30 |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county tag office (Georgia Department of Revenue) - counties can add small local fees.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Georgia vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Georgia car sales tax FAQ
Why is my TAVT based on a number I never agreed to pay?
Georgia taxes fair market value, not your negotiated price. For most used vehicles that value comes straight from the state's Motor Vehicle Assessment Manual - an average of current wholesale and retail figures - not your bill of sale. If the vehicle isn't listed in the manual, the tag office uses the greater of your bill of sale or a recognized guide value.
Can I dispute the assessed fair market value?
Yes - bring a independent appraisal, condition documentation, or comparable sale records to your county tag office. It's not automatic, but tag offices do have discretion to adjust the assessed value when the manual figure clearly overstates the car's real condition.
Does Georgia have a county or city add-on to TAVT, like sales tax used to?
No. TAVT is a single statewide rate with no local option add-ons - a genuine change from the old sales tax system, where cities and counties layered extra percentage points on top. 7% in Atlanta is the same 7% in rural south Georgia.
I already paid TAVT once - do I owe it again when I renew my tag?
No. TAVT is a one-time tax tied to titling, not an annual charge. Your yearly renewal is just the $20 tag fee (plus the alternative fuel fee if your vehicle qualifies) - TAVT only comes due again if the vehicle changes owners.
What if I paid less than fair market value in a private sale?
It doesn't matter - private-party sales are taxed on the assessed fair market value regardless of your actual price, and unlike dealer sales, there's no trade-in deduction to soften it. A documented salvage title or major damage can support a lower assessed value, but a simple 'good deal' doesn't.
Do I owe TAVT again if I refinance or add a co-owner?
Refinancing alone doesn't trigger TAVT - the lienholder changes, not the title owner. Adding or removing a co-owner, however, is treated as a new title transaction and can trigger TAVT again, sometimes at the 0.5% family rate if the co-owner is immediate family.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.