Overview
What changes the bill isn't the rate, it's who you're buying from and who you're related to. A dealer subtracts your trade-in before the 7% applies; a private seller doesn't. And if the car is coming from a spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild, Georgia drops the rate to just 0.5% - turning a $2,100 tax hit on a $30,000 car into $150. Plug in your numbers below for the real total.
01 - Official fees
Georgia tax, title & license fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TAVT - dealer or private purchase | 7% | of fair market value; dealer sales subtract trade-in first |
| TAVT - immediate family transfer | 0.5% | spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild - Form MV-16 |
| TAVT - new Georgia resident | 3% | titling a vehicle you already owned out of state |
| Title application fee | $18.00 | |
| Annual tag/registration | $20.00 | |
| Alternative fuel vehicle fee | $234.97/yr | fully electric, non-commercial, indexed each July |
| Emissions test (13 metro counties) | $25.00 | paid to the test station, required before you can register |
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.
02 - Step by step
How to title and tag a car in Georgia
- 1
Get the signed-over title from the seller (a dealer handles this paperwork for you).
- 2
Go to your county tag office within 30 days of the purchase date - TAVT and title are due together.
- 3
Bring the title, Form MV-1 (Title/Tag Application), proof of Georgia insurance, and a photo ID.
- 4
Pay TAVT at the rate that applies to your situation, the $18 title fee, and the $20 tag fee in one transaction.
- 5
Walk out with your plate - most Georgia counties issue tags on the spot rather than by mail.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Georgia vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Georgia tax, title & license FAQ
How much is TAVT on a $30,000 car in Georgia?
$2,138 total for a standard purchase: $2,100 TAVT (7%), plus the $18 title fee and $20 tag fee. Buy the same car from a parent or spouse and TAVT drops to $150, for a total of $188.
Do I pay Georgia sales tax on top of TAVT?
No. TAVT replaced the state and local sales tax on vehicles entirely back in 2013 - you pay one tax, once, at the tag office, and nothing else goes to the state or county on the sale itself.
My car was purchased before March 2013 - do I still owe TAVT?
No. Vehicles titled before March 1, 2013 (and never opted into TAVT during the 2012–2014 transition window) stay on the old annual ad valorem 'birthday tax' system: 40% of fair market value times your local mill rate, billed every year at renewal instead of once at purchase.
Does trading in my old car lower my TAVT?
Only at a dealership. A dealer subtracts your trade-in allowance from the fair market value before applying the 7% rate. Private-party sales get no such deduction - you're taxed on the full assessed value of the car you're buying.
What is Form MV-16 and do I really need it?
It's the notarized Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship. Without it on file at the tag office, a transfer between family members gets taxed at the full 7% rate like any other sale - the 0.5% rate only applies once MV-16 is submitted.
What happens if I miss the 30-day deadline?
On a private-party purchase, the penalty is 10% of the TAVT owed once you're past day 30, plus another 1% for every additional month. On a $2,100 TAVT bill, being two months late adds roughly $231 in penalties on top.
Is there a cap on how high TAVT can go?
State law caps TAVT at 9% of fair market value. The rate has moved between 6.6% and 7% since TAVT launched and currently sits at 7% for purchases and leases on or after July 1, 2023.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.