MVD | Georgia Department of Revenue

**MVD Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday excluding state holidays **

How much will it cost me if I am late in registering and obtaining a license plate for my vehicle?

Initial Registration

You will be subject to fines and vehicle impoundment if stopped by law enforcement if you fail to register your vehicle and obtain a Georgia license plate (tag) within thirty-days (30) of establishing residency in this state or for Georgia residents, thirty-days (30) from the purchase or acquisition date of the vehicle. Click here to see what is needed to register your vehicles in this state. Click here for a list of vehicles and vehicle owner(s) exempt from registration in this state. Click here to find out where to register your vehicle.

Renewal

If you fail to renew your vehicle's Georgia registration during your registration period, you will be charged the following penalties in addition to the regular registration fees and taxes that are due:

10% of the amount of ad valorem tax due ($5.00 minimum)
25% of the tag fees

Click here to find out where to renew your vehicle's license plate (tag).

If your county's budget allows, your county Tax Commissioner's office provides pre-printed bills for their customers' use in renewing their vehicles' license plates (tags). If your county's millage rate (factor used to determine the amount of ad valorem tax due) has not been approved at the time of printing, your bill may not reflect the amount of ad valorem tax due. Click here to calculate the amount of ad valorem tax due.

If you received an uncalculated bill or you did not receive a bill by the beginning of your registration period, contact your county Tax Commissioner's office immediately for instructions. Click here to determine your registration period in your county. It is your responsibility as the vehicle's owner(s) to renew your vehicle's tag registration during the established registration period in your county even if you do not receive a bill or the bill that you received does not reflect the amount of ad valorem tax due.

Listed below are the fees and taxes that are generally due at the time of tag renewal. If you fail to renew your vehicle's tag during your registration period, you must add the above penalties to the amount due.

Annual license plate/registration fee* ($20 for most passenger vehicles and light weight pick-up trucks). Click here to determine the annual registration fee for all motor vehicles except commercial vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP). Contact the IRP Unit of the Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, for the cost and requirements for registering your commercial vehicles based in Georgia under IRP (International Registration Plan).
Manufacturing fee is due if you are requesting a special tag at the time of registration. This fee varies according to the type of special tag. Click here to view the types of special tags available. Secondly, click on the type tag to view a sample and the fees and other requirements for obtaining.
Ad valorem tax. Ad valorem tax is based on the vehicle's value and the financial needs of various levying authorities in the county where you reside or for business owned and operated vehicles, the county where your business is located. Contact your county Tax Commissioner's office to determine if the tax is due and if due, the amount, or click here to calculate the amount of ad valorem tax due.
Additional annual special tag fee. Certain special tags require an additional annual special tag fee other than the annual registration fee described above. To determine if your special license plate requires an additional annual special tag fee, click here. Then click on the type of special tag to view a sample and the requirements for obtaining.
One dollar ($1) mailing fee for each tag/decal that is to be mailed to you. Some counties require first time registrants to register their vehicle in-person.

*Renewal decals (revalidation decals) are issued to most classes of tags and the cost is the same annually as the annual tag registration fee. The amount of ad valorem tax due changes annually due to such factors as the vehicle's value and the approved millage rate in your county at the time of renewal. Decals are not issued for the following type tags: Government, government motorcycle, permanent trailer and replacement permanent trailer tags.

Even though a vehicle's tag (permanent trailer) is not issued a renewal decal does not mean that the vehicle is exempt from ad valorem taxation. Contact your County Tax Commissioner's office to determine if this tax is due and the amount if due.

Pay all fees and taxes due with cash, check or money order payable to the Office of the Tax Commissioner. Please do not remit cash through the mail! Some counties accept credit cards. Most counties require checks to be imprinted with a local bank's address and out-of-state checks are usually not accepted.