What is needed to apply for a Georgia title for a vehicle that has been inherited or purchased from an estate?

To apply for a Georgia title for a vehicle you inherited or you purchased from an estate, submit the following to the Tag office in the county in Georgia where you reside or to this Department's Motor Vehicle Division. If you are applying for both a Georgia title and license plate, you must apply at your County Tag Office. First, click here to see if the vehicle is eligible for a GA title.

Note: If a Georgia title has not been issued for the vehicle and the inheritor is not a legal resident of Georgia, the inheritor must obtain a title in his or her name first from his or her home state before selling or transferring the ownership of the vehicle to a Georgia resident.

• Application - A completed and signed tag and/or title application (Form MV-1) - Except for the signature, this application must be typed, electronically completed and printed or printed legibly by-hand in blue or black ink in the purchaser's or the inheritor's full legal name. If jointly owned, each owner's full legal name, valid driver's license and signature is required. An individual's full legal name is his/her complete name as it appears on his/her valid driver's license. For more information regarding driver's license and state-issued identification cards, click here to connect to the Department of Drivers License Services. For individuals, enter each owner's valid driver's license number in the spaces provided.
• Proof of Ownership - Submit the original valid title issued in the deceased's name or properly assigned to the deceased with all recorded liens and/or security interests released in the spaces provided on the title.

  • If the vehicle is currently titled in Georgia in the deceased's name, the original title should be submitted only if it is available since a replacement title cannot be issued in a deceased person's name. If the vehicle's title is issued to someone else or the vehicle is titled in another state, the title must be submitted issued to or properly assigned to the deceased.
• Lien or Security Interest Release - All liens and/or security interests shown on the vehicle's title or the vehicle's title of record must be released. Lien or security interest holders may either complete the spaces provided on the title for releasing or may complete, sign and submit an original lien or security interest release, Form T-4.
• Inheritance Document - Submit a certified copy of the Letters of Testamentary/Administration; Year's Support, or the following:
  • A completed and signed Affidavit of Inheritance, Form T-20 in the inheritor's full legal name. If there is only one heir, a legible copy of No Administration Necessary may be submitted in lieu of the Affidavit of Inheritance, Form T-20.
  • When an Affidavit of Inheritance, Form T-20, is submitted, the inheritor must title the vehicle in his/her name first before selling or transferring the ownership of the vehicle.
  • A certified copy of the deceased's death certificate;
  • If the deceased left a Will that is not to be probated, i.e. Will contains only "limited" assets, a legible copy of the non-probated Will must be submitted.
  • If the inheritor does not have Letters of Testamentary/Administration, he/she must title the vehicle in his/her name first before selling or transferring the ownership of the vehicle.
• Title Issued to a Company Whose Sole Owner is Deceased - If the vehicle's title is issued in a company's name and the deceased was the sole owner of the company, submit a signed letter from the office that issues business license stating the deceased (using his/her name as it appears on his/her death certificate) was the sole owner of the company.
• Transfer Document - If you purchased the vehicle from an estate, the executor named in the Letters of Testamentary/Administration, must complete the title assignment transferring ownership to you using your full legal name. If the title is not available, the executor must title the vehicle in his/her name or in the name of the estate first before transferring ownership when an odometer disclosure is required on a title. If the vehicle is exempt from the odometer disclosure requirements and the title is not available, the executor should complete and sign a Bill of Sale, Form T-7, transferring the ownership of the vehicle to you, the purchaser. Click here to view a list of vehicles exempt from the odometer disclosure requirements.
• Executor is Deceased - If the executor of the estate is deceased, Temporary Letters of Administration may be submitted.  The executor named in the Temporary Letters of Administration may apply for a title in the name of the estate only.  The temporary executor cannot sell or transfer the ownership of the vehicle without Permanent Letters of Administration.
• Fees - $18.00 title fee plus any title penalty that may be due for late application.
  • An owner has ninety (90) days from the vehicle's purchase or transfer date to apply for a Georgia title to avoid being charged a $10.00 title penalty. This penalty fee does not apply when the inheritor is applying for a title in his or her name. An additional $10.00 title penalty is due if the applicant previously applied for a Georgia title for this vehicle in his or her name and their application was returned accompanied by a letter requesting additional action or documents before title issuance and compliance has not been made within sixty (60) days of the accompanying letter's date.
  • Pay all fees due with cash, check or money order payable to the office processing your application, Office of the Tax Commissioner or the Department of Revenue. Please do not send cash through the mail! Some counties accept credit cards

Apply for your title as soon as possible after you purchase or acquire ownership of the vehicle. If the vehicle requires a Georgia title, you will be unable to register and purchase a Georgia license plate or transfer your existing Georgia license plate (from another vehicle you no longer) to the vehicle without a Georgia title already issued in your name or without applying for a Georgia title at the time of registration.