TRANSPORTATION / MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION

Driver’s License
New residents must apply for a Georgia driver’s license within 30 days and relinquish all other driver licenses upon receiving a Georgia license. Applicants 18 years of age or older who surrender a valid out of state license that has not been expired for more than two years will be required to successfully pass an eye examination. Those who surrender a temporary permit, a temporary license, or an expired license must successfully pass an eye examination, road rules test, road signs test and driving test. Proof of Georgia residence and acceptable forms of personal identification will be required. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age for Classes D and M licenses; at least 18 years old for Classes A, B, and C; and at least 15 years old for an instructional permit. For complete information or answers to specific questions, contact:

Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)
678-413-8400
866-754-3687
https://dds.georgia.gov/

Locate DMVS Offices
www.dds.ga.gov/locations

Vehicle Registration & Title
Immediately upon obtaining your Georgia driver’s license or Georgia identification card, you must register your vehicles. Newcomers have 30 days in which to register and title their cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles and motor homes at the Tax Commissioner’s Office in their county of residence.  Generally, 1986 and newer year model vehicles require a Georgia certificate of title for registration. In addition beginning in March 2013 residents are required to pay a Vehicle Title Tax based on the value of the vehicle.

Contact your local office for details on required documentation and procedures:

Georgia Department of Revenue
Motor Vehicle Division
Vehicle Tag/Title
855-406-5221
http://dor.georgia.gov/motor-vehicles

Tax Commissioner’s Tag Offices
https://mvd.dor.ga.gov/motor/tagoffices/SelectTagOffice.aspx

Vehicle Title Tax
Vehicles purchased on or after March 1, 2013 and titled in this state will be exempt from sales and use tax and the annual ad valorem tax. Instead, these vehicles will be subject to a new, one-time title ad valorem tax that is based on the value of the vehicle. New residents moving into Georgia are required to register and title their motor vehicle in Georgia and must pay 50% of the TAVT within 30 days of moving to the state and the remaining 50% must be paid within the next 12 months.

Please visit the link below for further details and for answers to frequently asked questions:

Vehicle Title Tax F.A.Q
http://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/TAP/faqs.aspx

Vehicle Emissions
Residents of Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale counties must have their vehicles emissions inspected. The three most recent model years of every tag season are exempt. Additionally, vehicles that are 25 model years or older are exempt. For details on emissions testing, contact:

Georgia’s Clean Air Force
800-449-2471
https://cleanairforce.com/

Test Center Locations
https://cleanairforce.com/stations/welcome

Repairs & Passing Information
https://cleanairforce.com/stations/welcome

Georgia Safety Laws
Adults ages 18 and over must wear a safety belt when driving or riding in the front seat of a vehicle. Failure to comply will result in a fine. All persons 18 or younger are required to be restrained in safety belt. Occupants of pickup trucks, ages 18 and under, must also be restrained. Every driver who transports a child under five years of age must have the child properly restrained in an approved child passenger seat. Only with a physician’s written statement indicating a physical or medical condition can a child be exempt from using a child safety seat. Strict fines are imposed for violating the child safety laws. Georgia is a primary law state, so law enforcement officers can issue citations based on observation without another infraction of the law being involved. For more information or answers to specific questions, contact:

Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
Operation Click It or Ticket
404-656-6996
https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/