Georgia license plate transfers allow you to move your existing plate from one vehicle to another of the same class when you sell your old vehicle and purchase a new one. Georgia plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle, when a car is sold. Important: Georgia law makes it a criminal offense to remove a plate from a vehicle and affix it to a different vehicle unless properly transferred through the county tag office. Always process transfers officially.
Does Georgia Allow You to Transfer a License Plate to a New Vehicle?
Yes. Georgia allows license plate transfers between vehicles of the same registration class owned by the same person. When you sell your vehicle, remove your plates and transfer them to your new vehicle at your county tag office. The new vehicle must be of the same class as the vehicle from which the plate was transferred. Georgia strictly enforces proper plate transfer procedures, using a plate on an unauthorized vehicle is a criminal offense.
How Do You Transfer a License Plate in Georgia?
Georgia plate transfers are processed at your county tag office. Some transactions may be available online through the Georgia DRIVES e-Services portal at dor.georgia.gov.
- Remove your plates from the vehicle you are selling. Georgia plates stay with the owner.
- Complete the title transfer for the sold vehicle — seller signs the title and the buyer registers at their county tag office.
- Obtain the title for your new vehicle. For private-party purchases, the seller must properly sign over the title with all liens released.
- Visit your county tag office with all required documents.
- Pay the applicable transfer fee and the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) on the new vehicle (7% of fair market value).
- The county tag office processes the transfer and updates the registration to reflect the new vehicle.
- Receive your updated registration and county decal for the new vehicle.
What Documents Do You Need to Transfer a Plate in Georgia?
Have these ready before visiting your county tag office.
- Valid Georgia driver’s license or state ID
- Title for the new vehicle — properly signed by the seller with all liens released
- Bill of sale with purchase price, date, and odometer reading
- Current registration card for the plates you are transferring
- The physical license plates
- Proof of current Georgia liability insurance for the new vehicle
- Payment for the TAVT (7% of fair market value), transfer fee, and $20 annual registration fee
How Much Does It Cost to Transfer a License Plate in Georgia?
Georgia’s TAVT is the dominant cost when acquiring a new vehicle. The plate transfer fee itself is relatively small.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Plate transfer fee | Contact your county tag office for current fee |
| Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) on new vehicle | 7% of the vehicle’s fair market value as determined by Georgia DOR |
| TAVT on gift to immediate family | 0.5% of fair market value |
| Annual registration fee | $20.00 per year |
| County tag office service fee | Varies by county — typically $1 to $10 |
Can You Transfer a Personalized or Specialty Plate in Georgia?
Georgia specialty and personalized plates can be transferred to a new vehicle of the same class. Contact your county tag office or the Georgia Department of Revenue at dor.georgia.gov for specific specialty plate transfer procedures and fees. Note that Georgia law is strict about proper plate display — county decals and required markings must be correct on transferred plates.
What Happens to the Old Registration When You Transfer a Plate in Georgia?
When you sell your vehicle in Georgia, properly sign over the title to the buyer. Remove your plates before the buyer takes possession — it is a criminal offense in Georgia to knowingly operate a vehicle with a plate issued for a different vehicle without proper transfer. The buyer registers at their county tag office and pays TAVT on the purchase. Your old registration is cancelled when the plate is transferred.
Can You Transfer a License Plate to Someone Else in Georgia?
No. Georgia plates cannot be transferred between different owners. Georgia law specifically states that license plates are not transferable between vehicle owners (except in specific family transfer situations at the option of the transferor). Operating a vehicle with a plate issued for another vehicle — without proper transfer — is a criminal offense in Georgia.
What Happens If You Sell Your Car — Do the Plates Stay With the Vehicle?
Georgia plates stay with the owner. Remove your plates when selling your vehicle. It is illegal under Georgia law to remove a plate from one vehicle and affix it to another vehicle of a different owner without proper transfer. The buyer registers the vehicle at their county tag office and pays TAVT. Transfer your plates to your new vehicle at your county tag office.
Is There a Deadline to Complete a Plate Transfer in Georgia?
Georgia requires vehicle registration within 30 days of purchase for most situations. A 30-day grace period applies before the $10 late fee begins. Complete your plate transfer within this window to avoid penalties.
What Should You Do If You Don’t Want to Transfer the Plate?
If you sell your vehicle and do not purchase a replacement, you may keep your plates or surrender them to your county tag office. Georgia law prohibits removing plates from a vehicle and affixing them to a different vehicle without proper authorization — keeping old plates without assigning them to a current registration is not recommended. Contact your county tag office for guidance on plate disposition.