How to Sell a Car in Georgia Privately? (State Guide)

In Georgia, buyers in a private sale have 7 days from the purchase date to title and register the vehicle at their County Tag Office.

If they miss that window, the penalty is $10 late title fee plus 10% TAVT penalty. If the deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, the next business day applies.

Sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title. No notary required.

A bill of sale is recommended in Georgia. The buyer needs it for their TAVT calculation at the tag office, since the price on the bill of sale determines what they owe instead of Fair Market Value.

Georgia offers an official Form T-7 you can use, but you can also write your own or use an online generator. Notarization required: no.

Yes. Lender holds the title until the loan is paid. Pay off the loan or coordinate payoff at closing to obtain a lien release.

If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference out of pocket before the title can be transferred.

The form you need is Form T-20 (Affidavit of Inheritance) or Letters of Testamentary/Administration if probated.

There is no dollar threshold; T-20 used when no probate is needed (only asset, no debts). The inheritor must title the vehicle in their name first before selling or transferring ownership.

It depends on how the title reads. If the two names are connected by “AND,” both owners must sign to transfer the vehicle. If the names are connected by “OR,” only one signature is required.

Check the title carefully before you meet the buyer to avoid delays at the County Tag Office.

Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any alteration to a Georgia title makes it invalid. You’ll need to apply for a corrected title before the sale can go through.

Go to your County Tag Office with Form MV-1 and the $8.00 fee. Once the corrected title arrives, you can restart the signing process with the buyer.

Your obligations as a seller are the same as any in-state sale: sign over the title, handle your plates (transfer to new vehicle, or cancel online via DRIVES / return to tag office), and cancel your registration Immediately.

The buyer is responsible for completing their state’s title transfer process before taking the car home.

Keep in mind that some states require a VIN inspection when registering an out-of-state vehicle. That’s the buyer’s responsibility to sort out in their home state.

License plates stay with the vehicle: no. Remove them before the buyer drives away.

You can transfer to new vehicle, or cancel online via DRIVES / return to tag office. Plate transfer fee: $20.

Plate surrender does not release liability: no, plate surrender alone does not release liability; cancel registration via DRIVES e-Services or submit Form MV-18J.

The buyer gets their own new plates when they register the car at their County Tag Office.

Emissions testing is required if the buyer registers the vehicle in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, or Rockdale county.

The seller is responsible: yes, if the seller and buyer are both located in the 13-county testing area.

The three newest model years are exempt, as are vehicles 25 model years or older.

The test result is tied to your VIN, so the buyer’s tag office will see it electronically. You don’t need to hand over a paper certificate, but keeping a copy is a good idea. The cost is $25 maximum per test, and a passing inspection is valid for 12 months.

Find a Georgia emissions testing station near you.

Learn more: What is Emissions or Smog Testing?

Yes. Georgia uses Form MV-18J (Registration Cancellation) in place of a separate release of liability form. You must cancel your vehicle registration Immediately after the sale.

To file: Cancel your registration online via DRIVES e-Services, or submit Form MV-18J in person at the County Tag Office..

Penalty for not filing: no specific monetary penalty, but the seller may remain liable for vehicle violations until registration is canceled.

Learn more: What is a Car Release of Liability Form? (Each State Forms)

TAVT (Title Ad Valorem Tax) is Georgia’s replacement for sales tax on vehicle purchases. Buyers pay 7% of the car’s fair market value when they register. It replaces both sales tax and annual ad valorem taxes.

As the seller, you don’t pay it. But knowing about it helps during negotiations. A buyer paying $10,000 for your car will owe an additional $700 on top of that at the tag office.

Mentioning it upfront can prevent surprise last-minute pushback on your price.

Want to compare offers before committing to a private sale? Compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor to see what your car is worth today.

Yes. family member receives a reduced TAVT rate of 0.5% with Form MV-16; transfer the title using normal title assignment.

The form you need is Form MV-16 (Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship). This applies to immediate family transfers (parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent, grandchild).