Georgia License Plate Transfer

Georgia plates belong to the person who registered them, not to the vehicle they started on. That single fact explains almost everything about how a transfer works, what it costs, and why the buyer and seller in a used car sale each have their own separate paperwork to handle.

Can You Keep Your Georgia Plate on a New Vehicle?

Yes, as long as the new vehicle is titled in the same name as the one the plate is currently assigned to. Georgia law allows the owner of a valid license plate to move it from a vehicle they no longer own to a new vehicle they acquire, provided both vehicles use the same class of plate and the transfer is completed at the County Tag Office.

What Happens to the Plate When You Sell a Car?

The plate does not go with the vehicle to the buyer. If you sell your car, you keep your plate and either transfer it to your next vehicle or cancel the registration if you are not replacing the vehicle right away. The buyer registers the vehicle under their own name and either transfers one of their own existing plates to it or is issued a new one.

• Selling and not replacing the vehicle: cancel the registration online through the Georgia DOR to stop future ad valorem tax notices.
• Selling and buying a replacement vehicle: keep your plate and transfer it to the new vehicle at your County Tag Office.
• Buying a used vehicle: register it in your name, then transfer one of your existing plates to it, or receive a new plate if this is your first Georgia-registered vehicle.

What Documents Do You Need to Transfer a Plate?

• A completed Form MV-1, Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application.
• The title for the new vehicle, or the manufacturer's certificate of origin if it is new.
• Proof of current Georgia auto insurance on the vehicle receiving the plate.
• Your driver's license or state ID.
• The registration card from the vehicle the plate is currently on, if available.

The name on both vehicles has to match for the plate to be eligible for transfer. If the new vehicle is titled under a different name, even a spouse's, the plate is not eligible to move automatically and you will need to register for a new plate instead.

How Much Does a Georgia Plate Transfer Cost?

The plate transfer fee itself is small, but it is rarely the only charge you will see at the counter. If the new vehicle needs a new title, the standard title fee and Title Ad Valorem Tax apply on top of the transfer fee, the same as they would for any other vehicle purchase.

Do You Have a Deadline to Complete the Transfer?

Yes. Georgia gives you a limited window, generally treated as within 30 days of acquiring the new vehicle, to complete title and registration paperwork at the County Tag Office, including any plate transfer. Missing that window can trigger TAVT penalties that compound over time, separate from any late registration fees.

Can You Transfer a Specialty or Personalized Plate?

Yes. Specialty and personalized plates transfer the same way standard plates do, and the specialty or personalization fee continues on the new vehicle at your next renewal. If you are moving a personalized combination, you do not need to reapply or recheck availability, since the combination is already assigned to you.

What If You Move Out of Georgia?

Georgia does not require you to surrender your plates when you leave the state. You are not required to return them, but you should cancel your Georgia registration once you register in your new state, since an uncanceled registration can keep generating ad valorem tax notices even after you are gone.

Georgia License Plate Transfer FAQ

Can I transfer a plate between spouses?

Only if both names are on the registration, or according to your County Tag Office's specific rules for a name change on title. A plate registered solely to one spouse generally cannot move automatically to a vehicle titled only in the other spouse's name.

Do I need to visit the tag office in person?

Yes. Plate transfers involving a title change are not currently available entirely online, since original documents need to be verified in person.

What if my old plate has expired?

An expired plate can usually still be transferred, but you will pay any outstanding renewal fees as part of the same transaction, along with the transfer fee.