In the state of Georgia, license plate fees vary depending on the type of plate you choose. The fee for standard passenger vehicle registration is $20, which includes the cost of a standard license plate.

If you want a personalized plate, it will cost $55. Additional taxes and fees apply to both new and renewal registrations.

Apply for license plates at your county’s tag office. You can find the tag office for your Georgia county here.

Here are the steps for getting new license plates from your county tag office.

1. Gather the necessary documentation. You will need proof of vehicle ownership (certificate of title), proof of Georgia insurance, and a valid Georgia driver's license or ID card.
2. Visit your local county tag office. This is where you will submit your documents and fill out the license plate application form.
3. Get valid vehicle insurance. In Georgia, it is mandatory to have valid vehicle insurance to register a vehicle.
4. Register the vehicle with the Georgia Department of Revenue, County Tags Office. This involves submitting the necessary documents, such as proof of ownership, a Georgia driver's license, and proof of insurance, and paying the applicable registration fee.
5. Fill out the application for a license plate. Make sure to carefully read the instructions and complete the form completely and accurately.
6. Pay the applicable fees. You must pay a one-time manufacturing fee as well as an annual registration fee. The fees will vary depending on the type of vehicle, its weight, and its intended use.
7. Receive a temporary operating permit. After you pay the fees, you will be given a temporary operating permit that will allow you to legally drive your vehicle until your license plates arrive in the mail.
8. Pick up the license plate. The license plate will be issued by the Georgia County Tag Office, as indicated on the vehicle registration documents.
9. Attach your license plates to your vehicle. The license plate must be installed on the rear of the vehicle, and it must be clearly visible from at least 50 feet away. Passenger vehicles must display a license plate on the rear, and commercial vehicles are required to display it on the front.

Every state in the US requires a rear license plate. While some states require rear plates only, other states require a front license plate in addition to the rear plate.

Georgia has different types of license plates for different vehicle classes: passenger license plates, commercial vehicle plates, special license plates, trailer plates, and motorcycle plates.

The state also allows drivers to choose from a standard, specialty, or prestige plate.

License plates measure 6 by 12 inches and are rectangular (motorcycle license plates are smaller, measuring 4 by 7 inches).

The Georgia license plate has seven characters (across the 50 states, license plates have anywhere from six to eight characters).

Your $20 Georgia registration fee has the standard license plate cost built in.

Standard license plates are issued in any of the following scenarios:

A prestige license plate, also known as a vanity or personalized plate, gives you the freedom to express your personality on the road by selecting any combination of letters and numbers that is legal in Georgia (see below for criteria).

A prestige plate costs $55 in addition to the $20 registration fee. The $55 breaks down into a $35 manufacturing fee and a $20 tag fee. You can only apply in person at your local county tag office.

Here is what you will submit to apply for a prestige plate:

1. Completed special prestige license plate application (form MV-9B)
2. $55 payment

There are some limitations on prestige license plates in Georgia. You're limited to seven characters. While you can mix and match letters and numbers to your heart's content, you can't include any punctuation or special characters.

Anything offensive or inappropriate is not permitted. Also, no references to illegal activities or substances are permitted on your personalized plate. Finally, make sure to choose something original—no imitating!

The Georgia MVD will review and approve your prestige license plate application after you submit it. If your application does not follow the guidelines, or if the combination of characters is already in use, the MVD will reject it.

Georgia lets you show your support for a cause or organization through a specialty license plate. From supporting military troops to showcasing your love for history, there is a specialty plate to fit your interests.

Georgia offers two categories of specialty license plates:

1. Non-revenue sharing plates are available from sponsors who are ineligible for revenue sharing, meaning they have not had a bill passed authorizing revenue sharing.
2. Revenue sharing plates, on the other hand, are available to sponsors who have had a legislative bill passed. With revenue sharing plates, revenue from registration and renewal fees in Georgia can be shared with a valid non-profit organization that sponsors the plate.

Here are the specialty designs Georgia has to offer:

Fraternity


Sorority


University


Organizational


Non-Profit:


Professional


National Guard and US Reserve

A Georgia military license plate cost is included in the $20 price of your initial registration fee. The Georgia General Assembly has designated a number of special license plates to honor individuals who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.

You must provide proof that you have served or are currently serving in a branch of the United States Armed Forces in order to get a veteran's plate.

The following are examples of acceptable proof of service:


Here are the available military designs:

Air force


Army


Coast Guard


Marine


Navy

Residents of Georgia who are disabled or have a disabled spouse, child, ward, or legal guardian can apply for a disabled license plate at their local county tag office.

You will need to provide the following to get a Georgia disability plate:

You can order a license plate in Georgia in person at a county tag office. Here are the steps for ordering license plates in Georgia:

Replacing a Georgia license plate costs $8.

To get a replacement, you'll have to request a duplicate in person at your local county tag office.

1. Completed application for a replacement license plate and/or renewal decal (form MV-7).
2. Copy of the police report
3. Mutilated license plate or decal, if applicable.
4. Completed affidavit of non-receipt of an original license plate renewal decal (form T-200) (if lost in the mail)
5. Completed special prestige license plate application (form MV-9B) (if special prestige license plate)
6. Payment for $8.00 for standard plates or $43.00 for prestige license plates

If the license plate or decal was lost in the mail prior to receipt and within 90 days of the issue date, the replacement fee may not apply.

When purchasing a used car in Georgia, you will need to provide your local County Tag office with the following:


See our guide to transferring a Georgia car title for more information on the process.

In the state of Georgia, only the 13-county Atlanta Metropolitan Area requires enhanced vehicle emission testing on all gasoline-powered cars.

The thirteen counties requiring emissions testing are:

1. Clayton County
2. Cherokee County
3. Coweta County
4. Cobb County
5. Douglas County
6. DeKalb County
7. Fulton County
8. Fayette County
9. forsyth County
10. Gwinnett County
11. Henry County
12. Paulding County
13. Rockdale County

Exemptions: the following vehicle types are exempt from emissions testing requirements in the 13-county Atlanta metro area.


If you live in the 13-county Atlanta metro area and the car that you are buying does not meet any of these criteria, find an authorized emissions check station and proceed with the test.

For most cars, an emissions test costs $25.

For passenger vehicles, registration costs $20. To apply for a Georgia license plate, you must have vehicle registration cards from the Georgia County Tag office. In Georgia, you can register your vehicle in person. To make things more efficient, title transfer and car registration are done simultaneously.

You will need to submit the following documents to your local county tag office:

“Individuals have 30 calendar days after establishing residency to register their vehicles. The out-of-state vehicle registration is no longer valid after the 30-day period. If you do not register your vehicle within 30 days, penalties and fines are assessed. New residents are required to pay a tag fee, a title fee, and a one-time title ad valorem tax (title tax) of 3%. The full amount is due upon titling any motor vehicle.” (“New Georgia Residents,” Georgia)

If you are a new Georgia resident or have purchased a vehicle out of state and are bringing it home to Georgia to register it, you’ll need to complete the following steps.


If you're thinking about buying an out-of-state vehicle from a private seller, read our guide to purchasing a vehicle remotely to see how PrivateAuto makes the process so much easier.

Before buying a used car from a private seller, you should find out if there are any hidden fees. If it does, you could be responsible for them.

The first step is to get the seller's vehicle identification number (VIN). You can use the VIN to contact your local Georgia MVD office and request a title search. The Georgia MVD will be able to tell you if there are any unpaid fees associated with the car, such as a vehicle registration fee or unpaid parking tickets.

PrivateAuto makes selling your car in Georgia safe and easy. The sales process consists of a few simple steps:

1. Gather the required documentation in the state of Georgia
2. Create your PrivateAuto profile and get verified
3. List the car
4. Set your own terms
5. Vet incoming offers
6. Choose the buyer you like
7. Schedule the meetup
8. E-sign paperwork
9. Get paid instantaneously with PrivateAuto Pay
10. Transfer ownership

Browse our selection of used vehicles for sale.