Sumter County Georgia|Motor Vehicles

Renewal Information

Vehicle tag renewal notices list ad valorem tax and tag renewal fees due along with any other applicable fees that must be collected to renew the vehicle’s registration. Renewal notices are mailed approximately 45-60 days prior to the registration expiration date by the State of Georgia. If a tag renewal notice is needed, please contact us to request a notice be mailed to you. Call us at (229) 928-4530.

Tag/Decal Expiration

All individual registrations in Georgia expire at midnight on the birthday of the owner (first person listed on title). If a renewal notice is not received in the mail at least a month ahead of the birthday of the primary owner, then contact our office and we will be happy to send you the renewal notice. Remember that it is the responsibility of the owner to renew the registration before the deadline.

Vehicle Business registrations (listed/owned by a business) in Georgia expire on the last day of a specified month set by the DOR. (Example: A business in which the first letter of the first name is the letter A or B expires the last day of January; as so forth in chart below)

First Letter of Business Name	Expiration Month
A or B	January
C or D	February
E, F, 4, 5, or 8	March
G or H	April
I or J	May
K or L	June
M, N, or 9	July
O, P, or 1	August
Q or R	September
S, T, 2, 3, 6, or 7	October
U, V, or W	November
X, Y, Z, or 0	December

Your Vehicle Registration Card

Renew in Person

Tag renewals may be processed in person at the Sumter County Tax Commissioner’s Office.

Sumter County Courthouse
Tax Commissioner's Office
500 West Lamar Street, Suite 120
Americus, GA 31709

Not receiving a renewal notice does not relieve the registered owner from the obligation to renew the vehicle’s registration by the due date. If the owner does not receive a renewal notice, it is still the owner's responsibility to renew by their expiration date. Penalties will not be waived because the owner did not receive a renewal notice.

If renewing in person, you must bring one of the following: tag renewal notice(s), the vehicle owner’s driver’s license, the (VIN) vehicle identification number, or the current tag number. All renewal requirements must be met before the renewal can be processed.

Payment methods include cash, personal check, debit/credit cards or money order.

A convenience fee of 2.57% is charged for all debit or credit card transactions.

Renew Online

Renew your registration over the internet at the Department of Revenue's web site, https://eservices.drives.ga.gov

Vehicle registrations must be renewed on or before the renewal date each year or tag and tax penalties will be assessed.

Tags renewed online will be processed by the Tag Office and mailed to the vehicle owner’s address on record usually within three (3) business days.

If the address on your renewal notice/website is not correct, then your decals will not the mailed to the correct address. Therefore, DO NOT RENEW ONLINE.

Credit cards accepted online are: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.

Convenience fees apply.

A TAG CANNOT BE RENEWED ONLINE IF THE VEHICLE:

Does not have a valid Georgia insurance policy, which must be electronically transmitted to the State of Georgia by the insurance company.
Is covered by a Georgia Fleet Insurance policy.
Currently has a specialty license plate that requires supporting documentation in order to renew the registration (e.g. military, certified firefighters, amateur radio, etc.)
Registered owner has a change of address

If based on the information above, CLICK HERE to renew online.

Renew by Mail

If renewing by mail, renewal payments should be mailed several weeks prior to the renewal date to allow time for processing. To ensure timely processing of all renewal payments and to avoid penalties, all renewal requirements must be met before the renewal can be processed. If a renewal is submitted without all of the required information, it will be returned to the owner and tag/tax penalties will be applied.

Mailed in renewal payments must be postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or before the renewal date or tag and tax penalties will apply. If the renewal is received without proper payments or required documents, the renewal will be returned and the due date cannot be extended. Tag and tax penalties will apply.

Payment methods include personal check or money order. Checks and money orders should be made payable to “Sumter County Tax Commissioner” and mailed to P.O. Box 1044, Americus, GA 31709.

If paying by check, a valid telephone number must be printed or written on the check. If your check is dishonored by the bank, service fees will be assessed in accordance with state law and federal guidelines. All checks dishonored by the bank are handled through a third-party service.

Vehicle Insurance

Insurance Requirements Insurance cards are not acceptable proof of insurance coverage for motor vehicle transactions at the Sumter County Tag office (except fleet and self-insured). Your insurance company is required to electronically transmit proof of insurance directly to the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) database.

Acceptable Proof of Insurance The Sumter County Tag Office verifies your insurance status electronically (except for those vehicles covered under a Fleet or Self-Insured Policy.)

When the Georgia registration system does not indicate valid proof of insurance, the following will be acceptable:

A 30-day insurance binder with an effective date that is less than 30 days. Faxed copies from your insurance company are accepted.
The original Declarations Page from your existing auto insurance policy if the vehicle purchase occurred within the last 30 days.
A Georgia Fleet insurance card with the words “Georgia Fleet” on it.
A self-insured insurance card and a Certificate of Self Insurance.

Lapse of Insurance and Suspensions A lapse in insurance occurs when a vehicle has not carried valid Georgia liability insurance coverage for a period of more than 10 days. Your insurance company reports the lapse to the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR), and a notice of pending registration suspension is generated and mailed by the DOR. A lapse will result in a $25 pending suspension fee which must be paid within 30 days.

If the $25 pending suspension fee is not paid by the due date, the registration will be suspended by the DOR. To reinstate the registration, the vehicle must have valid Georgia insurance coverage, the $25 pending-suspension fee plus a $60 reinstatement fee must be paid, as well as any other registration fees, ad valorem taxes or penalties due. Any additional lapses in coverage and/or suspensions will result in additional fines and penalties including cancellation of the vehicle’s registration.

Cancelling Insurance Before cancelling insurance on a vehicle, cancel the registration first to avoid fines or penalties from the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Voluntary Registration Cancellation

Cancelling the registration notifies our office, law enforcement, and the Department of Revenue that said vehicle is not and will not be on the road. Cancelling the registration does not destroy the registration. It only renders it inactive while maintaining the records.

Cancelling the registration is highly recommended if the vehicle is:

Sold or traded-in to a dealer
Registered in another State
Repossessed, stolen wrecked, salvaged by an insurance company, or junked
Stored or rendered inoperable

There are two options available:

In-Person: Owner of the vehicle presents Driver’s License, voluntary cancellation is processed, signature required, and customer receives a signed copy of the transaction.
On-Line: This service is available on-line at the GA Department of Revenue website.

Registration can be reactivated (uncancel registration) by the primary owner at any time, provided insurance is restored and any outstanding taxes/fees due are paid.

Dealer and Fleet Services

Dealer Georgia dealerships process vehicle titles through the State’s electronic processing system utilizing third party vendors. The DOR has granted several exceptions which will allow the Sumter County Tag Office to process titles from Georgia dealerships.

All other titles (exceptions) may be processed by mail, in-person, or by drop off. For optimal efficiency in processing title work, all applications / documents should be complete and ready to process at time of submission. Incomplete/incorrect/missing documents will be returned to the party for correction. Valid telephone numbers will be attempted as a first resort. If no communication is available, all documents received will be returned by regular USPS. Drop offs and Mail-ins are processed in the order in which they are received. Please allow 24 hours to process these submissions.

A TAVT Calculator is available on the Department of Revenue website. The calculator does not include penalties and fees which may apply if the title is not submitted by the mandated deadline. Contact our office if you should have any questions.

Fleet Fleet renewals may be processed by mail or in-person. For optimal efficiency in processing fleet work, review renewal notices for deletions and registration cancellations. If any renewal notices are missing, please contact our office at (229) 928-4530.

When all renewal notices are ready to process, please submit the following:

A copy of fleet insurance card, if applicable.
Form 2290 for each vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight of 55,000 lbs. or more.

Disabled Persons

A disabled person's license plate costs $20 (same as standard) plus any other fees and penalties which may apply, including ad valorem tax and title tax, if applicable. If the vehicle currently has a valid Georgia license plate and a disabled person's license plate is being requested for the same vehicle, a disabled person license plate will be issued at no cost. Disabled person’s license plates do not need an affidavit to renew, but are renewed each year as any registration is renewed. If you are permanently disabled, you can also apply for a disabled person plate for each vehicle you own.

Disabled Persons Placards and Plates To obtain a disabled person's license placard (which hangs from the rear-view mirror) or plate, submit the following to our office:

MV9-D – Disabled Person’s Parking Affidavit, completed, signed and notarized by a Georgia licensed healthcare practitioner
Georgia driver's license or Georgia ID card with a current Sumter County address

Note: The licensed healthcare practitioner or doctor designates whether the disability is temporary or permanent. If the licensed healthcare practitioner does not have a notary to complete the Affidavit, a written order on a medical prescription pad signed by the practitioner will be acceptable.

Permanent Disability: Parking Placard (Blue Hang Tag) - Permanent placards are reissued every four years but a new MV9-D is not required. To renew a permanent placard, the person who was initially issued the placard must bring their current placard and their Georgia driver's license or Georgia ID with current Sumter County address to our office. One (1) placard is valid; multiple placards may not be issued.

License Plate (Blue Emblem Plate) - A disabled person's license plate standard fee is $20 plus any other fees and penalties which may apply, including ad valorem tax and title tax, if applicable. If the vehicle currently has a valid Georgia license plate and a disabled person's license plate is being requested for the same vehicle, a disabled person license plate will be issued at no cost. Disabled person’s license plates do not need a new MV9-D to renew, but are renewed each year as any registration is renewed. If you are permanently disabled, you can also apply for a disabled person plate for each vehicle you own.

Temporary Disability: Temporary Disabled Person's Placards (Red Hang Tag) - Temporary placards are valid for six months from the issue date. To renew a temporary placard, a newly-completed MV9-D form must be submitted.

RECOMMENDATION
Hang the Placards when the vehicle is parked in the Permitted parking space only. Remove the Placard to a safe location when the vehicle is operating.

Vehicle Registration Statistics

New Residents

New to Sumter County? Welcome... we look forward to serving you!

Moving to Sumter County from another Georgia county?

The registered owner of the vehicle must submit the change of address request. Please notify us within 30 days of establishing residency in one of the following ways:

By Email - Email Leah at lwatson@sumtercountyga.us Include a scanned copy or picture of owner’s driver’s license with the new current Sumter County address. A telephone number would be helpful in case we have any questions.
By Mail - Mail the change of address request to Sumter County Tax Commissioner | P O Box 1044 | Americus GA li31709. Include a copy of the owner’s driver’s license with the new current Sumter County address. A telephone number would be helpful in case we have any questions
In Person - Address changes may be done in person by visiting us at the Sumter County Courthouse | 500 West Lamar St. | Americus GA 31709, and presenting a valid Georgia driver’s license or ID card with the new current Sumter County address. The plate/tag number remains the same, though a new decal to replace the old county information will be given. Of course, if using an “In God We Trust” decal, it canNew be kept in lieu of a county decal.

Moving to Sumter County from another state?

All out-of-state title applications and registration require visiting the Sumter County Tax Commissioner’s Office and bringing the following: (Please read all)

A valid GEORGIA driver’s license/ID which shows a current Sumter County address
Proof of Georgia Insurance
Proof of ownership
Current Mileage
Additional documents (if needed)

Out of State Title with no lienholder:

Must have original title with owner(s) name printed on front
All listed owners on original title must be present or have a Limited Power of Attorney* and copy of driver’s license for the owner who is absent

Leased Vehicle:

Copy of lease agreement
Original Limited Power of Attorney* authorizing lessee to register vehicle in Georgia (obtained from the leasing company).
Current registration from previous state

Title held by Lien Holder:

All listed owners on original title must be present or have an original Limited Power of Attorney* and copy of driver’s license for the owner who is absent
Current registration from previous state
Name, address, and phone number of Lien Holder
Copy of title held by lienholder

*Limited Power of Attorney form must include Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and may be found HERE.

Purchasing a Vehicle

New Purchases

All vehicles 1986 and newer require a title to transfer ownership. Transfer of ownership must be processed in the county in which the new owner lives.

Note: Salvage vehicles are not eligible for a Georgia registration until they have been rebuilt and have passed inspection. Our tag agent can offer some information about this process. For more information on salvage vehicles, visit the Georgia Department of Revenue website.

Businesses wishing to title a vehicle to the business must provide their active business license during each initial registration process.

Purchased from a Dealer

When a vehicle is purchased from a dealership, the dealer submits the necessary documents to apply for title. The title application must be processed either prior to or at the same time the registration is issued. The dealer also submits proof of insurance, copy of purchaser’s driver’s license reflecting a Sumter County address, prior title/MSO, title ad valorem tax (TAVT) and a completed MV-1 form.

Note: It is the sole responsibility of the dealership to collect and submit TAVT to the tag office to submit title application. If a vehicle is purchased from a dealership, the customer (or purchaser) cannot submit title application/registration or pay TAVT with a personal check.

Initial Registration

All title work must be completed before a tag will be issued.

Dealerships may purchase a tag for the customer.

If a dealership purchases and submits the tag request with the title application electronically, the tag will be mailed to the customer directly from the Department of Revenue in Atlanta.

If the dealership does not purchase a tag, the new owner must visit our office to purchase a tag. The owner must provide a copy of a valid driver’s license with a current Sumter County address.

Effective July 1, 2015 - If a brand new vehicle (i.e., one that has never been the subject of a sale at retail to the general public) is purchased, the state offers the option of purchasing a two-year registration during the initial registration period for a $40 fee (standard plates only). Annual registration renewal applies thereafter. Availability is offered for passenger cars designed to carry 10 passengers or less only.

Purchased from an Individual or Business

For a vehicle purchased from an individual or business (other than a dealer) in a casual/private sale, the new owner is required to apply for the title and registration. The new owner must title and register the vehicle in their name within seven (7) days of the purchase date per law enforcement if vehicle is driven and within 30 days to avoid late penalties from the Department of Revenue (DOR).

When the seller has provided a title properly signed over, the purchaser needs to bring the following items to our office:

Title correctly signed over to new owner
New owner(s) must be present with valid identification. First owner must have valid Georgia driver's license or Georgia identification card reflecting the Sumter County address. Second owner may have out-of-state DL or ID card.
Valid Georgia liability Insurance (see Insurance Requirements)
If the vehicle is leased, provide the original lease agreement that includes the names and addresses of the leasing company and the lessee(s).
If the vehicle is purchased from an individual, a bill of sale is required indicating the date of the sale, the VIN# of the vehicle, the purchase price, and the buyer’s and seller’s signatures.

TAVT is collected at the time of titling. To use the online TAVT calculator provided by the DOR for a TAVT estimate, click HERE.

If vehicle is purchased from an individual or business and the Certificate of Title is in the possession of a bank or other financial institution, the purchaser or lien holder must apply for the Georgia title and registration. If financing the vehicle, the lien holder normally submits the necessary documents to apply for title.

Motor Vehicle Taxes

Georgia has two types of motor vehicle taxes:

TAVT - Applies to most vehicles purchased March 1, 2013 or later, with a few exceptions
Annual Ad Valorem Tax - Applies to most vehicles purchased prior to March 1, 2013 and non-titled vehicles

TAVT Estimator (Calculator)
Annual Ad Valorem Tax Estimator (Calculator)

Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT)

Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) became effective on March 1, 2013. TAVT is a one-time tax that is paid at the time the vehicle is titled. It replaced sales tax and annual ad valorem tax (annual motor vehicle tax) and is paid every time vehicle ownership is transferred or a new resident registers the vehicle in Georgia for the first time.

The current TAVT rate is 6.6% of the fair market value of the vehicle or selling price as directed by the Department of Revenue.

TAVT Exceptions

Non-titled vehicles and trailers are exempt from TAVT – but are subject to annual ad valorem tax.
New residents to Georgia pay TAVT at a rate of 3% (New GA Law effective July 1, 2019).

If the vehicle is currently in the TAVT system, the immediate family member can pay a reduced TAVT rate of .5% of the fair market value of the vehicle.

If the vehicle is currently in the annual ad valorem tax system, the immediate family member has the option of staying under annual ad valorem OR paying full one-time TAVT.

Family Transfer - Form MV-16 Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship required for either option.

If the current vehicle owner is deceased, the immediate family member may have the same options as above and must present the two documents below.

Inheritance - T-20 Affidavit of Inheritance required.
Certified copy of Death Certificate – the Tag Office will make a copy of the Death Certificate, allowing the customer to keep his/her certified copy.

Some Military Veterans are exempt from TAVT.

Disabled Veterans compensated at 100%
Prisoners of War
Purple Heart Recipients
Medal of Honor Recipients

Documents required:

Form MV-30 Georgian’s Veteran Affidavit for Relief and Local TAVT fees and Military documentation.

Public Safety-First Responders – allowed a TAVT exemption on a maximum of $50,000 fair market value combined for all vehicles he or she registers during any three-year period

Required documentation: MV-PSFR-TAVT Public Safety First Responder State and Local Title Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Application and award letter from the Department of Administrative Services for individual or spouse receiving payments for indemnification for death or disability.
Applies to law enforcement officer, fireman, publicly employed emergency medical technician, or a surviving spouse of such a first responder, receiving indemnification payments from the Department of Administrative Services due to certain injuries or death occurring in the line of duty.

Annual Ad Valorem Tax

Annual Ad Valorem tax applies to most vehicles not taxed under TAVT or alternative ad valorem tax. Annual Ad Valorem tax is a value tax that is assessed annually and must be paid at the time of registration. Payment of ad valorem tax is a prerequisite to receiving a tag or renewal decal. Ad valorem taxes are due each year on all vehicles whether they are operational or not, even if the tag or registration renewal is not being applied for. Taxes must be paid by the last day of your registration period (birthday) to avoid a 10% penalty. Tax amounts vary according to the current fair market value of the vehicle and the tax district in which the owner resides. Ad valorem tax receipts are distributed to the state, county, schools, and cities.

Find the estimated annual ad valorem tax on a vehicle (not under TAVT) here.

Find a Self Service Kiosk

Travelling out of Sumter County TODAY
Forgot about your Birthday Tag Renewal

So you are away from the Sumter County Tax Commissioner’s Office
You cannot get to our office to renew your tag decal
You cannot renew your tag decal using the on-line option
There is not enough time to mail the tag renewal to us

Need to renew your tag decal TODAY

Tag Renewal Kiosks
may be your solution

KIOSKS are available in many locations throughout the State of Georgia.
The majority of the locations are in PUBLIX.

Call our office now (229) 928-4530 (9-5 M-F)
One of our Tag Agents can help you find the location nearest you.

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