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 |
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.
Convenience fees apply.
A TAG CANNOT BE RENEWED ONLINE IF THE VEHICLE:
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.
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:
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)
Out of State Title with no lienholder:
Leased Vehicle:
Title held by Lien Holder:
*Limited Power of Attorney form must include Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and may be found HERE.
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:
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.
Georgia has two types of motor vehicle taxes:
TAVT Estimator (Calculator)
Annual Ad Valorem Tax Estimator (Calculator)
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
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.
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.
Some Military Veterans are exempt from TAVT.
Documents required:
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
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.
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.
CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS APPLY
Wilkie Smith
Tax Commissioner
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500 W Lamar St, Ste. 120
Americus, GA 31709
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P.O. Box 1044
Americus, GA 31709
Phone:
(229) 928-4530
Fax:
(229) 928-4533
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