Free Georgia Gift Bill of Sale
Georgia is unique in that its Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) applies to every vehicle transfer — including family gifts — but filing form MV-16 (Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship) reduces the rate from 7% to just 0.5% of fair market value. On a $20,000 vehicle, that is $100 instead of $1,400 — saving $1,300 with one form. Submit the MV-16 alongside the signed title at your county tag office — Georgia requires a newly acquired vehicle to be registered within 7 business days.
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Georgia Gift Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Georgia's Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) applies to ALL vehicle transfers, including family gifts. The standard TAVT rate is 7% of FMV. With the MV-16 affidavit, qualifying family transfers pay only 0.5% of FMV — on a $20,000 car, that is $100 vs. $1,400.
Exemption: Georgia MV-16 affidavit reduces TAVT from 7% to 0.5% for immediate family transfers
Inspection Requirements
Georgia does not require a statewide safety or emissions inspection for vehicle title transfers. Some counties previously had emissions testing programs, but Georgia's I/M program ended in 2020.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Georgia County Tag Office — not the same agency that handles cars in Georgia. Plan for separate filings.
Georgia Gift Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Download Georgia form MV-16 (Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship) from the GA DOR website — complete and sign it as the form's instructions direct, including any notarization it calls for.
- Confirm with the county tag office that the relative qualifies and the MV-16 is signed correctly before you go — without a qualifying affidavit, the standard 7% TAVT rate applies.
- Sign the back of the existing Georgia title over to the recipient, completing the odometer disclosure and all required fields.
- Prepare a bill of sale with the donor's and recipient's full legal names, vehicle year/make/model/VIN, the gift date, and $0 or "Gift" as the stated consideration.
- Both parties bring valid government-issued photo ID (or notarized power of attorney for an absent party) to the county tag office.
- Submit the completed MV-16, the signed title, a bill of sale (Form T-7 if you need one), completed MV-1 title application (if required), and payment for the 0.5% TAVT plus title and registration fees to the county tag office.
- Register within 7 business days of the gift date — title and TAVT late penalties also start after day 30.
Common Pitfalls
- Submitting an incomplete or incorrectly signed MV-16 — this is the most costly mistake in a Georgia vehicle gift; without a qualifying affidavit the standard 7% TAVT rate applies, turning a $100 tax bill into $1,400 on a $20,000 vehicle.
- Assuming the gift is completely tax-free — Georgia's TAVT always applies to vehicle transfers; the MV-16 reduces the rate but does not eliminate the tax.
- Missing Georgia's deadlines — registration is due within 7 business days, and after day 30 a $10 title penalty and a TAVT penalty (10% plus 1% a month) apply.
- Gifting to a more distant relative and expecting the 0.5% rate — confirm with the county tag office which relationships the MV-16 reduced rate covers.
- Confusing the county tag office location — Georgia title transfers are handled at county tax commissioner offices (county tag offices), not state DOR offices.
Pro Tip
The completed MV-16 is the single most important document in a Georgia vehicle gift — it is the difference between a $100 tax bill and a $1,400 one on a typical used vehicle.