Free Georgia Horse Bill of Sale

Buying or selling a horse in Georgia is a paperwork sport. There is no state title — your bill of sale, breed registry transfer, and current negative Coggins test are the chain of ownership. Georgia law requires a negative Coggins (EIA) test within 12 months for any horse being sold, transported, or shown, and an out-of-state buyer or seller adds a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to the stack. Skip the Coggins and the horse cannot legally cross a county line, let alone enter a sale barn.

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Unlike motor vehicles, horses aren't titled by the DMV — making a written bill of sale your primary legal proof of ownership transfer. Our guide explains what a bill of sale must include to be legally binding and enforceable. Read: What Is a Bill of Sale? →

Georgia Horse Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form

Standard bill of sale

Agency

GDA Equine Health

Georgia Department of Agriculture, Equine Health

Primary ID Field

Registration Number

Sales Tax

Exempt

Title Required

Horses are not titled in Georgia. Ownership is established by the bill of sale, breed registry papers (AQHA, Jockey Club, etc.), and a current negative Coggins (Equine Infectious Anemia) test. Transfer registry papers through the relevant breed association after the sale.

Inspection

Required

Sales Tax Details

Casual private-party horse sales between Georgia residents are generally not subject to sales tax. Sales by dealers or commercial operations are taxable at the state 4% rate plus local option (typically 7-8% combined). There is no TAVT on livestock — TAVT applies to titled motor vehicles only. If the buyer is bringing the horse from out of state, no Georgia sales tax is due on the import itself.

Inspection Requirements

Georgia requires a current negative Coggins test (within 12 months) for any horse changing ownership, being transported, or attending any public event, sale, or boarding facility. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI / health certificate) is required for any horse entering Georgia from another state. No statewide brand inspection program.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Breed registry (AQHA, Jockey Club, APHA, etc.); GDA for health certificate compliance — not the same agency that handles cars in Georgia. Plan for separate filings.

Georgia Horse Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

Write a detailed bill of sale: registered name, barn name, breed, color, markings, sex, age, sire/dam, microchip or tattoo
Obtain a negative Coggins test dated within 12 months of the sale
For interstate moves, get a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) from a USDA-accredited vet
Pre-purchase exam (PPE) by an independent vet — flexion tests, x-rays as appropriate to discipline
Verify breed registry papers match the horse and that the seller is the recorded owner
Document any "as-is" sale language and disclose all known vices, lameness, and medical history
File breed registry transfer paperwork with AQHA, Jockey Club, etc., within registry deadlines
Keep copies of bill of sale, Coggins, CVI, and registry transfer for at least 3 years

Common Pitfalls

Hauling a horse across county lines without a current Coggins — a single roadside stop ends the trip
Forgetting the CVI on an interstate import and getting refused at a Georgia boarding or show facility
Skipping the pre-purchase exam to save money and discovering navicular or kissing spines a month later
Assuming registry papers transfer automatically — most breed associations require a signed transfer form and fee
Using a vague handwritten note instead of a real bill of sale that lists markings, microchip, and registered name
Buying a horse with an undisclosed lameness history — Georgia is largely caveat emptor on private equine sales
Letting the horse leave the seller’s property before payment clears

Pro Tip

Bill of sale, current Coggins, breed registry transfer, and (for imports) a CVI are the four pillars of a clean Georgia horse sale. Skip any one and you risk a stranded horse, a failed registry transfer, or a dispute you cannot win.

Georgia Horse Bill of Sale — FAQs

Do I need a Coggins test to buy or sell a horse in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia Department of Agriculture rules require a current negative Coggins (Equine Infectious Anemia) test within the past 12 months for any horse being sold, transported on public roads, or assembled with other horses (shows, sales, boarding, trail rides). The seller typically provides a copy of the Coggins certificate at the time of sale. Without it, the buyer cannot legally haul the horse home, board it, or compete.

Is there a state title for horses in Georgia?

No. Georgia, like every U.S. state, does not title horses the way it titles vehicles. Ownership is proven by the bill of sale, the breed registry transfer (if the horse is registered with AQHA, Jockey Club, APHA, etc.), and supporting evidence like microchip records, vet records, and prior bills of sale. That makes the bill of sale especially important — it is your primary legal document if ownership is ever disputed.

What paperwork do I need to bring a horse into Georgia from another state?

You need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI / health certificate) issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within the past 30 days, plus a current negative Coggins test (within 12 months for most uses). The CVI must list the horse’s description, the destination address in Georgia, and the consignor. Trucks and trailers are subject to inspection at Georgia’s agricultural checkpoints, and shows or boarding barns will refuse a horse without paperwork.

Should I get a pre-purchase exam (PPE) on a Georgia horse purchase?

Almost always yes — and use a vet who is not the seller’s vet. A basic PPE runs a few hundred dollars; a full exam with flexion tests, x-rays, and a scope can run over a thousand. On a horse priced at $5,000 or more, the PPE is cheap insurance. Georgia private horse sales are largely "as-is" once papers and money change hands, so undisclosed soundness or behavior issues are typically the buyer’s problem.

Other Georgia Templates

Vehicle Bill of Sale Car Bill of Sale Used Car Bill of Sale Motorcycle Bill of Sale Boat Bill of Sale Trailer Bill of Sale ATV Bill of Sale Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale RV Bill of Sale General Bill of Sale Free Printable Bill of Sale Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale As-Is Bill of Sale Gift Bill of Sale

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