Free Georgia Vehicle Bill of Sale

A Georgia vehicle bill of sale documents the transfer of a car, truck, or motorcycle between private parties. While the signed Georgia title is the legal proof of ownership transfer, the state-published Form T-7 Bill of Sale paired with Form MV-1 (Title/Tag Application) is what the county tag office expects to see when calculating Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) and issuing a new title. Georgia is unusual: there is no sales tax on vehicles, but a one-time 6.6% TAVT based on Fair Market Value is collected at titling. Get this paperwork wrong and the buyer faces a $10/month late penalty plus disputes over which value TAVT was calculated on.

Free PDF includes a small watermark at the bottom. Remove it for $4.99.

Georgia Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form

T-7

Bill of Sale

Agency

GA DOR MVD

Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division

Primary ID Field

VIN

Sales Tax

6.6%

Title Required

Yes

Seller signs the Georgia title in the assignment area and enters the odometer reading. Buyer takes the signed title plus Form T-7 (Bill of Sale) and Form MV-1 (Title/Tag Application) to their county tag office (county tax commissioner) within 30 days of purchase. Late title transfer triggers a $10/month penalty.

Inspection

Not required

Sales Tax Details

Georgia does NOT charge sales tax on vehicle purchases. Instead, a one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) of 6.6% is collected at title transfer, calculated on the Fair Market Value (FMV) from the DOR assessment table — not the sale price. TAVT replaced the old annual ad valorem ("birthday tax") and sales tax for vehicles purchased after March 1, 2013. The buyer pays TAVT at the county tag office when titling.

Exemption: Reduced TAVT rate of 0.5% for vehicles transferred between immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling) when the title is already in Georgia. Disabled veterans and certain non-resident military may also qualify for exemptions.

Inspection Requirements

Georgia has NO statewide safety inspection. However, an annual emissions inspection is required for most gasoline vehicles 3-25 model years old registered in 13 metro Atlanta counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale. The emissions certificate must be current before the county tag office will issue a tag.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by County tag office (county tax commissioner) on behalf of GA DOR MVD — not the same agency that handles cars in Georgia. Plan for separate filings.

Georgia Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

Complete Form T-7 (Bill of Sale) with full names, addresses, sale date, sale price, and odometer reading
Record the 17-character VIN exactly as it appears on the title and dashboard
Seller signs the Georgia title in the assignment block and fills in the odometer disclosure
Buyer completes Form MV-1 (Title/Tag Application) for the county tag office
Verify emissions certificate is current if registering in one of the 13 metro Atlanta counties
Bring proof of Georgia liability insurance (electronically filed by the insurer)
Visit the buyer’s county tag office within 30 days of purchase to pay TAVT and title the vehicle
Both parties keep signed copies of the T-7 bill of sale for their records

Common Pitfalls

Assuming TAVT is calculated on the sale price — DOR uses Fair Market Value from its assessment table, which is often higher
Missing the 30-day title transfer window and getting hit with $10/month late penalties
Trying to register in a metro Atlanta county without a current emissions certificate (tag office will refuse)
Confusing the GA DOR MVD (titles) with the county tag office (where you actually process) — you must visit the county
Skipping Form T-7 and showing up with only a handwritten bill of sale — county tag offices want the state form
Forgetting the family-transfer 0.5% reduced TAVT and overpaying on a transfer between parent and child
Leaving the odometer field blank on the title assignment — federal law requires disclosure for vehicles under 20 years old

Pro Tip

Use Form T-7 alongside the signed title and Form MV-1, plan for TAVT at 6.6% of FMV (not sale price), and finish the transfer at the county tag office within 30 days. Family transfers between immediate relatives qualify for the 0.5% reduced TAVT rate.

Georgia Vehicle Bill of Sale — FAQs

Does Georgia charge sales tax on a private vehicle sale?

No. Georgia eliminated sales tax on vehicle purchases in 2013 and replaced it with the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT). TAVT is currently 6.6% and is paid once, at title transfer, not annually. It is calculated on the Fair Market Value listed in the DOR assessment manual, which is often higher than what you actually paid. The buyer pays TAVT at the county tag office when filing the MV-1. Even private-party sales between individuals are subject to TAVT.

Where do I actually transfer the title — DMV or somewhere else?

Georgia does not have a "DMV" for titling. The Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division (GA DOR MVD) sets the rules, but the actual transactions happen at your county tag office, which is run by the county tax commissioner. You go to the tag office in the county where the buyer resides, bring the signed title, Form T-7, Form MV-1, proof of insurance, and a current emissions certificate (if applicable), and pay the TAVT plus title fee.

What happens if I miss the 30-day title transfer deadline?

Georgia law requires you to title a vehicle within 30 days of purchase. Miss the window and the county tag office assesses a $10 late penalty per month, on top of any TAVT penalty (typically 5% of TAVT due, with an additional 5% every month after). On older or higher-value vehicles, the penalties stack quickly. Worse, you cannot legally drive the vehicle on Georgia roads without a valid registration, so any traffic stop becomes a citation event.

Do I need a Georgia emissions inspection before transferring?

Only if the buyer will register the vehicle in one of 13 metro Atlanta counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, or Rockdale. In those counties, gasoline vehicles 3 to 25 model years old need a current emissions certificate before the tag office will issue a tag. Outside those 13 counties, no emissions test is required. Georgia has no statewide safety inspection.

Free Georgia Vehicle Bill of Sale

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Vehicle Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty