Federal & State Regulations | Vehicle license or registration - Georgia

All motor vehicles and trailers used upon the highways of Georgia must be registered.

County tax collectors are agents of the State Department of Motor Vehicle Safety and may register motor vehicles and issue license plates. Registration period is January 1 to December 31 (grace period to May 1). Application for delinquent registration must be endorsed by an enforcement officer; endorsement fee applies. All tag applications must be made to county tax agent.

Properly licensed trailers from other states may be operated in intrastate-interstate commerce in Georgia when pulled by a Georgia licensed tractor and operating under a bona fide interchange agreement.

Georgia charges a “highway impact fee” upon registration of non-apportionable vehicles in the state. The annual fees are based on gross weight.

Carriers with intrastate fleets of 100 or more vehicles can register in the fleet registration program. Plates are renewed annually.

License plate display

Georgia requires trucks and trailers to display the license plate on the rear of the vehicle. In cases where the vehicle’s use causes a rear-mounted license plate to be defaced, destroyed, or lost, the plate may be attached to the front of the vehicle.

Tractors must display the license plate on the front of the vehicle.

International Registration Plan

Georgia is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees, allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

Under the IRP, carriers from the member states and provinces, operating vehicles having a gross weight in excess of 26,000 pounds, or three or more axles regardless of weight, or used in combination when the weight of such combinations exceeds 26,000 lb, may prorate in lieu of full registration.

As of April 1, 2020, Georgia requires full payment of IRP fees before issuing a Temporary Evidence of Apportioned Registration (TA/TEAR) receipt and a cab card. Upon full payment, both the TA/TEAR and cab card will be emailed to the account on file.

IRP late filing fee, applied on or after the first day of the expiration month, is a percent of registration fees. Late payment penalty invoice must be paid within 30 days. There is an additional penalty for filing a renewal application after the last day of the expiration month.

Temporary Permit: A temporary permit may be issued for a period of 60-days, and a fee.

Hunter's Permit: A hunter's permit is available when a vehicle needs to travel to find work within the state of Georgia. This permit is for unladen vehicles only, and is valid for seven days.

Agency: Intrastate — County Tax Agent in county of applicant’s residence; interstate — Department of Revenue; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).

Fees

Georgia registers on the basis of gross weight with the major portion of the fee on the power unit. The power unit is registered for the gross weight of vehicle, or vehicle plus load. The fees paid by private carriers for vehicles over 24,000 pounds are lower than fees for the same weight for for-hire carrier vehicles.

Trailer registration

Permanent registration tag is available. Permanent registration tags are not transferable; the tag is invalid upon sales or transfer of the trailer.

Replacement plates are available for a fee.

['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']

['Registration', 'Vehicle Registration Permits']

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Vehicle license or registration - Georgia

License plate display

International Registration Plan

Fees

Trailer registration