New Residents to Georgia

New residents moving to Georgia have 30 calendar days after establishing their residency to register their vehicles. The out-of-state vehicle registration is no longer valid after the 30-day period.

New residents moving to Wilkinson County from out of state are required to provide a valid Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card with the current Wilkinson County address before a license plate can be issued. If information on how to obtain a Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card is needed, visit www.dds.ga.gov.

The following is a list of items that you will need to bring into the Wilkinson County Tax Commissioner’s Office:

• Original out-of-state title issued in your name OR if your lender or leasing company is holding your out-of-state title, you must submit your original valid out-of-state registration in lieu of your title. You will also need the name and address of your lienholder, Loan # and Electronic Title Number (ELT).
• If the vehicle is leased, you will also need the lease agreement
• Valid current out-of-state registration
• Current mileage
• Valid Georgia driver’s license or valid Georgia ID card with the current Wilkinson County address for each owner

Effective March 1, 2013, Georgia House Bill 386 removed the sales tax and annual ad valorem tax on newly-purchased vehicles and vehicles moving in from out-of-state and replaced them with a new one-time title ad valorem tax (TAVT) of 6.6%. This amount is due upon titling any motor vehicle.

New Georgia residents are required to pay 50% of the TAVT at the time the vehicle is initially registered; the remaining TAVT balance is due within one year. A Georgia title will not be printed until the remaining TAVT balance is paid in full.

If you have a lienholder: The Georgia title will be mailed to the lienholder on file. A Georgia title will not be printed until the remaining TAVT balance is paid in full.

TAVT Exemptions

• Non-titled vehicles and trailers are exempt from TAVT – but are subject to annual ad valorem tax.
• New residents to Georgia pay TAVT at a rate of 3% (New Georgia Law effective July 1, 2019).
• Family transfer – Form MV-16 Affidavit to Certify Immediate Family Relationship required:
  • If the vehicle is currently in the TAVT system, the 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 family member has the option of staying under annual ad valorem OR paying full one-time TAVT.
• Inheritance - T-20 Affidavit of Inheritance required:
  • If the vehicle is currently in the TAVT system, the 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 family member has the option of staying under annual ad valorem OR paying full one-time TAVT.
  • Learn more about vehicles inherited or purchased from an estate.
• Non-Resident Military – Service Member Affidavit Form PT-472NS required.
• Some Military Veterans are exempt from TAVT (Form MV-30 Georgian’s Veteran Affidavit for Relief and Local TAVT fees and Military Documentation required):
  • Disabled Veterans compensated at 100%
  • Prisoners of War
  • Purple Heart Recipients
  • Medal of Honor Recipients
• 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.
  • Required documentation: MV-PSFR-TAVT Public Safety First Responder State and Local Title Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Application and award letter from the Department of Administrative Services for individual or spouse receiving payments for indemnification for death or disability
  • Applies to law enforcement officer, fireman, publicly employed emergency medical technician, or a surviving spouse of such a first responder, receiving indemnification payments from the Department of Administrative Services due to certain injuries or death occurring in the line of duty.

New Residents to Wilkinson County from Another Georgia County

Your address can be changed by presenting one of the following as documentation of your residency in Wilkinson County:

• A valid Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card with the current Wilkinson County address
• The valid Georgia driver’s license or Georgia ID card can have the owner’s former Georgia address as long as the owner has one of the below documents, dated within 90 days, with their name and current Wilkinson County address:
  • Proof of homesteaded property from Tax Assessor’s Office
  • Utility Bill
  • Lease/rental agreement
  • Bank statement
  • Voter registration card (must show Wilkinson County residential address)

** The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) offers one free change of address on your Georgia Driver’s License. You may apply online or in person at one of their facilities. Visit their website (www.dds.ga.gov) for more information.