Is a bill of sale required to register a car in Georgia?

While an endorsed Certificate of Title transfers legal ownership in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) Motor Vehicle Division strongly urges the execution of an official Bill of Sale (Form T-7 or Form SBF-GA-T7). The bill of sale is required by County Tag Offices to establish the purchase price for calculating Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), especially if the purchase price is higher than the state's fair market value assessment.

What is Form T-7 in Georgia?

Form T-7 ('Bill of Sale') is the official statutory document provided by the Georgia Department of Revenue. It serves as primary evidence of sale, establishes vehicle consideration for tax purposes under O.C.G.A. § 48-5C-1, records mandatory federal odometer disclosures, and provides seller liability release once the title transfer is initiated.

Does a Georgia vehicle bill of sale need to be notarized?

In Georgia, notarization of Form T-7 is not strictly required if the transfer is accompanied by a properly executed Georgia Certificate of Title. However, having Section F notarized is highly recommended to eliminate disputes regarding forgery, signature authenticity, and sale date when registering the vehicle at the County Tag Office.

How is Georgia Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) calculated on a private car sale?

Under O.C.G.A. § 48-5C-1, private vehicle purchases in Georgia are subject to a one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) instead of traditional sales tax. For private party transactions, the standard TAVT rate is typically 6.6% to 7.0%, applied to the vehicle's state-assessed fair market value (or the actual purchase price on the bill of sale, whichever is higher). The buyer pays this directly to the County Tag Office within 30 days.

Can you register a car in Georgia without a title using a bill of sale?

Yes, but only for older vehicles. Under Georgia law, motor vehicles model year 1985 or older are title-exempt. For a 1985 or older vehicle, a buyer can register and tag the vehicle at the County Tag Office using only a signed, notarized Bill of Sale (Form T-7) and the previous owner's registration card.

Free Georgia Vehicle Bill of Sale Form (DOR Form T-7 PDF)

FORM SBF-GA-T7 Statutory Year: 2026

O.C.G.A. §§ 40-3-32, 40-3-24 & 48-5C-1 (TAVT)

STATE OF GEORGIA STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale & Federal Odometer Disclosure Statement

Compliant with Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) & Form T-7 Standards

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned Seller, for and in consideration of the total sales price set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, does hereby bargain, sell, grant, transfer, and deliver unto the undersigned Buyer all legal rights, title, equity, and interest in and to the motor vehicle described below, to have and to hold forever.

Section A: Jurisdiction & Location of Sale

State:

Georgia County *:

Section B: Complete Motor Vehicle Description

Year *

Make *

Model *

Body Style

Color

GA Plate #

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN - 17 Characters) *:

Section C: Identification of Parties (Transferor & Transferee)

1. SELLER (Transferor Information) Physical Address Only

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

GA Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information) For County Tag Office

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

Section D: Financial Consideration, TAVT & Federal Odometer Disclosure

Purchase Price (USD) *:

Date of Sale *:

Paid by: Cash Cashier's Check Wire Gift

Federal & Georgia Truth-in-Mileage Odometer Statement (49 U.S.C. § 32705 & Form T-7) Federal law requires mileage disclosure. False statements incur fines or imprisonment.

Odometer Reading:

Miles

1. Actual Mileage: Reflects actual vehicle mileage to best of knowledge. 2. Exceeds Mechanical Limits: Mileage exceeds 5-digit mechanical limits (rollover). 3. Warning — Not Actual Mileage: Odometer reading is NOT the actual mileage (discrepancy).

Statutory "AS-IS" Warranty Disclaimer (O.C.G.A. § 11-2-316) No Dealer / Manufacturer Implied Warranties

SOLD STRICTLY AS-IS, WHERE-IS: The Buyer agrees that this motor vehicle is sold in its present "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 11-2-316, the Seller disclaims all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Seller assumes no post-sale liability for mechanical defects or repairs. Buyer acknowledges having inspected the vehicle or having knowingly waived the right to inspect.

Section E: Authorized Signatures & Certification Under Penalty of Perjury

CERTIFICATION OF OWNERSHIP & ACCURACY (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71): I, the Seller, certify under penalty of perjury under Georgia law that I am the lawful owner of this vehicle with full legal authority to transfer title, and that the vehicle is free of liens except as noted. I, the Buyer, acknowledge vehicle acceptance and receipt of Georgia title/transfer documents.

Seller (Transferor) Signature Must match Georgia title

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature For Form T-7 Submission

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

Section F: State of Georgia Notary Public Acknowledgment / Jurat

STATE OF GEORGIA COUNTY OF:

Before me, the undersigned notary public in and for said State, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proven through government photo identification to be the person(s) subscribed hereto, and acknowledged executing same for the purposes expressed.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here (DOR Form T-7 Spec)

FORM SBF-GA-T7 (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com O.C.G.A. §§ 40-3-32 & 48-5C-1 • Compliant with Georgia DOR Form T-7 PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Georgia DOR 3-Step Vehicle Title Transfer Guide

Follow Georgia statutory requirements under O.C.G.A. Title 40 to complete your private motor vehicle transfer legally and avoid Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) late penalties.

Sign Title & Form SBF-GA-T7

The seller signs the assignment section on the back of the original Georgia Certificate of Title with purchase date, sale price, and odometer disclosure. Both parties execute this Form SBF-GA-T7 Bill of Sale.

Buyer Pays TAVT at County Tag Office

Within 30 calendar days of the sale date, the buyer must visit their County Tag Office with the signed title, Bill of Sale, and proof of Georgia insurance (GEICS) to pay the one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT).

Seller Cancels Registration Online

Under O.C.G.A. § 40-2-20, the seller should immediately remove their license plate and log in to Georgia DRIVES e-Services to cancel vehicle registration, eliminating liability for future parking or toll camera violations.

Statutory Summary

Georgia Vehicle Sale Legal Requirements

Statutory standards governing private car transfers, taxation, and titling under the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Requirement / Element	Georgia Statutory Rule	Legal Authority
Georgia Certificate of Title	Mandatory (>1985) Primary legal ownership instrument; seller signs reverse.	O.C.G.A. § 40-3-32
Form T-7 Bill of Sale	Essential Required for TAVT valuation, liability relief, and older title-exempt cars.	GA DOR Form T-7
Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT)	One-time tax (typically 6.6% - 7.0%) assessed on fair market value or purchase price.	O.C.G.A. § 48-5C-1
Transfer Deadline	Must be registered at County Tag Office within 30 calendar days.	O.C.G.A. § 40-2-20
Title-Exempt Vehicles	Model year 1985 or older vehicles require only a Bill of Sale and registration to transfer.	O.C.G.A. § 40-3-4
License Plate Disposition	Plates belong to the SELLER in Georgia and must never remain on the sold vehicle.	O.C.G.A. § 40-2-42

Frequently Asked Questions

Georgia Vehicle Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

Direct legal answers to common questions regarding private car transactions, County Tag Offices, and Georgia TAVT rules.

Free Georgia Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form

STATE OF GEORGIA STATUTORY BILL OF SALE