Selling or junking a car in Georgia, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Georgia Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Division) using MV-1 Title/Tag Application.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. The seller fills in the assignment on the back of the original title, can complete a T-7 bill of sale, and keeps copies. The seller must also cancel the registration, which can be done online through DRIVES e-Services, before cancelling insurance.
- Deal with your plates. Georgia DOR says license plates do not go with the vehicle to the new owner; the seller keeps them.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Georgia has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in Georgia
The seller fills in the assignment on the back of the original title, can complete a T-7 bill of sale, and keeps copies. The seller must also cancel the registration, which can be done online through DRIVES e-Services, before cancelling insurance.
Official page: dor.georgia.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Georgia
Submit a signed MV-1 to your County Tag Office, adding the mutilated title or lien release paperwork if those apply.
- Form: MV-1 Title/Tag Application — download
- Official page: dor.georgia.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
Plates stay with you, the seller, not the car. Georgia DOR says license plates do not go with the vehicle to the new owner; the seller keeps them.
Source: dor.georgia.gov
Junk and salvage titles in Georgia
Under OCGA 40-3-36, the registered owner of a scrapped, dismantled or demolished vehicle must send the original title and a signed statement with the vehicle details to DOR's Salvage Unit. Any attached plate is surrendered with Form T-158.
Official page: dor.georgia.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Georgia
Georgia does not require titles for vehicles of model year 1962 or older.
Official page: dor.georgia.gov
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Georgia title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Georgia?
Submit a signed MV-1 to your County Tag Office, adding the mutilated title or lien release paperwork if those apply. The form is MV-1 Title/Tag Application.
Do I need to notify Georgia when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Georgia. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the Georgia Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Division).
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Georgia?
Georgia DOR says license plates do not go with the vehicle to the new owner; the seller keeps them.
Can I junk a car without a title in Georgia?
Georgia does not require titles for vehicles of model year 1962 or older. Confirm the details with the Georgia Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Division).
Official sources
- Georgia Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Division) — homedor.georgia.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titledor.georgia.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (MV-1 Title/Tag Application)dor.georgia.gov
- MV-1 Title/Tag Application formdor.georgia.gov
- Junk and salvage vehiclesdor.georgia.gov
- Selling without a titledor.georgia.gov
Summarized from official Georgia government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Georgia Department of Revenue (Motor Vehicle Division) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.