Frequently Asked Questions

Motor Vehicle

TAVT is collected by the dealer at the time of sale.

Titles are required for any 1986 & newer year model motor vehicle, travel trailers, car/tow dollies (weighing 2,001 lbs or more), motorcycles and campers. Titles are also required for any 1963 & newer mobile or manufactured homes.

Titles not required for 1962 or older year model vehicles. Also not requiring a title are:

Agricultural, horticultural or livestock raising equipment or vehicles not required to be registered.

Airplanes, aircraft

All terrain & off-road vehicles

Boats, watercraft, and boat trailers

Buses owned & operated by an urban transit system

Cranes

Driver education vehicles used in public or private schools

Fifth wheel trailers/campers/tow dollies

Homemade car/trailers/tow dollies

Mopeds

Nonresidents’ vehicles (vehicles owned by non-Georgia residents)

Pole trailers

Tow dollies (car) weighing 2,000 lbs or less

Trailers weighing 2,000 lbs or less

Vehicles not manufactured for highway use

Titles Optional

Vehicles purchased on or after March 1, 2013 and titled in this state are exempt from sales and use tax and the annual ad valorem tax. Instead, these vehicles are subject to TAVT.

You can title a 1963-1985 year model vehicles if all three (below) apply:

You have a title issued in your name;

The owner on the front of the title has assigned the title to you;

The owner on the front of the title has assigned the title to a dealer and the dealer has assigned the title to you.

You cannot title a 1963-1985 year model vehicle if:

The vehicle has been registered in someone else’s name(s) other than the owner(s) shown on the face of the last Georgia title.

What if title isn’t available for a 1986 or newer model vehicle?

If the vehicle owner does not have the correct reassigned title to obtain a Georgia title in their name, a Georgia title may be obtained on the basis of a title/surety bond.

For additional information, please see the GA Department of Revenue portal:
GA Department of Revenue – Motor Vehicles

TAVT applies to all motor vehicle sales that require a title.

Please see the TAVT Estimator on the Georgia DRIVES website to calculate your TAVT.

Title ad valorem tax (TAVT)is a one time fee collected at time of title application.

TAVT is collected at time of title transfer in the county of residence.

TAVT applies to all titled vehicles, whether new or used.

Contact

Phone:

Motor Vehicle Office: (706) 653-4208
Property/Delinquent Tax Office: (706) 653-4211

Email:

taxcommissioner@columbusga.org

Hours:

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Holiday Schedule

Location

3111 Citizens Way
Columbus, GA 31906

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