# Georgia HB 551: Motor vehicles; conditions, procedures, and limitations for issuance of temporary operating permits; provide Georgia HB 551, Motor vehicles; conditions, procedures, and limitations for issuance of temporary operating permits; provide, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by John Corbett (Republican), Rick Jasperse (Republican), Todd Jones (Republican) and 2 others; status signed, last action 2026-01-01 (Effective Date); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB551-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Georgia HB 551 - State: Georgia - Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session - Title: Motor vehicles; conditions, procedures, and limitations for issuance of temporary operating permits; provide - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-20 - Last action: 2026-01-01, Effective Date - Sponsors: John Corbett (Republican), Rick Jasperse (Republican), Todd Jones (Republican), Danny Mathis (Republican), Jason Ridley (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Motor Vehicles, Transportation, General Bill - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (428 yes, 11 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 11 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Consistent sales records protect vehicle buyers: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, dealers cannot give buyers transaction records that differ from those kept for Department inspection. Dealers must retain written records of vehicles bought, sold, or exchanged for three years and allow Department inspection. The Department may fine dealers up to $500 for… - Fee protections for towed vehicle owners: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, towing providers cannot charge storage fees for the first 24 hours after removing a vehicle. Providers found to violate the governing law cannot charge for booting, removal, or storage. State regulators may set reasonable maximum charges for nonconsensual private-property… - Limits on paid towing patrols protect drivers: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, towing firms cannot contract to routinely patrol private property for vehicles or personal property to remove. The property possessor must call the firm for each individual trespass. No one may directly or indirectly pay a property possessor for the right to boot or remov… - Temporary permits and fine relief for drivers: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, dealers may issue standardized temporary permits showing their name and location, generally free for 45 days after purchase. Fee exceptions include certain interstate registrations and salvage or total-loss vehicles; county tag agents may extend permits with registration… - Daily fines for unregistered vehicle owners: cost, high. Beginning January 1, 2026, vehicles required to be registered in Georgia must be registered before use on Georgia highways. The rule covers people who own, rent, lease, or operate these vehicles. New Georgia residents must register within 30 days. Violations are misdemeanors carrying a $100 fine fo… - Higher penalties for entity-owned vehicle delays: cost, high. Beginning January 1, 2026, late required title applications carry a 10% penalty on state and local title taxes. Interest adds 1% per month starting 60 days after the required date, alongside other penalties; lienholder-related temporary permits provide an exception. Specified title and registration… - Stricter temporary permit rules for dealers: cost, medium. Beginning January 1, 2026, the Department may operate or authorize an electronic temporary-permit system and set access rules, including background checks. Dealers must show at least five annual vehicle sales through Department records or approved documents to qualify for issuing permits. Dealers m… - New title and location rules for dealers: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, non-franchise dealers must get a title in their own name before reselling vehicles never issued an original title. Dealers holding titles for resale must promptly complete the title assignment and warranty when transferring the vehicle. Covered used-vehicle businesses and… - New rules for private-property vehicle booting: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, private-property possessors or authorized agents may arrange removal or booting of unauthorized vehicles. Booting is limited to jurisdictions that authorize it by ordinance or resolution, and operators need a state permit. Conspicuous notices must warn of owner-paid remov… - Vehicle records become private with exceptions: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, state and county vehicle title and registration records are exempt from public inspection. Disclosure remains allowed under federal driver-privacy law and for specified licensed dealers, tax officials, and environmental officials. Approved electronic registration provider… - Dealer plate access carries fees and limits: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, eligible dealers, manufacturers, and distributors pay $62 annually for a master plate and $12 per additional plate. Dealers must apply electronically. Plates allow vehicle or trailer demonstrations and transport for sale or lease, including transport by someone driving fo… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: John Corbett (Republican), House - Sponsor: Rick Jasperse (Republican), House - Sponsor: Todd Jones (Republican), House - Sponsor: Danny Mathis (Republican), House - Sponsor: Jason Ridley (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-02 | Senate | AGREE TO HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE SUBSTITUTE | pass | 50 | 3 | | | 2025-03-31 | House | Agree to Senate Sub as Am | pass | 162 | 3 | 4 | | 2025-03-27 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 48 | 3 | 3 | | 2025-03-04 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 168 | 2 | 6 | ## Actions (17) - 2026-01-01: Effective Date - 2025-05-14: House Date Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-05-14: Act 272 - 2025-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House) - 2025-04-02: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate) - 2025-03-31: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House) - 2025-03-27: Senate Third Read (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Senate Read Second Time (Senate) - 2025-03-20: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate) - 2025-03-06: Senate Read and Referred (Senate) - 2025-03-04: House Third Readers (House) - 2025-03-04: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House) - 2025-02-26: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House) - 2025-02-24: House Second Readers (House) - 2025-02-21: House First Readers (House) - 2025-02-20: House Hopper (House) ## Bill text - HB 551/AP* (v13): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239070) ## Related bills - SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed) - SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed) - SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed) - SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed) - HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed) - HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed) ## Sources - [HB 551/AP* (v13) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239070) ## Related - [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026) - [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026) - [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026) - [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026) - [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026) - [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026) - [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills) - [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB551-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).