Title 40 — Title 40

(a) A person engaged in the business of the limited operation of a motor vehicle or trailer for any of the following purposes may obtain a transporter plate authorizing the movement of the vehicle for the specific purpose: (1) To facilitate the delivery of new or used motor vehicl…

For article explaining the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, proposed in Georgia in 1973, see 10 Ga. St. B. J. 409 (1974). For note, “Consumer Protection in Georgia: The Fair Business Practices Act of 1975,” see 25 Emory L. J. 445 (1976). For article surveying G…

(a) The owner of a vehicle required to be registered under Code Section 40-2-20 which was registered for the previous year, who has failed to comply with Code Section 40-2-20 for the current year shall be deemed and held to be a delinquent under this Code section; and the registr…

Unless otherwise permitted under this chapter, every vehicle required to be registered under this chapter, which is in use upon the highways, shall at all times display the license plate issued to the owner for such vehicle, and the plate shall be fastened to the rear of the vehi…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “authentic historical Georgia license plate” means a license plate originally issued in the year 1989 or earlier and originally required to be displayed on motor vehicles operated upon the streets and highways of this state in the 220 40…

(a) A license plate or revalidation decal, when issued, shall be transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle of the same class acquired by the same person as provided in this chapter. Any use of a license plate or revalidation decal by any other person or persons in any manne…

As used in this article, the term: (1) “Fleet” means 100 or more motor vehicles or trailers. (2) “Fleet registration plan” means the method of registering the motor vehicles of a fleet as provided in this article. History. Code 1981, § 40-2-50, enacted by Ga. L. 1998, p. 1179, § 1…

(a) A corporation or firm which has an established place of business in this state or which is controlled by a parent corporation which has an established place of business in this state and which owns or operates under a lease agreement a fleet which is not required to be register…

(a) Within 30 days of receipt of a validated fleet enrollment form, the owner or operator of the enrolled fleet shall register and obtain licenses to operate the motor vehicles by submitting properly completed certificates of title for each vehicle in a fleet and any supporting docum…

(a) Upon electronic submission of all applicable requirements of this article, the department shall send notification of such to the county tag agent. Upon receipt of such notification from the department, the county tag agent shall issue to the applicant a fleet motor vehicle licen…

(a) The department or its designated agent may perform an audit of any fleet registrant to ensure compliance with the requirements of this article which may include, without limitation, examination of records of all vehicles in a fleet, additions to or deletions from a fleet since t…

An enrollment of a fleet in the fleet registration plan shall be terminated by the department in the event: (1) The department determines on the basis of an audit that fees for registration and licensing are not paid as required for 5 percent or more of the total vehicles in the fle…

(a) Any county tag agent with a satisfactory application for registration pursuant to Code Section 40-2-26 which indicates preference for a digital license plate shall inform the commissioner of such request. Upon a request by a digital license plate provider, the department shal…

(a) A digital license plate provider shall maintain an inventory of digital license plates in an amount determined to be adequate by the commissioner. (b) The commissioner shall enter in agreements with any digital license plate provider that has been selected by the state to man…

The owner of a motor vehicle with a digital license plate may cancel a digital license plate by applying for a metal license plate with the county tag agent as provided for in this chapter and upon notification of cancellation to a digital license plate provider. History. Code 198…

A digital license plate provider shall be authorized to change the digital display or messaging of a digital license plate in compliance with rules and regulations of the department or upon request by a local authority or the department. The commissioner shall be authorized to de…

On or before January 1, 2024, the commissioner shall submit a report 231 40-2-59.2 MOTOR VEHICLES & TRAFFIC 40-2-60 on the implementation of this article to the chairpersons of the Senate Public Safety Committee and the House Committee on Motor Vehicles. History. Code 1981, § 40-…

Duties and privileges of digital license plate providers. Cancellation of digital license plate by owner. Provider authority to change display of digital license plate. Report on implementation. Regulation; authority for testing or studying digital license plates. Article 3 Prest…

Any person who willfully covers any license plate with plastic, other material, or any part of his or her body in order to prevent or impede the ability of surveillance equipment to clearly photograph or otherwise obtain a clear image of the license plate is guilty of a misdemean…

(a) Motor vehicle owners who are residents of Georgia, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and, except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, upon the payment of a fee of $35.00 in addition to the regula…

The commissioner shall mail to the local tag agents special and distinctive license plates for the elected sheriffs in the counties of this state on or before the owner’s registration period of each sheriff. The sheriffs shall make application with the local tag agent and shall p…

(a) Any law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical services personnel, ambulance driver, or other similarly employed public safety first responder who has sustained a major injury through no fault of his or her own during the competent performance of his or her official…

(a) Honorary consuls, upon application and compliance with the state motor vehicle laws relative to the registration and licensing of motor vehicles, payment of the regular license fees for license plates as provided by law, payment of a manufacturing fee of $25.00, and payment o…

(a) Motor vehicle owners who have been awarded the Medal of Honor and who are residents of this state, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, shall be issued two distinctive personalized license plates free of charge. …

(a) Any disabled veteran who is a citizen and resident of this state shall, upon application therefor, be issued a free motor vehicle license plate. As used in this Code section, the term “disabled veteran” shall 249 40-2-69 MOTOR VEHICLES & TRAFFIC 40-2-69 have the same meaning …

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “prisoners of war” means those veterans of the armed forces of the United States who were discharged under honorable conditions and who were captured and held prisoner by forces hostile to the United States while serving in the armed for…

(a) Any owner of a private passenger motor vehicle who is a resident of Georgia, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration, licensing, and payment of fees and upon submitting an affidavit of a practitioner of the healing arts stating that the owner or hi…

Except as otherwise provided by law, the commissioner shall provide by rules and regulations appropriate procedures whereby, upon the payment of the fee prescribed in Code Section 40-2-42 for transfer of license plates and revalidation decals, currently valid special and distinct…

(a) For purposes of this Code section, the term “Georgia State Defense Force” means that organization established pursuant to Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 38. (b)(1) Motor vehicle and trailer owners who are members of the Georgia State Defense Force shall be eligible…

(a)(1) Motor vehicle or motorcycle owners who are veterans of the armed forces of the United States who have been awarded the Purple Heart citation shall be eligible to receive a special and distinctive vehicle license plate for a private passenger car, motorcycle, trailer, or tr…

(a) For purposes of this Code section, the term: (1) “Military medal award” means the following medals, decorations, or other recognition of honor for military service awarded by a branch of the United States military: (A) Medal of Honor; (B) Bronze Star Medal; 268 40-2-85.1 REGI…

(a) Special license plates honoring the family members of service members who have been killed in action while serving in the armed forces of the United States shall be issued in this state. The license plate shall be officially designated as the Gold Star license plate. (b) The …

(a) Motor vehicle and trailer owners who are designated to United States Army Ranger units, past or present, or are graduates of the United States Army Ranger School shall be eligible to receive special and distinctive vehicle license plates for private passenger cars, trucks, mo…

As used in this article, the term: (1) “Allocated vehicle” means a vehicle to which a particular jurisdiction’s basic registration plate or apportioned registration plate is attached upon payment of the jurisdiction’s full basic registration fee. A portion of each fleet of one-way…

Reciprocal agreements for registration of commercial vehicles on apportionment basis; registration under the International Registration Plan. Electronic application for registration of commercial vehicles under the International Registration Plan. Vehicle ineligible for registrat…

(a) For purposes of this Code section: (1) “Nonresident” means any person who does not reside in the State of Georgia but who accepts employment or engages in any 309 40-2-90 MOTOR VEHICLES & TRAFFIC 40-2-90 trade, profession, or occupation in the state or enters his children in …

Any and all reciprocal agreements entered into by the commissioner shall be subject to confirmation by Act or resolution of the General Assembly and shall not be of force or effect until the passage of such Act or resolution and its approval by the Governor except such agreement o…

Commissioner authorized to negotiate reciprocal agreements with adjoining states. Reciprocal agreements subject to confirmation by General Assembly. Reciprocal agreements while General Assembly not in session. Publication of terms of reciprocal agreements; rules and regulations fo…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title Act.” History. Ga. L. 1961, p. 68, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 3.

As used in this chapter, the term: (1) “Boat trailer” means any vehicle without motive power designed for carrying boats, either partially or wholly on its own structure, which is being drawn by a self-propelled vehicle and operated over the public roads of this state. (2) “Commi…

(a) The application for the first certificate of title of a vehicle in this state shall be made to the commissioner’s duly authorized county tag agent on the prescribed form. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the application shall be submitted to the approp…

For a 1962 or earlier model year motor vehicle, the owner of such motor vehicle may apply to the commissioner through the county tag agent for a conditional title for such motor vehicle. The application shall be made under oath on a form prescribed by the commissioner for such pu…

(a) The commissioner or the commissioner’s duly authorized county tag agent, upon receiving application for a first certificate of title, shall check the identifying number of the vehicle shown in the application against the records of vehicles required to be maintained by Code Sec…

(a)(1) The certificate of title shall be mailed or delivered to the holder of the first security interest or lien named in it. In the event there is no security interest holder or lienholder named in such certificate, the certificate of title shall be mailed or delivered directly to …

(a) Whenever the certificate of title is in the possession of a security interest holder or lienholder as allowed by this chapter and some other person, including the owner, who has an interest in a transaction concerning a security interest or lien shown on the certificate of titl…

(a) The commissioner or the commissioner’s duly authorized county tag agent shall refuse issuance of a certificate of title only if any required fee is not paid or if the commissioner or the commissioner’s duly authorized county tag agent has reasonable grounds to believe that: (1…

(a) The commissioner is responsible for the administration of this chapter and may employ such clerical assistants and agents as may be necessary from time to time to enable the commissioner speedily, completely, and efficiently to perform the duties conferred on the commissioner…

Definitions. Powers and duties of commissioner. Exclusions from issuance of certificate of title. Stolen, converted, and recovered vehicles. Hearings; judicial review. Article 2 40-3-30.1. 40-3-31. Certificates of Title 40-3-20. 40-3-21. 40-3-21.1. 40-3-22. 40-3-23. 40-3-24. 40-3-25…

(a) If an owner transfers his interest in a vehicle other than by the creation of a security interest, he shall, at the time of delivery of the vehicle, execute an assignment and warranty of title to the transferee in the space provided therefor on the certificate of title or as t…

(a) An application for a certificate of title shall be accompanied by the required fee when mailed or delivered to the commissioner or a designated agent. (b) An application for the naming of a lienholder on a certificate of title shall be accompanied by the required fee when maile…