Short answer. The pages we read don't say whether the seller's signature needs a notary. The buyer has 7 days to title the car. Plates stay with the seller.
At a glance
- Buyer's signature
- The state's steps have each buyer print and sign; no notary step is listed.
- Bill of sale
- A bill of sale (Form T-7) is the suggested proof of sale.
- Odometer
- The odometer reading at the time of transfer goes on the title.
- Buyer's deadline
- The buyer titles and registers within 7 days of the purchase date.
- Plates
- The seller keeps the plate.
- Title fee
- $18 title fee, plus a $20 license plate fee.
- Agency
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division
If you're selling
- Find the title and clear any lien. Have the original title in hand. If a lender is listed, get the lien release or the lender's sign-off before the sale; the buyer can't title the car over an open lien.
- Write down the mileage. The odometer reading at the time of transfer goes on the title.
- Give the buyer a bill of sale. A bill of sale (Form T-7) is the suggested proof of sale.
- Deal with the plates. The seller keeps the plate.
- Cancel insurance and keep copies. Once the car is gone and the plates are off, call your insurer. Keep a photo of the signed title, the bill of sale and any sale report.
If you're buying
- Check the title against the car and the seller. The VIN on the title should match the car, and the seller's ID should match the owner's name on the title. Ask about any lien listed on it.
- Watch the title get signed. Seller: not confirmed whether a notary is needed. Buyer: The state's steps have each buyer print and sign; no notary step is listed.
- Get a bill of sale. A bill of sale (Form T-7) is the suggested proof of sale.
- Check the mileage entry. The odometer reading at the time of transfer goes on the title.
- Insure the car before you drive it. Most states require insurance to register. Arrange it before driving away.
- Title it in your name in time. The buyer titles and registers within 7 days of the purchase date.
- Plates and fees. The seller keeps the plate. Title fee: $18 title fee, plus a $20 license plate fee.
Sold on the first of a month? See the due date for a December 1, 2026 sale.
Your own checklist, marked step by step: seller · buyer.
In the agency's words
Buyer
"Name and signature of the buyer. If jointly owned, each buyer must print and sign."
Bill of sale
"Proof of sale, such as a Bill of Sale (Form T-7)"
Deadline
"title and register the vehicle within 7 days of the purchase date"
Plates
"The previous owner should keep the vehicle's license plate and any tags."
Not stated on the pages we read: the seller's notary rule.
Official sources
- Georgia DOR: Responsibilities of Sellers and Buyers (checked November 2026)
- Georgia.gov: Sell a Motor Vehicle (checked November 2026)
- Georgia DOR: Title and Register a Vehicle Purchased in a Casual Sale (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the official pages listed above. Forms, fees and deadlines change, a county office can add its own steps, and gifts, estates, liens and out-of-state titles follow other rules; the agency or an attorney can tell you how a rule applies to your sale. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with any motor vehicle agency.
Common questions
Does the buyer sign in front of a notary in Georgia?
The state's steps have each buyer print and sign; no notary step is listed.
How long does a buyer have to title a car in Georgia?
7 days. The buyer titles and registers within 7 days of the purchase date.
Is a bill of sale required in Georgia?
A bill of sale (Form T-7) is the suggested proof of sale.
Do the plates go with the car in Georgia?
The seller keeps the plate.
What is the title fee in Georgia?
$18 title fee, plus a $20 license plate fee.
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