Bill of Sale Aug 21, 2026
If you're buying or selling a car privately in Georgia, one small form can save you a big headache: the bill of sale. It backs up your title transfer, documents the odometer reading, and protects both sides if a question ever comes up about the sale price or the date of the deal. This guide walks through Georgia's official bill of sale, when you legally need one, what it costs to title and register a vehicle, and how to avoid the mistakes that slow buyers and sellers down at the county tag office. If you're listing a car for sale or shopping for one, KarKiosk (karkiosk.com) is built specifically for private, U.S.-based car sales — a good place to start once your paperwork is in order.
What Is a Georgia Bill of Sale?
A Georgia bill of sale is a written record that a vehicle changed hands between a seller and a buyer. It captures who sold the car, who bought it, what vehicle was involved, how much money changed hands, and what the odometer showed on the day of sale.
The Georgia Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division publishes an official version, Form T-7, which exists to record the transaction between buyer and seller and to capture the odometer disclosure required by federal law.
You don't have to use the state's version — a handwritten or typed bill of sale works too, as long as it includes the same core details. Most buyers and sellers use Form T-7 anyway, since county tag offices already recognize it and it removes any guesswork about what to include.
Do You Actually Need One in Georgia?
Whether a bill of sale is mandatory depends on the vehicle and the situation. Here's how it breaks down:
| Situation | Bill of Sale Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Titled vehicle, 1986 model year or newer | Recommended | Ownership transfers on the title itself; the bill of sale backs up price and date for tax and record purposes. |
| Non-titled vehicle, 1985 or older | Required | Used as proof of transfer since there is no title to reassign. |
| Vehicle 20+ model years old | Recommended | Exempt from odometer disclosure, but a bill of sale still documents the sale. |
| Family transfer | Recommended | Filed alongside Form MV-16 to support a reduced tax rate. |
| Gifted vehicle | Recommended | Documents that no money, or a token amount, changed hands. |
The requirement for non-titled, pre-1986 vehicles comes directly from the Department of Revenue's guidance on titling a vehicle purchased in a casual sale.
What Information Belongs on the Form
Whether you use Form T-7 or write your own, a Georgia bill of sale should include:
• Full legal names and addresses of the buyer and seller
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Year, make, and model of the vehicle
• Sale price (or a note that it was a gift)
• Date of sale
• Odometer reading, unless the vehicle is 20 model years old or older
• Signatures of both parties
• Any lienholder or security interest information, if applicable
Federal odometer disclosure rules, and the 20-model-year exemption, are spelled out on the Form T-7 instructions published by the Motor Vehicle Division.
Step-by-Step: Filling Out the Georgia Bill of Sale
1. Download Form T-7 from the Georgia DOR website, or write your own document covering the same details.
2. Complete Section A with the vehicle's year, make, model, and VIN.
3. Fill in Section B with the seller's name, address, and signature.
4. Fill in Section C with the buyer's name, address, and signature.
5. Complete Section D only if a lienholder or security interest applies.
6. Certify the statements in Section E and have both parties sign.
7. Bring the completed form, the title, and payment to the county tag office in the buyer's county of residence within 30 days of the sale.
Submission instructions and the requirement to file at the buyer's county tag office come directly from the Form T-7 document itself.
Georgia Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT): What You'll Owe
Georgia doesn't charge sales tax on private vehicle sales. Instead, it uses the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) — a one-time tax paid when the vehicle is titled, based on the car's fair market value rather than the price written on your bill of sale.
The standard TAVT rate is 7.0% of the vehicle's fair market value, and it applies to most private-party and dealer sales alike.
Several situations qualify for a reduced rate:
| Buyer Situation | TAVT Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard private or dealer sale | 7.0% |
| New Georgia resident (titled elsewhere) | 3.0% |
| Immediate family transfer (Form MV-16) | 0.5% |
| Buy-here, pay-here dealer financing | 4.5% |
Sources: Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) and Annual Ad Valorem Tax and Policy Bulletin MVD-2023-02 — both published by the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Other Fees You'll Pay at the County Tag Office
Beyond TAVT, expect a few flat fees when you title and register a vehicle:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original title application fee | $18 |
| Title fee for change of ownership | $18 |
| License plate registration or renewal | $20 |
| Replacement title (lost or stolen) | $8 |
| Late title penalty (after 30 days) | $10 |
All figures above come directly from the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicles Fees, Fines, and Penalties page.
The 30-Day Deadline You Can't Miss
Georgia gives buyers 30 days from the purchase or transfer date to apply for a title at the county tag office. Miss that window and the penalties stack up fast.
According to the Department of Revenue, a casual (private-party) sale that misses the 30-day window owes an additional 10% of the TAVT due, plus 1% more for every extra month it remains unpaid, on top of a flat $10 title penalty.
For a buyer, that means the paperwork is worth handling right away — not something to put off until the next free weekend.
Does a Georgia Bill of Sale Need to Be Notarized?
No. Georgia's Form T-7 does not include a notary block, and the state does not require notarization for a standard private vehicle sale. Both parties still need to sign, and it's smart for buyer and seller to visit the county tag office together when possible, so any questions about the transfer can be resolved on the spot.
Protect Yourself from Odometer Fraud
Odometer fraud is a real risk in used-car sales nationwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings, costing American buyers over $1 billion annually, according to figures published by the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
The bill of sale's odometer disclosure section exists specifically to guard against this. Before you sign as a buyer, compare the odometer reading on the bill of sale against the dashboard, the title, and any service records you can get from the seller. A mismatch is a red flag worth investigating before you hand over payment.
Common Mistakes That Delay Title Transfers
• Signing a title that's blank or missing the buyer's name — this is a misdemeanor under Georgia Code 40-3-91(c)
• Names on the bill of sale not matching the names on government-issued ID
• Leaving the lienholder section blank when a loan was still active on the vehicle
• A VIN typo that doesn't match the title or the vehicle itself
• Skipping the odometer disclosure on a vehicle that isn't exempt
• Waiting past the 30-day window to visit the county tag office
The penalty for accepting or delivering a title assigned in blank is spelled out in Georgia Code 40-3-91(c), which the Department of Revenue lists as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100 or up to 30 days in jail per title.
Selling or Buying Privately in Georgia? Let KarKiosk Help
A clean bill of sale is only part of a smooth private sale. Where you list the car, and who you're dealing with, matters just as much. KarKiosk (karkiosk.com) is built for private car sales in the U.S. — sellers can list a vehicle with clear details and photos, and buyers can search listings without going through a dealership markup. Whether you're getting ready to sell your car or you're shopping for your next one, starting on a platform built specifically for private transactions makes the paperwork stage — including your bill of sale — a lot less stressful.
