When you gift a car in Georgia, you can avoid some of the sales tax and fees associated with privately selling a car—but you’ll need to give it to an immediate family member and transfer the motor vehicle title to their name. You’ll also need to complete a Declaration of Immediate Family Form (Form MV-16).
In Georgia, motor vehicles that you own can only be gifted to immediate family members.
The car you gift must be paid off before you can transfer the Georgia title.
Depending on the nature of the gift, you may want to discuss logistics like insurance coverage and other car expenses with your intended recipient.
How to buy a car as a gift in Georgia
If you want to buy a new car to give as a gift in the state of Georgia, you’re best off bringing the gift recipient to the
to your recipient. By bringing them with you to the dealership, you ensure your finances stay up to snuff—and you’re better able to choose the exact car your recipient wants.
For a full-send surprise gift, you’re best off gifting a car you already own to your recipient. In Georgia, you can gift a car to an immediate family member as long as you have a free and clear title to the vehicle.
Whether it’s a surprise birthday gift or simply a means of helping out a loved one, you’ll need to follow Georgia’s laws for gifting a car. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
Discuss the terms of the gift with your recipient: In Georgia, either the gifter or recipient will need to pay the $18 vehicle title transfer fee, a $20 license plate fee, as well as the vehicle registration fee and taxes. The gifted vehicle will also need smog certification and a
. You and your giftee will need to complete and sign a Form MV-1 Certificate of Title/Tag Application before visiting the county tag office. Make sure to also bring along the car’s original title (which should be in your name) and the emission inspection certificate (if applicable), as well as
Remember that in order to transfer the vehicle’s title, there cannot be any existing liens on the car. You’ll need to pay off any existing loans and retrieve the vehicle’s original title from the lienholder, if necessary, before you can transfer the car to the new owner.
Depending on the circumstances of the gift, you might also want to discuss who will pay for car insurance,
, which helps pay for damages to your car—even when you are at fault in a collision. Once your giftee has met Georgia’s requirements for car insurance coverage, they will be good to drive!
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