Georgia title guide

Selling a junk car without a title in Georgia

The short answer

It depends on the car's age. Georgia does not require a title for vehicles of model year 1962 or older, and titles are optional for model years 1963 to 1985. Newer vehicles need the title, or a duplicate from the Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division.

First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Georgia sources on November 6, 2026 and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).

What does Georgia ask of sellers?

In Georgia, a replacement title (form MV-1) costs $8.00. Each card links to the official page it came from.

Replacing a lost title: Form MV-1, MV-1 Title/Tag Application. Fee: $8.00.; Official source
After the sale: Cancel the registration, online through DRIVES e-Services or with Form MV-18J. Georgia has no separate notice of sale: the seller transfers ownership and cancels the registration.; Official source
License plates: The seller keeps the plate; it does not transfer with the vehicle and can be kept, moved to another vehicle, or surrendered.; Official source

Georgia's official guide to selling a vehicle

What do you do if you have the title?

Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.

What if the title is lost or damaged?

Georgia replacement titles come from the Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, using form MV-1 (MV-1 Title/Tag Application), for a fee of $8.00. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Georgia.

Where to find a car's VIN: (1) on the dashboard on the driver's side, read through the windshield, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration or insurance card — The 17-character VIN appears in the same places on almost every car made since 1981: (1) on the dashboard, read through the windshield on the driver's side, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration and insurance card.

Older cars that don't need a title

Georgia does not require a title for vehicles of model year 1962 or older, and titles are optional for model years 1963 to 1985. Bring your registration, a photo ID and a bill of sale with the VIN, the sale price and both signatures.

For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.

What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?

If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division can tell you which estate papers Georgia accepts.

What do you do after the sale?

Cancel the registration, online through DRIVES e-Services or with Form MV-18J. Georgia has no separate notice of sale: the seller transfers ownership and cancels the registration.
Plates: The seller keeps the plate; it does not transfer with the vehicle and can be kept, moved to another vehicle, or surrendered.
Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.

Title rules change, so confirm them with the Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.

Can you junk a car without a title in Georgia?

Yes, if the car is old enough. Georgia does not require a title for vehicles of model year 1962 or older, and titles are optional for model years 1963 to 1985. For newer cars you'll need the title or a duplicate from the Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division.

How do I get a duplicate title in Georgia?

Apply to the Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division with form MV-1 (MV-1 Title/Tag Application), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $8.00, according to the agency.

Can I sell a car in Georgia with just a bill of sale?

For vehicles old enough to be title exempt, ask the buyer which papers it needs before pickup, and have your registration and a bill of sale ready. Newer vehicles still need a title.