Real Georgia deals, worked out
Each example runs through the same calculator above, line by line, so you can check every number yourself.
1Atlanta: new car with a trade-in and a rebate
A buyer agrees to $35,000 for a new car, trades in $10,000, gets a $1,000 rebate from the dealer and pays a $699 doc fee. Georgia counts the doc fee as part of the selling price, then subtracts the trade-in and rebate, so TAVT is 7% of $24,699.
| Vehicle price | $35,000.00 |
| Dealer doc fee | $699.00 |
| Rebate | −$1,000.00 |
| Title ad valorem tax (7%) on $24,699.00 | $1,728.93 |
| Title fee | $18.00 |
| Registration (tag) fee | $20.00 |
| Out-the-door | $36,465.93 |
| Due after the $10,000 trade-in | $26,465.93 |
2Savannah: used car from a dealer
A buyer pays $22,000 for a used car whose value in the state assessment manual is $20,000, with a $5,000 trade-in. For used cars the price doesn't matter: TAVT is 7% of the state's $20,000 value minus the trade-in.
| Vehicle price | $22,000.00 |
| Title ad valorem tax (7%) on $15,000.00 | $1,050.00 |
| Title fee | $18.00 |
| Registration (tag) fee | $20.00 |
| Out-the-door | $23,088.00 |
| Due after the $5,000 trade-in | $18,088.00 |
3Augusta: private sale below the state's value
A buyer pays a private seller $12,000 for a car Georgia values at $15,000. The tax follows the state's value, not the bargain price, so TAVT is 7% of $15,000, or $210 more than 7% of the price paid.
| Price paid | $12,000.00 |
| Title ad valorem tax (7%) on $15,000.00 | $1,050.00 |
| Title fee | $18.00 |
| Registration (tag) fee | $20.00 |
| Out-the-door | $13,088.00 |
4Moving to Georgia with your car
A new resident brings a car worth $25,000 that's already registered to them in another state. They pay TAVT at the 3% new resident rate, $750 instead of $1,750, plus the title and tag fees.
| Car's value (already owned) | $25,000.00 |
| Title ad valorem tax, new resident (3%) on $25,000.00 | $750.00 |
| Title fee | $18.00 |
| Registration (tag) fee | $20.00 |
| Total due | $788.00 |
What TAVT replaces
TAVT is paid once, when the car is titled, and it replaces both sales tax and the yearly ad valorem (property) tax Georgia used to charge on cars. After you pay it, there's no yearly car property tax bill for that vehicle. The rate has been 7% since July 1, 2023.
How the taxable value is set
For a new car from a dealer, the base is the higher of the selling price or the value in the state's assessment manual. The selling price includes delivery, freight, documentation and similar fees. That figure is then reduced by your trade-in and by any rebate or cash discount the dealer gives at the time of sale.
For a used car from a dealer, the base is the car's value in the state assessment manual, minus your trade-in. For a car from a private seller, it's the state's value with no trade-in credit. The price you agree on with a private seller doesn't decide the tax; Georgia's value for the car does. The Department of Revenue's online TAVT estimator shows the value for a specific car.
TAVT at common values
What the 7% rate and the 3% new resident rate come to on the state's value, with no trade-in.
| State's value | TAVT at 7% | New resident at 3% |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $700.00 | $300.00 |
| $15,000 | $1,050.00 | $450.00 |
| $20,000 | $1,400.00 | $600.00 |
| $25,000 | $1,750.00 | $750.00 |
| $35,000 | $2,450.00 | $1,050.00 |
| $50,000 | $3,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
Check the TAVT on your dealer's quote
Enter the numbers from your buyer's order for a new car. The checker applies Georgia's rules, including the doc fee in the base and the trade-in and rebate credits, and explains a mismatch.
The quote leaves the doc fee out of the taxable price. In Georgia the doc fee is taxed, so expect $20.93 more tax than this quote shows.
Title, tag and EV fees
The title fee is $18 and the yearly registration (tag) fee is $20. Battery electric cars also pay an alternative fuel vehicle fee each year that rises with inflation: $238.59 for a non-commercial vehicle for registrations from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Plug-in hybrids pay it only if the owner chooses an alternative fuel plate.
Common mistakes in Georgia estimates
These are easy mistakes to make when estimating Georgia car tax, and what each one does to the number.
| Common mistake | What the rule is | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Calling it sales tax and adding a local rate | Georgia charges a flat 7% TAVT with no local add-on | Overstates the tax |
| Taxing a private sale on the price paid | Private sales are taxed on the state's assessed value | $210 too low on a $12,000 car valued at $15,000 |
| Subtracting a trade-in on a private sale | Trade-in credit only applies to dealer sales | Understates the tax |
| Using 7% for a new resident | New residents pay 3% on a car they bring | $1,000 too high on a $25,000 car |
| Expecting a yearly car property tax | TAVT replaces the yearly ad valorem tax | Overstates ownership costs |
Georgia taxes and fees at a glance
Officialfrom a state agency sourceEst.varies or not yet confirmed
| Item (atlanta: new car with a trade-in and a rebate) | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Title ad valorem tax (7%) | Estimate | $1,728.93 |
| Title fee | Official | $18.00 |
| Registration (tag) fee | Official | $20.00 |
| Total taxes and fees | $1,766.93 |
Georgia car tax FAQ
Does Georgia have sales tax on cars?
No. Georgia charges a one-time 7% title ad valorem tax (TAVT) on the car's value instead of sales tax.
Does a trade-in lower TAVT in Georgia?
Yes, on dealer sales. Your trade-in value is subtracted before the 7% is applied. Private sales get no trade-in credit.
Is the doc fee included in Georgia TAVT?
Yes, on new cars. The selling price used for TAVT includes documentation, delivery and freight fees.
How much TAVT do new residents pay?
3% of the car's fair market value on a vehicle they bring with them, instead of 7%.
Is TAVT based on what I paid in a private sale?
No. Private sales are taxed on the state's assessed value for the car, not the agreed price.
Do I pay car property tax every year in Georgia?
Not on a car that paid TAVT. TAVT replaced the yearly ad valorem tax for vehicles titled since March 2013.
Sources
We build every number from these agency pages. If something has changed, tell us and we'll fix it.