Lookup by license plate and report bad drivers

Vehicles in Georgia must be registered and have license plates in order to drive them legally. You can personalize your license plates and look up available license plate numbers online. License plates in Georgia are regulated by the Department of Revenue.

Sample Georgia License Plate

Types of License Plates in Georgia

Driving a vehicle in Georgia requires a license plate issued from the Department of Revenue (DOR).

You’ll need license plates if you drive any of the following:

• Recreational Vehicles (RVs)

• All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)

• Motorcycles

• Cars

• Trucks

• Vans

There are various types of license plates in Georgia, including:

• The state’s standard license plate

• Vanity plates

• Specialized plates

You’ll get a standard set of license plates when you register your car. You must keep your registration valid by renewing your plates every year.

Vanity License Plates in Georgia

If you want to have unique characters on your license plate, you should consider vanity plates. They cost $90 for the initial registration and $55 each time you renew them.

Vanity plates in Georgia are known as Special Prestige License Plates. You must follow the state’s regulations to be approved for these special plates:

• Up to 7 characters (motorcycle plates have fewer characters)

• Only uses numbers, letters and spaces (a space counts as a character)

• Cannot choose the same number as an existing plate

• No foul language or bad words

• Cannot encourage violence or indecency

• No misleading plate names, e.g. “SECRITY”

• No copyright violations

You can check to see if the license plate number you want is available online.

Aside from Special Prestige License Plates, you can also choose from a variety of specialized license plates.

Specialized License Plates in Georgia

Georgia has a collection of beautiful and iconic license plates. Here are some examples:

• Organizational & Special Cause License Plates (e.g. Rotary International, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta License Plates)

  • Initial Cost: $80 + registration fees

  • Renewal Fee: $55 + renewal fees

• Collegiate License Plates (e.g. Emory University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, University of South Carolina Alumni)

  • Initial Cost: $80 + registration fees

  • Renewal Fee: $55 + renewal fees

• Alternative Fuel License Plates (e.g. Ethanol Plate, Solar Energy Plate)

  • Initial Cost: $80 + registration fees

  • Renewal Fee: $55 + renewal fees

• Military License Plates (e.g. Desert Storm Tag, Korean War Plate, Air Force Cross Plate, Ex-POW Plate, Bronze Star Plate)

  • Initial Cost: $45 + registration fees

  • Renewal Fee: $20 + renewal fees

• Antique License Plates 

  • Initial Cost: $80 + registration fees

  • Renewal Fee: $55 + renewal fees

Applying for License Plates in Georgia

You must visit a Tag Office in Georgia to register your vehicle and apply for your license plates. When you go to the office, you should have:

• Valid ID (i.e., driver’s license or passport)

• Proof of insurance for the vehicle

• Completed Form MV-1: Motor Vehicle Title/Tag Application

• Documents for vehicle’s title and/or certificate of origin

• Payment for license plate fees:

  • Motorcycles: $20

  • Passenger Vehicles: $20

  • Trailers: $12

  • Additional Taxes: varies by county and vehicle

After you have registered your vehicle and received your plates, you must renew your vehicles tags each year.

Renewing License Plates in Georgia

The validation sticker in the bottom right corner of your license plates indicates when your vehicle’s registration will expire. Be sure to return to your local tag office to renew your registration before this date. You may receive a notification in the mail.

You can renew your vehicle’s license plates in person at the Tag Office, by mail, and online.

After you have paid the appropriate fees for your license plate renewal, you’ll receive new decals to place on your Georgia license plates. You don’t have to wait until the day your decals expire—put the new ones on the moment you receive them.

Lost or Stolen License Plates in Georgia

To properly replace your stolen license place and decals, you must file a police report. Afterward, you have to go to the tag office to apply for new plates.

Replacing stolen plates requires:

• Copy of police report

• Complete Form MV-7

• Payment of $8 (replacement fee)

For damaged plates, you must surrender your places to the tag office. For lost plates, you must also pay a replacement fee to obtain new license plates.

Surrendering License Plates in Georgia

In Georgia, unlike other states, you do not have to surrender your license plates if you move to a new city. However, in some cases you may have to surrender your license plates if you violate traffic law, if you abandon your vehicle, or for other reasons.

Remember, after you obtain your license plates, they become your property and belong to you.

Transferring License Plates in Georgia

If you are selling your motorcycle and buying a new one, you can easily transfer your license plate over. However, you cannot transfer your license plate from one vehicle type to another.

You must go to the tag office within 7 days to submit the paperwork in person. There is a $20 transfer fee on top of registration and title fees.

Overview of Fees for License Plates in Georgia

Here are some of the fees mentioned in this post, as well as some other fees for license plates in Georgia:

• License Plate Registration Fee:

  • Motorcycle: $20

  • Vehicle: $20

  • Trailer: $12

• Personalized License Plate:

  • Initial Fee: $90

• Specialized License Plate:

  • Initial Fee: $45 to $80

• Transfer Fee: $20

• Replacement Decal & License Plate: $8

Other fees, such as taxes, may also be applicable to your vehicle’s registration.

How to look up Georgia license plates

It is possible to look up license plate numbers in Georgia. If you are purchasing a used car, you can obtain a report about the vehicle. This kind of information can inform you before you make a substantial financial investment.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to look up Georgia License Plates and report bad drivers:

1. Open a web browser

2. Go to FindByPlate.com

3. Enter the plate number, and select state

4. View the report

5. View images submitted by the community

6. View videos submitted by the community

7. Add comments

8. Add pictures of the vehicle

9. Add videos related to the vehicle

Car Ownership in Georgia

• 93.90% of households in Georgia have at least one vehicle.

• Georgia ranks 23 (tied) in the United States in car ownership rates. Idaho and Wyoming have the most car owners while the District of Columbia has the fewest car owners in the US.

• Georgia ranks 19 in the US for electric vehicle ownership. About 0.36% of all registered vehicles in Georgia are electric vehicles.

• Georgia is ranked 7 in the US for most expensive states to own a car. It is the fourth most expensive state in the US for car repairs after Connecticut, Colorado, and California. The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in Georgia is $407. The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Georgia is $2,181 per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is a Georgia license plate?

Does Georgia have 2 license plates?

What is the cost of a vehicle title in Georgia?

How much is car tax in Georgia?

What’s the difference between specialty plates and prestige license plates in Georgia?

What are some of the online services offered by the Georgia DMV?

How many days do you have to renew your tag in Georgia?