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In-County Tag Renewals
This page is designed to assist the motor vehicle owner who has their vehicles currently registered in Athens-Clarke County and needs to simply renew their tags.  Please read the information provided below and if you still have questions feel free to call our office for additional assistance.  After all it's you, the taxpayer, we are here to serve.

You may receive a preprinted notification of tag fees and taxes due (prebill) for vehicles you own shortly before the beginning of your registration period.  The prebill(s) are produced by the Motor Vehicle Division.  Failure to receive a prebill for any vehicle you own does not relieve you of the responsibility of renewing a vehicle's registration during your registration period.

An owner is required to apply for a Georgia Certificate of Title for vehicles required to be titled (unless a Georgia Certificate of Title has already been issued in the owner's  name) and pay any license plate fees and Ad Valorem Taxes which may be due when applying for a license plate or renewal decal.

DEADLINES
BIRTHDAY FOR INDIVIDUALS: Your expiration date and deadline is the birthday printed in the top right corner of the renewal notice. You are allowed to renew 30 days prior to your deadline.

BUSINESSES: Vehicles registered in a business name expire on the last day of the month, depending on the first letter in the business title. The renewal period for businesses is 30 days before the deadline. Please use the following chart to determine your business deadline.  IRP (International Registration Plan) trucks operating in the name of an individual will be required to register according to the "individual" deadline.

  • Example: Acme Construction Company's deadline is 31 January
  • A thru B - January C thru D - February E thru F - March G thru H - April
    I thru J - May K thru L - June M thru N -July O thru P - August
    Q thru R - September S thru T - October U thru W - November X thru Z - December

    HEAVY TRUCKS with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 26,000 pounds and operated intrastate must renew annually between December 1 and February 15.  All renewal applications for vehicles with a GVW over 14,000 must enter the vehicle GVW on the renewal form. All trucks that declare GVW in excess of 54,999 pounds must include a validated IRS Form 2290 showing that the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax has been paid.
     

    PENALTIES FOR LATE RENEWALS: Renewals that are mailed must be postmarked before their deadline to avoid late charges.  Applications paid at the tag office after the deadline will be assessed late fees.  If your deadline falls on a day the office is closed, your deadline will be extended to the following business day. Tag office personnel do not have the authority to relieve late fees.  Metered mail does not qualify as a postmark.  Late fees are as follows and are assessed against each vehicle individually: a) 10% of the ad valorem tax due, with a minimum of $5.00; and b) 25% of the tag fee, with a minimum of $5.

    INSURANCE COMPANY AND POLICY NUMBER must be included when application is made and must be updated in the State of Georgia's computer system.  For more information on Electronic Insurance Verification click here.

    NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE PLATES must have a current letter from the unit commander authorizing the tag. The letter must include the owners’ social security number and current date.

    SPECIAL AND PRESTIGE TAG: In years past, these tags had to be pre-ordered and were issued the year following the initial manufacturing process.  The State of Georgia now allows applications to be accepted year-round; however, some of the special tags that are available require that the applicant meet certain qualifications.  You can learn more about what tags are available and the qualifications required by calling the tag office or visiting: State of Georgia Special Tags.

    QUESTIONS? This web page cannot possibly cover all aspects of motor vehicle registration and renewal. If you are uncertain of what to do, please call (706) 613-3130 for assistance. When you call, please have your license tag number available for faster service.

    CONFIDENTIALITY:  Motor vehicle records are not subject to the Open Records Act and are confidential under the Laws of Georgia.  Please contact the Athens-Clarke County tag office if additional information is needed.

    Methods of payment: Cash, Money Orders, Visa, Master Card or Checks.
    Payable to: CLARKE COUNTY TAG AGENT.

    MAIL EARLY! Please allow two full weeks for processing.

    SIGN the renewal application.
     
    Mailing address:
    Clarke County Tag Agent
    P. O. Box 8088
    Athens, GA 30603
    Walk-in Location:
    3025 Lexington Road
    Highway 78 East
    Athens, GA 30605
    Office Hours:
    8:00am – 5:00pm
    Monday – Friday
    Phone:(706) 613-3130
    FAX (706)548-0967

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