Georgia Car Sales Tax Calculator
Estimate Georgia’s Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT)—the main one-time vehicle tax for most covered purchases—instead of applying a conventional sales-tax formula.
Last verified: October 2026Your Georgia estimate will appear here.
Georgia vehicle tax
Georgia car sales tax is generally TAVT
Most titled vehicles bought and registered in Georgia use a one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), not the ordinary retail sales-tax calculation used in many states. The standard TAVT rate is 7% of the Georgia tax value; an eligible person moving to Georgia may qualify for the 3% new-resident path.
The value depends on who sells the vehicle and the transaction type. Both a new dealer vehicle and an ordinary used dealer vehicle use retail selling price before qualifying deductions. A private-party transfer uses the state’s manual value, not simply the amount written on the bill of sale.
DOR’s general FAQ still uses older assessment-manual wording. Its 2019 legislation summary records the change to retail-selling-price valuation for new and ordinary used dealer sales effective January 1, 2020; current Rule 560-11-14 and Form MV-7D agree. This calculator follows that retail-price rule and keeps assessment value for private-party sales.
Once paid at titling, TAVT replaces ordinary sales tax and annual ad valorem tax for most covered vehicles. Older vehicles and some non-titled vehicles may instead remain subject to annual ad valorem tax. See the Georgia TAVT guide for the transaction-by-transaction explanation.
Engine examples by purchase type
- New dealer retail selling price
- $30,000.00
- Less eligible trade and new-vehicle discount
- − $6,000.00
- New dealer taxable TAVT value × 7%
- $24,000.00 × 7% = $1,680.00
- Used dealer: $22,000 retail less $2,000 eligible trade × 7%
- $1,400.00
- Private party: $20,000 manual value × 7%
- $1,400.00
- The applicable TAVT depends on the supported transaction path
- See each row
What buyers often enter incorrectly
- Using a dealer’s location or advertised price instead of the value basis required for the transaction.
- Taking a dealer trade-in deduction on a private-party purchase.
- Subtracting loan payoff from the trade allowance before applying the eligible trade deduction.
- Calling the one-time TAVT an annual registration tax or conventional sales tax.
Trade-in details are covered in Georgia TAVT and trade-ins. For the full TAVT, title, and registration subtotal, use the Georgia tax-title-license calculator.
Georgia TAVT questions
Frequently asked questions
What is Georgia’s car sales tax rate?
Most titled vehicle purchases use 7% TAVT, a one-time title tax. It is not a recurring 7% sales tax. Some transactions, including an eligible new resident registering an already-owned vehicle, use a different path.
Does Georgia charge ordinary sales tax on a car?
For most vehicles covered by TAVT, TAVT replaces sales tax and annual ad valorem tax. Non-titled vehicles, older vehicles, and exceptions can follow different tax rules.
How is a new car’s Georgia TAVT value determined?
The current new-vehicle rule uses retail selling price including taxable dealer charges, then subtracts qualifying trade-in and rebate deductions. It does not apply a higher assessment-manual floor.
How is a used dealer vehicle valued?
This calculator follows Rule 560-11-14 and Form MV-7D, which use the dealer retail-selling-price path for ordinary used dealer sales. DOR’s FAQ wording differs, so confirm unusual cases with the tag office.
Does a private-party buyer use the sale price for TAVT?
The supported private-party path uses the Georgia motor-vehicle assessment-manual value. The calculator asks for that value instead of assuming the purchase price is the taxable value.
Is Georgia TAVT paid every year?
No. TAVT is generally paid once when the vehicle is titled. Annual registration and any applicable alternative-fuel fee are separate recurring charges.