Most Georgia drivers will be able to take care of car registration without having to complete an inspection, but be aware that inspections are required in certain cases.

Proof of Ownership Inspection

In order to register your vehicle in the state of Georgia, you must provide acceptable proof of ownership.

In most cases, this is accomplished by presenting either the valid original title or the manufacturer's certificate of origin. However, you can also submit a registration certificate from a non-title state/country if it is accompanied by form T-22B (Certificate of Inspection) and signed by a law enforcement officer or county tag agent.

As part of this vehicle inspection, a query will be sent to the Georgia Crime Information Center to see if the vehicle has been stolen.

GA Emissions Testing Requirements

Certain Georgia residents may need to have an emissions inspection and smog check as a condition of vehicle registration. If you live in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, or Rockdale County, you will need smog and emissions testing during the register car process if your car or light duty truck with an 8,500 pounds or fewer gross vehicle weight rating is between three and 25 years old.

Inspections are conducted by the Georgia Clean Air Force, not the DOR; call (800) 449-2471 for details. The inspection fee varies, but is typically between $10 and $25. It is recommended that you plan to complete the inspection four to six weeks before it’s time for registration renewal, in case repairs will be needed. If you fail the initial vehicle inspection, you can receive one free retest within the next 30 days.