Delays continue with vehicle tag renewal notices in Georgia

There is another delay in Georgia motor vehicle renewal notices being sent out.

The state Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division will not be able to mail out renewal notices for people with December birthdays, according to the Bibb County Tax Commissioner's Office. Although the delays in the motor vehicle reminders may be an inconvenience for some people, there could be another method to pay for the renewals in Macon-Bibb County by early 2016.

The problems with the reminders arose in September when the vendor that mails them shut down.

"Please be aware that if you do not receive a renewal notice and your registration is renewed late, you will be assessed a penalty," Bibb County Tax Commissioner Wade McCord said in a news release. The notices are a courtesy and there's no requirement that they be mailed.

There are a few options to get tag renewal information and to pay for them, including visiting www.dor.georgia.gov as well as calling or going to your local tag office.

While the state seeks to find a new vendor to mail the notices, people in Macon-Bibb may soon have another place to renew vehicle tags if the County Commission approves an agreement Tuesday.

Commissioners are expected to vote on a contract with Intellectual Technology that would have a kiosk for tag renewals placed in the Kroger on Tom Hill Senior Boulevard. The company identified the location because of how busy the store is, McCord said.

Macon-Bibb would also reach out to other counties to see if they would allow their taxpayers to use that system to renew their tags, McCord told commissioners this week.

The self-service terminal would have a $3.95 service fee and 2 percent credit card usage fee.

"We entered into this agreement because it is something that could have a regional impact," McCord said.

The agreement would give the company the ability to remove the kiosk if it doesn't generate a certain amount of revenue. In Bibb County, the goal would be for the company to make $1,050 a month.

"The trade off is (Intellectual Technology) is making money off of the fees and we get the convenience of one more option for people after hours," Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Elaine Lucas said.

In Georgia, DeKalb, Henry and Augusta-Richmond counties are among more than 15 participating in the system or are expected to have terminals installed in January, according to a Department of Motor Vehicles news release.

"(Intellectual Technology) is the only organization that's been authorized by the state because they have the ability to meet security requirements," Crystal Jones, senior assistant county attorney said.

There are about 120,000 vehicle renewals a year in Macon-Bibb, McCord said.

To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623. or find him on Twitternote>

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 8:52 PM with the headline "Delays continue with vehicle tag renewal notices in Georgia ."