Can you drive with expired car tags in Georgia? Here’s what the law says
Georgia’s road rules are designed to keep drivers safe — and in compliance with state driving laws.
Registering your car is the law in the Peach State, and license plates can be renewed up to 30 days before their designated expiration date, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue’s motor vehicle division.
But what happens when you miss that window?
Here’s what Georgia law says about cars without current registration:
Is it OK to drive with expired tags in Georgia?
The short answer is no.
In Georgia, driving with expired tags — or no tags at all — on any public street or highway is punishable by a $100 fine, the law says.
“It shall be a misdemeanor to operate any vehicle required to be registered in this state without a valid numbered license plate properly validated,” state Code 40-2-22 says, adding that drivers have 30 days to register their car after becoming a resident.
Drivers are typically issued a temporary tag that must be displayed after buying a new or used car.
In addition to a valid license plate, the law requires drivers to display a county decal showing the county where the vehicle is registered.
Failing to do so is a misdemeanor punishable by a $25 fine for the first violation, state law says. The fine jumps to $100 for repeat offenders.
“If you’re lucky, you could get a lenient officer who writes you a ‘fix it ticket,’” Scott Miller, a Georgia defense lawyer, said on his website. “Since this would just be the luck of the draw I would not advise that you cross your fingers and hope you get pulled over by a nice police officer.”
He noted that fines associated with driving with an expired registration may vary from county to county. In Fulton County, for example, drivers with tags 60 days past the expiration date can be fined up to $135, according to Miller’s office.
Violations including improper registration, a missing county decal and missing tag can also result in a $135 fine, the lawyer said.
A search of the municipal codes in Macon-Bibb and Muscogee counties didn’t turn up specific laws regarding expired vehicle registration or associated fees.
This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 1:00 PM.