Georgia VIN Lookup

Anyone looking to purchase a used vehicle from the over 950 used-car dealers in Georgia is advised to conduct a VIN lookup. Looking up a used vehicle’s VIN is especially important, considering that a used car costs an average of $25,300 in the state.

While Georgia’s lemon law is specifically designed for certain types of new vehicles, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects pre-owned vehicle buyers, provided such vehicles are covered by warranty when a defect is first reported. Still, anyone looking to buy a used motor vehicle in the state should take certain measures to protect themselves from the associated risks, especially the risk of purchasing a faulty car. One such measure includes performing a detailed vehicle check, which includes looking up its history through the VIN.

Although used-car dealers are required to issue buyers vehicle inspection reports or written warranties during purchase, it is imperative for buyers to carefully peruse the reports obtained from VIN lookups. Generally, a typical VIN report will disclose a vehicle’s accident history, theft reports, recall history, and other vital information that can help anyone make an informed buying decision.

Why Performing a Georgia VIN Check Is Important

Considering Georgia’s annual car theft rate of 250.6 per 100,000 residents, performing a VIN check on a used vehicle in the state before purchasing it cannot be overstated. Otherwise, prospective vehicle owners risk buying stolen vehicles, which typically comes with dire consequences.

Short for a Vehicle Identification Number, a VIN comprises 17 alphanumeric characters. It is unique for each vehicle and primarily identifies a motor vehicle. Besides being a unique identifier, a VIN can be a gateway to vital information about a vehicle. Hence, conducting a VIN check before purchasing a preowned vehicle in Georgia is crucial and may reveal the following information:

• Accident History: With a Georgia VIN check, you can find out if the vehicle you intend to purchase has been in an accident. A typical VIN check report on a preowned car will disclose its maintenance records and show if any accidents have been previously reported on it. This information helps you make an informed buying decision or negotiate a fair price with the seller.
• Vehicle Title and Registration Status: A VIN check can reveal a vehicle’s title status or brand. It will show if the title is clean or if there are issues such as rebuilt or salvaged titles. Sometimes, a vehicle may appear to be in good condition when it is not. However, a VIN lookup can disclose if the vehicle has been flooded or if the VIN has been flagged as salvaged. This can prevent you from overspending on a car with a questionable history.
• Theft Records: With a VIN check, you can spot if a vehicle has been reported as stolen before purchasing it. Many stolen cars with fake registration papers end up in the used car market. A thorough VIN lookup will help uncover these issues and protect you from financial loss and legal complications.
• Odometer Readings Verification: Conducting a VIN lookup can help detect odometer fraud (rollback), which is done to hide a vehicle’s true mileage and portray it as less used. Despite being illegal, over 450,000 vehicles with false odometer readings are sold annually. A VIN check helps you avoid falling victim to this type of fraud.
• Cloned Vehicles: A VIN lookup can help identify or detect duplicate vehicle identification numbers used in vehicle cloning scams. This is crucial to ensure you don’t unknowingly purchase a fraudulent or illegally duplicated vehicle.

Furthermore, Section 40-1-1-40-16-8 of the Code of Georgia requires all motor vehicles to be registered in the state. Using an unregistered vehicle in the state is considered a misdemeanor and may be punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to 12 months in county jail. A VIN check can confirm the registration status of a vehicle and help you stay compliant with state laws.

How To Perform a Georgia VIN Check

Interested individuals may perform a Georgia VIN check through any of the following means:

Georgia DOR - DRIVES e-Services:

The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) offers DRIVES e-Services for public vehicle history lookup. You can find details such as title and insurance status, ELT lienholders, registration status, and more. To use the service, enter the vehicle’s VIN and submit the query.

NICB VINCheck:

The NICB VINCheck Lookup allows users to check if a vehicle has been reported as stolen or salvaged. Simply enter the full VIN in the search field and click “Search VIN” to retrieve the vehicle’s history from participating insurance companies.

The NHTSA VIN Decoder:

The NHTSA VIN Decoder helps users decode specific information from a vehicle’s VIN, such as its manufacturing plant and other safety-related details. This tool accepts both full and partial VINs.

Free vs. Paid VIN Check Services in Georgia

Generally, VIN lookup services run by government agencies and some non-profit organizations like the NICB, Georgia Department of Revenue, and the NHTSA are mostly free services. However, using these services may not provide you with detailed information as expected in a VIN lookup. This means you may find it challenging to make an informed decision about purchasing a preowned vehicle in Georgia from the results obtained from such free VIN check services.

If you need more comprehensive details about a motor vehicle in Georgia, consider using premium VIN lookup services offered by third-party sites like GoodCar, Carmart, CarFax, and AutoCheck. While these sites also offer free VIN lookup services, you will only obtain basic information about the vehicle being searched.

With a small fee, a vehicle history report obtained in a Georgia VIN check conducted using third-party premium services will typically contain the following information:

• Odometer readings
• Title records
• Title brands
• Accident history
• Recalls and defects
• Detailed vehicle specifications (year of manufacture, make, model, engine type, transmission, trim, and body style)
• Major issues
• Maintenance records
• Vehicle market and residual values
• Sales history
• Ownership history
• Junk and salvage records, and much more!

What Used Car Scams Are Common in Georgia?

Used car scams are all too common in Georgia and may be difficult to identify owing to the various shady practices of used car dealers. Recently, there was a report by the Lawrenceville Police Department of two fraudulent car salesmen who pretended to be sales managers at a dealership to scam about $50,000 from used car shoppers in the state.

Both men used fictitious company names (Atlanta Motor Source and Atlanta Highline Motors) to advertise vehicles legitimately put on sale at Auto Star and collected a down payment, making it seem like they were helping shoppers pick the vehicles. Afterward, they would inform the victims their loan company denied their applications and would not return the customer’s down payment due to the store’s no-refund policy.

Other common used-vehicle scams in Georgia include the following:

Title Washing:

Eliminating the designation of a vehicle’s salvage status to maximize profit at the buyer’s expense.

Curbstoning:

Unlicensed car dealers masquerading as private individuals to sell preowned vehicles in a bid to evade industry regulations.

Odometer Fraud:

Misrepresenting a vehicle’s mileage by disconnecting or turning back the odometer to give the car a better market value.

Misrepresentation of Car History:

Altering or withholding important information about the condition of a preowned vehicle from a prospective buyer at the time of purchase.

VIN Cloning:

Removing a stolen vehicle’s VIN (with a salvage title) and replacing it with the VIN of a similar car that is legally registered and putting it up for sale.

If you are looking to buy a used vehicle in Georgia, it is important to take certain precautions to avoid falling prey to the prevailing used-car scams in the state. Generally, victims of these schemes end up losing a lot of money and getting frustrated. The following tips can help you avoid used-vehicle scams in Georgia:

1. Obtain a comprehensive vehicle history report by performing a VIN lookup using reliable third-party VIN check services like GoodCar.
2. Make your purchase from a reliable and reputable used car dealer.
3. Have a trusted mechanic inspect a preowned vehicle before finalizing the purchase.
4. Make personal arrangements for financing and show up at the dealership with a written pre-approved loan from a reliable lender. This may prevent you from paying extra for using the dealer’s financing option.
5. If the negotiation heads south and you no longer feel comfortable with the purchase, walk away.

How Do I Check the Status of My Vehicle's Title in Georgia?

You can check the status of your vehicle’s title in Georgia through the state’s DRIVES e-Services platform. It’s particularly important to verify the title status if you’re purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. This check can help identify issues with the title and ensure the vehicle’s legal ownership. Additionally, it can reveal odometer rollback fraud and any outstanding liens.

To check the title status, enter the vehicle’s title number or VIN into the DRIVES e-Services system and click on the “Get Title Status” tab. The search results will provide information on the title status, along with other details about the vehicle as recorded by the Georgia Department of Revenue.

How To Register a Brand New Car in Georgia

When you buy a brand new vehicle in Georgia, it is important to register it with the state’s Department of Revenue (DOR) by mail or in person through your County Tag Office. It is also required to apply for a Georgia title as part of the vehicle registration process. If you purchase the vehicle from a licensed dealer, you have up to 30 days from the date it was purchased to apply to the DOR for registration.

While car dealers are not legally required to submit new vehicle registration applications on customers’ behalf in Georgia, some help their customers with the titling and registration process. However, it is important to ask your dealer when buying a new car if they intend to submit the registration application on your behalf.

Generally, the following steps are required to register a new motor vehicle in Georgia:

• Prepare all the Necessary Documents and Information: Make sure to have all the documents and information required to complete the registration to avoid processing delays. Typically, the requirements can vary by county, so you may want to contact your Local County Tag Office near you.
• Complete the Registration: Once all the required documents and information are in place, you may complete the vehicle registration by mail or in person at the local County Tag Office. To register your vehicle in person, go to the nearest County Tag Office during their business hours with all the required documents, fees, and payments. For mail-in applications, find your local County Tag Office’s mailing address and mail all the necessary fees, payment, and documents.

In Georgia, registering and titling a new vehicle at a Local County Tag Office in person is usually faster than submitting mail applications. Make sure to make copies of all submitted documents for personal records. After processing, your local County Tag Office should make your vehicle registration available to you within two to three weeks. You can contact the office if you do not receive the registration within 30 days of applying.

What Are the Requirements for Registering a New Car in Georgia?

According to a report by the United States Department of Energy, over 9.6 million vehicles are currently registered in Georgia. Gasoline vehicles account for the highest number of registered motor vehicles by fuel type in the state at over 8.2 million.

Generally, regardless of the fuel type, the following documents are required to register and/or title a new vehicle in Georgia:

• A completed Motor Vehicle Title Application Form (Form MV-1). This may also be completed online through the Georgia DRIVES e-Services.
• Valid Georgia driver’s license or ID card.
• Proof of vehicle insurance.
• Proof of vehicle ownership, which may either be a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin or the bill of sale.
• If applicable, an emissions inspection certificate indicating a pass mark.
• An $18 title fee, a $20 registration fee, and a $10 title penalty fee, where applicable. Payments can be made with check, cash, or money order at the Local County Tag Office.
• Payment of all required taxes. Georgia primarily accepts two forms of vehicle tax payments, as listed below:
  • Title AD Valorem Tax (TAVT) - Vehicles purchased after March 1, 2023, are subject to this tax at the time of titling them.
  • Annual Ad Valorem Tax (AAVT) - If a vehicle was purchased before March 1, 2023, it is subject to AAVT.

Vehicle registrations in Georgia are generally due for renewal annually, and in most cases, vehicle owners receive a renewal notice by the beginning of their registration month. The following are required to renew a vehicle registration in the state:

• A valid driver’s license
• VIN or license plate number
• Proof of Georgia liability insurance (if applicable)
• All taxes and registration fees. These may be paid by credit card, electronic check, or debit card.
• An emissions inspection certificate (if applicable)

In Georgia, vehicle owners may renew their car registrations in any of the following ways:

• Online using the “Renew Vehicle Registration” option on the Georgia DRIVES e-Services.
• Mail all the required documents and payments to the Local County Tag Office.
• Call (877) 496-0249 and follow the step-by-step instructions. It is crucial to have all the required documents, fees, and information ready before calling.
• Submit all the required fees and documents at the Local County Tag Office.
• Submit all the required documents and fees at a Georgia MV Express Self-Service Tag Kiosk (only applicable in participating counties)

Does Georgia Mandate Vehicle Inspection?

While Georgia has a motor vehicle inspection law, there is no statewide mandatory vehicle inspection. However, 13 counties in the state require annual emissions inspections. These counties are Cobb, Fayette, Henry, Cherokee, Rockdale, Paulding, Clayton, DeKalb, Coweta, Douglas, Gwinnett, Fulton, and Forsyth. Residents of these counties must have their vehicles inspected every year and obtain an inspection sticker or certificate before renewing their vehicle registration.

Some vehicles are exempt from emissions testing in the counties where vehicle inspections are required. These exemptions include motor homes, motorcycles, alternative fuel vehicles, recreational vehicles, diesel-powered vehicles, and vehicles that are 25 model years old or older.

During a vehicle inspection in Georgia, tests such as the OBD II test, gas cap seal test, visual catalytic converter inspection, two-speed idle test, and accelerated simulation mode test are conducted. Additionally, odometer and VIN verification are part of the inspection process in the 13 counties that mandate it.

How Do I Get a Replacement VIN in Georgia?

You may have to visit your Local County Tag Office to obtain a replacement VIN for your vehicle in Georgia. The County Tag Office will advise you on the application process. Generally, replacement VINs are issued to vehicle owners in instances where the original VIN is altered, missing, or damaged. A person may also request a replacement VIN in Georgia if their vehicle is rebuilt from salvage or is a homemade motor vehicle.

Does Georgia Require a VIN Inspection for Out-of-State Vehicles?

Yes. Any out-of-state vehicle, especially one without a correct title from the previous state, must undergo VIN inspection in Georgia. Otherwise, the owner of such a vehicle may not be able to register or drive it legally in the state.