HB257: HB257 Motor vehicles; issuance of metal fleet motor vehicle license plates to certain owners prior to registration of a vehicle; provide

Under current Georgia law, fleet vehicle owners register with the state and get license plates tied to the registration process. This bill creates a new option for a specific group: rental car companies certified as 'rental motor vehicle concerns' under Georgia's rental car tax law (O.C.G.A. § 48-5C-1) that are enrolled in the state's fleet registration plan. These companies could apply to the Department of Revenue for metal fleet license plates before registering the actual vehicles they'll go on. The department would have 15 days to issue the plates once a proper application is filed. The department must also build a system letting these companies later assign and register vehicles using plates they already hold. Companies must securely store any unused plates, and the state can revoke and confiscate them if the company fails to do so after a hearing. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new process letting certified rental car fleet owners request metal license plates before any specific vehicle is registered.
• Requires the Department of Revenue to issue the plates within 15 days of a proper application from an eligible rental vehicle fleet owner.
• Directs the department to build a system so these companies can later assign and register vehicles to the plates they already received.
• Requires companies to securely store unassigned plates and allows the state to revoke and confiscate plates if they fail to do so, after a hearing.
• Defines 'eligible rental vehicle fleet owner' as a corporation or firm enrolled in the state fleet registration plan and certified as a rental motor vehicle concern.

Rental car companies certified as rental motor vehicle concerns and enrolled in Georgia's fleet vehicle registration plan, and the Department of Revenue, which must process applications and build a new plate assignment system.

Rental car companies could get license plates ready ahead of adding vehicles to their fleets, potentially speeding up how quickly new rental cars go into service in Georgia. The plate storage and revocation rules also create new compliance obligations and enforcement risk for those companies.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 40-2-53.1, defining 'eligible rental vehicle fleet owner' and 'rental motor vehicle concern' (cross-referencing O.C.G.A. § 48-5C-1).
• Subsection (b) requires the Department of Revenue to issue metal fleet license plates within 15 days of a proper application, before vehicle registration.
• Subsection (c) requires the department to develop a system allowing these companies to later assign and register vehicles using the pre-issued plates.
• Subsection (d) requires secure storage of the plates and allows revocation and confiscation after a hearing if storage requirements are not met.
• Section 2 makes the law effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-10House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-02-06House Second Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-05House First Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-04House Hopper (House)

• Bruce Williamson (R, HD-112)Primary sponsor
• Shaw Blackmon (R, HD-146)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)

• motor vehicle registration
• license plates
• rental car companies
• fleet vehicles
• Department of Revenue