SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide

Currently, Georgia lets some new vehicle owners register for a two-year period if they've paid the state's alternative title tax, but otherwise registration is annual. This bill replaces that two-year option with a new five-year registration and revalidation choice, starting July 1, 2027, for what it calls an 'eligible motor vehicle,' generally one that has paid the alternative ad valorem tax and isn't a commercial or alternative-fueled vehicle. Owners who choose the five-year option still must submit a valid emissions inspection certificate each year of the term; the Department of Revenue would electronically notify owners about missed certifications and, if none is provided within 30 days, suspend the registration until the owner pays a $60 restoration fee. Emission inspection stations must report certifications to the department within seven days. The bill also sets five-year fee amounts for prestige and specialty license plates (generally five times the annual fee) and bars refunds or credits for canceled, transferred, or suspended registrations.

• Creates a new optional five-year vehicle registration and revalidation decal for 'eligible motor vehicles,' replacing the prior two-year registration option, effective July 1, 2027.
• Requires owners who choose five-year registration to still submit a valid emissions certificate every year of the five-year term.
• Sets up an electronic reporting system requiring emission inspection stations to notify the Department of Revenue of certificate issuance within seven days.
• Directs the department to suspend a five-year registration if the owner does not provide proof of emissions certification within 30 days of notice, with a $60 restoration fee to lift the suspension.
• Bars any refund or credit of registration fees when a registration is cancelled, transferred, suspended, or revoked.
• Sets five-year fee amounts for numerous specialty and prestige license plates, generally five times the annual renewal fee.

Owners of eligible passenger vehicles who paid Georgia's alternative title ad valorem tax, county tag agents and tax commissioners who process registrations, the Department of Revenue and Department of Natural Resources emission inspection stations, and holders of prestige or specialty license plates such as veterans, National Guard members, sheriffs, and elected officials.

Eligible vehicle owners could avoid an annual trip to renew registration by paying once for five years, but they would still need yearly emissions checks and face automatic suspension and a $60 fee if they miss one. Specialty plate holders would pay a lump five-year fee instead of yearly amounts.

• Section 5 defines 'eligible motor vehicle' as one that paid the alternative ad valorem tax under O.C.G.A. § 48-5C-1, excluding commercial and alternative-fueled vehicles.
• Section 6 adds a new Code Section 40-2-10.1 barring refunds or credits for registration fees upon cancellation, transfer, suspension, or revocation.
• Section 7 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 40-2-20 to remove the old two-year registration option and create the five-year option starting July 1, 2027, plus a 30-day temporary operating permit for emissions noncompliance.
• Section 8 defines an 'eligible motor vehicle registration term' as every fifth registration period for those choosing the five-year decal.
• Section 30 creates new Code Section 40-2-139, requiring emission stations to report certifications within seven days and setting a 30-day cure period and $60 restoration fee (with $10 retained by the county) after a suspension.
• Sections 11-28 set five-year fee amounts (generally five times the annual fee) for prestige plates and numerous specialty plates, including for veterans, sheriffs, National Guard members, and elected officials.
• Section 4 allows the Department of Revenue to satisfy notice requirements electronically for owners who choose five-year registration, using specific advance-notice timing (30, 20, and 10 days before suspension).
• Section 31 sets the effective date of this Act as July 1, 2027.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2027-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 505
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-03-20House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2026-02-12House Second Readers (House)

• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)Primary sponsor
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Martin Momtahan (R, HD-017)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 10, 2026

   45 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #533

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   151 yea, 7 nay (6 not voting, 12 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #736

• vehicle registration
• emissions inspections
• license plates
• motor vehicle fees
• Georgia DMV rules