HB1267: HB1267 Motor vehicles; increase penalties for certain offenses; provisions

This substitute to HB 1267 rewrites several parts of Georgia's motor vehicle code. It raises the penalty for making, selling, or issuing a fake license plate or decal from a misdemeanor to a felony, and increases several existing fines, for example raising the fine for improperly removing or using another vehicle's plate from $500 to $750. It also raises the civil liability for odometer fraud from at least $1,500 to at least $10,000, and makes odometer tampering itself a felony instead of a misdemeanor. It adds new grounds for felony title fraud, including falsifying an odometer reading on a title application. The bill also limits how long dealership employees can use dealer plates for private use to six months per vehicle, defines 'employee' as someone working at least 36 hours a week, and requires dealer plates issued after January 1, 2027 to be metal with raised text. Separately, it would abolish the State Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers, move its licensing and enforcement duties to the Department of Revenue, and create a temporary advisory council to manage the transition. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026, but the transfer of dealer regulation only takes effect July 1, 2028, and only if the General Assembly specifically funds it in a later appropriations act.

• Raises the penalty for manufacturing, selling, or issuing a fake license plate or revalidation decal from a misdemeanor to a felony (Code Section 40-2-4).
• Increases several existing fines, including raising the minimum fine for improper license plate transfer or use from $500 to $750.
• Turns odometer tampering into a felony offense and raises the minimum civil damages for odometer fraud from $1,500 to $10,000 (Code Section 40-8-5).
• Adds new felony grounds for title fraud, such as falsifying an odometer reading or the sale date on a title application (Code Section 40-3-90).
• Limits private use of a dealership's dealer license plate by an employee to six months per vehicle and defines 'employee' as someone working at least 36 hours per week.
• Transfers regulation of used motor vehicle and used motor vehicle parts dealers from the State Board of Registration to the Georgia Department of Revenue, contingent on future funding.

The bill affects drivers and vehicle owners facing higher fines for plate misuse, people accused of title or odometer fraud who could now face felony rather than misdemeanor charges, car dealership employees who use dealer plates for personal driving, and used motor vehicle and used parts dealers currently licensed by the state board, who would eventually be regulated by the Department of Revenue instead.

Georgians caught tampering with license plates, titles, or odometers could face felony convictions and much larger fines than before, while dealership staff would lose some flexibility to drive dealer-plated vehicles for personal use. Used car and parts dealers would eventually deal with a different state agency for licensing, inspections, and discipline.

• Section 1-1 raises the penalty for making, selling, or issuing an unauthorized license plate or decal from a misdemeanor to a felony.
• Section 1-2 raises the minimum fine under O.C.G.A. § 40-2-5 for unlawful license plate transfer or use from $500 to $750.
• Section 1-8 limits an employee's private use of a dealer's license plate to six months per vehicle and requires dealer plates issued after January 1, 2027 to be metal with raised, stamped text.
• Section 1-10 adds new felony grounds to O.C.G.A. § 40-3-90, including falsifying an odometer reading or a sale or lien date on a title application.
• Section 1-12 makes odometer tampering a felony and raises minimum civil liability for odometer fraud under O.C.G.A. § 40-8-5 from $1,500 to $10,000.
• Part II creates a five-member Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers Licensing Authority Transfer Advisory Council to help plan the regulatory transfer.
• Part III repeals Chapter 47 of Title 43 and creates a new Chapter 10 of Title 48 giving the Department of Revenue licensing and enforcement authority over used vehicle and parts dealers.
• Part V sets the general effective date as July 1, 2026, but delays the dealer-regulation transfer (Parts III and IV) until July 1, 2028, and only if the General Assembly specifically appropriates funding for it.

1. 2026-03-04House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-02-12House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-11House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-10House Hopper (House)

• John Corbett (R, HD-174)Primary sponsor
• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Danny Mathis (R, HD-133)

• license plates
• vehicle title fraud
• odometer tampering penalties
• used car dealer regulation
• Department of Revenue