Did you receive a letter?
Registration Suspension
Why would my registration be suspended?
Registration can be suspended and revoked for any vehicle in Georgia that does not maintain mandatory continuous motor vehicle liability insurance.
Georgia law requires motor vehicle owners and lessees to maintain continuous Georgia Liability Insurance coverage on vehicles with active registrations. Driving a vehicle while the registration is suspended, revoked or cancelled is a criminal offense. Additional penalties will apply, if convicted of driving a vehicle with a suspended or cancelled registration.
How do I prevent my registration from being suspended?
- If the vehicle was sold, repossessed, stolen, “totaled” or is out of service (and not being driven) you should cancel your vehicle registration. Cancel your vehicle registration online using DRIVES e-Services or in-person at your County Tag Office by submitting Form MV-18J to avoid suspension, lapse, and reinstatement fines.
- Keep your vehicle liability insurance coverage active without any lapse.
- If your insurance status is incorrect with the state, contact your insurance company to get the information updated.
Check your insurance status online. - Your insurance company must electronically transmit insurance coverage information within 30 days of the date the coverage is to begin to the Department’s insurance database.
- If your insurance status is incorrect with the state, contact your insurance company to get the information updated.
What is a lapse in coverage?
- A “lapse” is defined as 10 or more consecutive days with no liability insurance coverage on record with the Department. If you incur a lapse, you will receive a notice from the Department informing you of your duty to reinstate your insurance policy.
- You will incur a reinstatement fine if you incur a lapse.
- If the lapse fine is not paid within 30 days of the letter’s date, the vehicle’s registration will be suspended.
- If new insurance information is received within 30 days and there was no lapse in coverage, the vehicle record is updated.
Notice of Pending Suspension
If no new insurance information is received within 30 days, a “Notice of Pending Suspension” will be mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner. The vehicle’s registration is subject to suspension if the lapse fine is not paid within 30 days.
Suspension of Vehicle Registration
If no payment is made AND no new insurance information is received within 30 days of the “Notice of Pending Suspension” the registration is suspended. During this period:
- A license plate will not be issued, transferred, replaced, or renewed.
- The vehicle cannot be driven. Driving a vehicle with a cancelled, suspended or revoked registration is a misdemeanor and subject to additional penalties and fines.
- To cancel your registration, you must pay the lapse fee due and complete Form MV-18J.
- Lapse and reinstatement fines should be paid to the County Tag Office in the county where you live.
More Information
Registration reinstatement after suspension
Vehicle owner's responsibilities regarding insurance coverage