Do I have to change my license and car plates? (Atlanta: apartment, lease) - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum

ja1myn · 07-27-2012, 10:35 AM

Here's the deal: I'm moving to Atlanta next week. I have the lease signed and apartment all set. There is one issue I don't know how to solve though. I am moving from NY with my car which is registered and insured under my dad's name. Same with the title. What are the Georgia laws for this sort of thing? Can I get away with just changing my license and leaving my NY plates on it?

neil0311 · 07-27-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ja1myn

What are the Georgia laws for this sort of thing?

Same as most states. You have 30 days after establishing residency to get a GA driver's license and to insure and register the vehicle in GA.

Do people break that law? Sure, but it's the law and what you are required to do. Could you get away with leaving it registered in your dad's name, again...maybe. Your dad doesn't live with you and the vehicle will be located in Georgia at your permanent residence, so while I'm not a lawyer, I bet you'd still be breaking the law.

Here are the official statements from the State DDS, and Cobb County (where I live..same for all counties).

New to Georgia

Cobb County

ja1myn · 07-27-2012, 10:49 AM

Ok cool. I think it's a risk worth taking since I've never heard of anyone getting ticketed for such a lame offense.

neil0311 · 07-27-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ja1myn

Ok cool. I think it's a risk worth taking since I've never heard of anyone getting ticketed for such a lame offense.

It's not lame, and yes, people do get ticketed. Depends on the circumstances.

If you make the decision to break the law for your personal benefit, that's your decision, but the fact that it's inconvenient for you doesn't make the requirement lame. Actually, coming from NY, it would probably be cheaper to register and insure your car here in Georgia. You might want to check into it.

neil0311 · 07-27-2012, 10:54 AM

The bigger issue could be with your insurance, especially if you get into an accident. It's fraud to say the vehicle is located in one state and have it actually be in another. The premium and coverage is based on where the car is located most of the time. Again..I'm not a lawyer, but it's not inconceivable that if you had an accident, and the insurance company knows you're living in GA, that they could deny your claim if the insurance is obtained under false pretenses. You might want to check that out.

PKCorey · 07-27-2012, 10:54 AM

I doubt, you will be able to register the car, if you aren't the primary on it.

Change your license first then see about getting the NY title in your name so you can change it to a GA title.

ja1myn · 07-27-2012, 11:20 AM

By lame I mean it's not like a serious offense like DUI or something like that. I'm just driving a NY car around. Fraud sounds pretty bad...I'll look into Zipcar lol.

ja1myn · 07-27-2012, 11:22 AM

Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys.

Mishap · 07-27-2012, 12:07 PM

Short term, you may be able to get your dad to buy some added coverage for the car in GA (check w/ insurer) if he continues to be the owner. He didn't move to the state so he doesn't need a GA tag but to be safe he'll probably need to let his agent know it'll be in GA for a bit. It will get more complex when the car needs an inspection to keep its tags current in NY. At that point, you either have to drive back up or transfer ownership + insurance to you. Then you definitely need the title to register it here.

My brother and I went to school in NY and kept GA tagged cars (under my dad's name) for several years w/o issue (my dad's birthday was conveniently in Aug so we'd get emissions before driving up). My friend even wrecked my brother's car picking him up from the airport in a blizzard and insurance covered it w/o issue. I got a NYS license when my GA one expired during a semester and the cop didn't make a peep about the tag/license mismatch when I got a warning up there. Down here, I kept the license a good bit longer since NYS doesn't transfer points. Got pulled over driving my SIL's car and told them I was a student and they let me off as well.

ja1myn · 07-27-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mishap

Short term, you may be able to get your dad to buy some added coverage for the car in GA (check w/ insurer) if he continues to be the owner. He didn't move to the state so he doesn't need a GA tag but to be safe he'll probably need to let his agent know it'll be in GA for a bit. It will get more complex when the car needs an inspection to keep its tags current in NY. At that point, you either have to drive back up or transfer ownership + insurance to you. Then you definitely need the title to register it here.

My brother and I went to school in NY and kept GA tagged cars (under my dad's name) for several years w/o issue (my dad's birthday was conveniently in Aug so we'd get emissions before driving up). My friend even wrecked my brother's car picking him up from the airport in a blizzard and insurance covered it w/o issue. I got a NYS license when my GA one expired during a semester and the cop didn't make a peep about the tag/license mismatch when I got a warning up there. Down here, I kept the license a good bit longer since NYS doesn't transfer points. Got pulled over driving my SIL's car and told them I was a student and they let me off as well.

Awesome! If NY cops didn't mind you driving a car that was from out of state, I don't think GA cops are really gonna care. NY tends to be strict on a lot of stuff.