Drivers License/plate question (to rent, car insurance, hotel)

[tkemery]

I recently moved to Atl, however I dont have a home here. I am actually staying with family till we sell our home in another state and my father and husband get here. We will then look to rent/buy a home of our own.

1) Am I considered a permanent resident?
2) What do I need to get new plates for my vehicle?

THANKS

[neil0311]

I'm no lawyer, but my layman's opinion is that if you own a home in another state, still live there officially, and that's your primary residence, then you're a resident of that state. If you sell it and move here, then you become a resident of GA. When you do become a GA resident, you have 30 days to get a GA driver's license and change your title and registration on vehicles. The license is done on the state level and the title, registration and plates are done on the county level.

Here is the link for driver's licenses:

New to Georgia

For plates and registrations, check the county tax web site for the county in which you live.

[GCPA]

Actually, it states....(just got my renewal notice)

New residents, or nonresidents who accept employment in the state, or who enter their children in GA public schools must register their vehicle and apply for a GA title within 30 days after entering GA. Only exceptions: Non-resident military personnel and full-time college students.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by GCPA

Actually, it states....(just got my renewal notice)

New residents, or nonresidents who accept employment in the state, or who enter their children in GA public schools must register their vehicle and apply for a GA title within 30 days after entering GA. Only exceptions: Non-resident military personnel and full-time college students.

I wonder what happens to folks who live on the border and might work in two jobs (one in each state)?

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by GCPA

Actually, it states....(just got my renewal notice)

New residents, or nonresidents who accept employment in the state, or who enter their children in GA public schools must register their vehicle and apply for a GA title within 30 days after entering GA. Only exceptions: Non-resident military personnel and full-time college students.

Isn't a prerequisite for enrolling in public schools that you are a resident of the county, and thereby of the state? I know when we enrolled our kids, we had to provide multiple items proving residency in Cobb.

[Pcola110]

Originally Posted by tkemery

I recently moved to Atl, however I dont have a home here. I am actually staying with family till we sell our home in another state and my father and husband get here. We will then look to rent/buy a home of our own.

1) Am I considered a permanent resident?
2) What do I need to get new plates for my vehicle?

THANKS

If you moved to another state, i.e. Florida, and establish residence in that state in 30 days, whether by staying in a hotel, renting, or buying a house,and show proof of residency, you become a resident of the state, with the exception of College Students (12 month for tutition purposes) and military service members already Florida residents thru birth.

So to answer your ? , after 30 days, you will need proof of address (confirmation of address change) or bills or bank statement showing the current address, proof of registration, and proof of auto insurance. If you haven't switch your policy coverage over to be cover in Georgia (you will want to get that done as well), that's ok, just long as you can show you do have current insurance on your car. Let them know at the DMV, that you're waiting on new insurance cards to be issued for your vehicle from your policy holder. I do believe you need emissions testing for older model vehicles (>10 years), can't remember, if I paid for that or not. You can go to the www.dmv.g (broken link)ov (broken link), select Georgia from States selection menu.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

I wonder what happens to folks who live on the border and might work in two jobs (one in each state)?

I believe it's not about where you work, it's about where you reside, i.e. where is the bed in which you sleep, when you're at home.

Certainly, one can think up tricky scenarios in which it's unclear where a person's residency might be. In fact, I think the OP's current situation is such a scenario. She's staying with family while waiting for husband and father to sell the out-of-state home and join her, at which point they'll search for a new home here. In this situation, I think she could plausibly claim either "just visiting" or "new resident" status, until the other members of her household join her in Georgia.

However, in general, it's my understanding (and this is mostly based on discussions on immigration boards, etc.) that from the point of view of US state governments generally, residency is pretty much what any reasonable person would think it is. I find it quite weird how many people (not at all the OP on this thread though, I would hasten to say) seem to announce to friends, family, and online groups that "we're moving to Georgia" - meaning that they're going to go to Georgia, rent or buy a residence which will be the place they think of as their home base for the time being, put their kids (if they have any) in school there, find a doctor, dentist, car service place etc. etc. - but then they try to justify keeping their driver's licence, car insurance and tags back at their previous location.

Even if you still own property back in the previous state or country, have a bank account there, etc., if you wouldn't represent yourself to family and friends as currently living there, then the authorities in both states would agree that you're supposed to move your licence and tags over to where you are living now.

[Chris_Davis]

Anyone know what might happen if one didn't register a car here? I only ask because I just moved from NYC and registered my car there in April, which is a two year registration. I did get a Georgia driver's license last week but would rather not spend the extra money on a second registration in four months if I can avoid it.

I know I "should" do it but are there any major penalties I could incur?

[Pcola110]

Originally Posted by Chris_Davis

Anyone know what might happen if one didn't register a car here? I only ask because I just moved from NYC and registered my car there in April, which is a two year registration. I did get a Georgia driver's license last week but would rather not spend the extra money on a second registration in four months if I can avoid it.

I know I "should" do it but are there any major penalties I could incur?

The only penalties I that could see, high fines by highway or local police authorites, that you might incur as a result, if you had a major accident or moving violation. Have you change your insurance to reflect where your now garaging your vehicle? Your insurance might not provide coverage for outside of NYC.