White County Tax Commissioner: Vehicle Registration
Frequently, when an owner sells or trades in a vehicle, they immediately
cancel the insurance coverage. However, if the vehicle registration is
not cancelled first, the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) considers the
vehicle as being operated without insurance. The DOR's registration
system generates a letter that is sent to the owner stating that a $25
insurance lapse fee is due and the registration will be suspended. To avoid
this situation, owners need to cancel the registration or transfer the tag
BEFORE cancelling insurance coverage.
If the insurance issue is not addressed or the fee paid within 30 days, the
tag is suspended and the fee goes up to $85. A waiver of these lapse fees is
available once per owner, but only if the vehicle falls into one of the
following categories:
- It was sold/transferred or the lease was terminated.
- It was registered in another state.
- It was wrecked, salvaged or junked.
- It was repossessed or stolen.
- It was not operated because it was inoperable, being stored or used seasonally.
- The sole owner of the vehicle was on active military duty stationed outside Georgia.
If you feel that you meet one of these criteria, you can fill out an affidavit for waiver of the insurance lapse fee. This form can be filled out in-person at the tag office or you can contact the Department of Motor Vehicles at wctc@whitecounty.net or 706.865.2225
There are several ways registered owners can cancel their tags:
- Go in person to the White County Tag Office
- Submit a request by email to wctc@whitecounty.net
- submit a request by fax to 706.865.0078
- or mail the request to:
White County Tax Commissioner
113 North Brooks Street
Cleveland GA, 30528