The misadventures of my Georgia Tag

[SpeedSouth]

Where should I start?

I guess I'll start by making sure there is no confusion on one thing, my difficulty had NOTHING to do with my dealer. My paperwork was quick to arrive, and it was accurate. There was never an issue with the paperwork.

My local tag office, on the other hand...wasn't entirely helpful or knowledgeable.

I'll try to explain. First, I was under the impression that I would pay the sales tax at the tag office, since I purchased my bike from an out of state dealer, but that isn't correct. Their web site doesn't explain it, but because the bike was purchasded out of state, I had to go to the Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division to pay the taxes.

While I was at the DoR, I was handed a form (T-22B) and told I would need to have the bike inspected, and the VIN verified. I was told (and shown where the form confirms the information) that I could have an agent at the tag office perform the inspection, or a police officer, or other state official (as listed on the form).

I came home and loaded up the bike on my truck and headed over to the tag office, for a second time. I am then told I need to have a police officer inspect the bike. In spite of the paper claiming a county tag agent to do the inspection, I was told it was incorrect, I was misinformed and in addition to the VIN inspection, I would also need another form completed and notorized by the dealer. 8O

I should also mention here that I encountered several repetitive questions. Is it really under 300lbs? Is it really only a single cylinder? And the one I got most often...is it a scooter? If I said it once, I said it 100 times...it's a full size motorcycle NOT a scooter.

After several minutes of my questions and confusion, the lady seemed to have a revelation. It's not a scooter, and therefore it doesn't need the forms (not the T-22B or the other one) and she proceeded to issue my tag.

This was all very frustrating, but it wasn't really difficult. I'm not sure what I would have done if the revelation hadn't come to her, and she had stood behind her original requests for the other papers. Perhaps I got lucky.


For anyone else wanting to buy online and tag their motorcycle in Georgia, I can only offer the following advice. First, locate your nearest Dept. of Rev. Motor Veh. Div and plan to carry your paperwork there first to pay the taxes. Then you can take the tax receipt and other papers to the tag office. If possible, take the bike with you in case they want to look at it and verify that it is not a scooter.

The scooter question seems to be the biggest source of confusion, followed by the single cylinder (damned if I know why)....but if you can convince them it's not a scooter, it seems to flow pretty quickly from that point.



And that's my story. Exactly 2 weeks after speaking with my dealer (MotoXtreme.net) and placing the order, I have completed the whole process of receiving the bike, assembly and adjustments, insurance and tax, tag, title.

14 days from start to finish is pretty damn good, IMO. Now there's nothing left but to enjoy the bike and look for the title in the mail in a couple of weeks.



Maybe this will help someone else in the future.

[katoranger]

I had the same questions on the size of the bike, single cylinder, etc.

We have both successfully titled Lifans in GA now. I just paid for another year today too.

I guess most people don't try to road register single cylinder 200cc bikes.

Allen

[SpeedSouth]

Considering my first street bike was a 185cc single, I was a little shocked by the questions though....lol

I wonder if that original owner had the same questions. For that matter, what about all the 90 and 110cc Honda CT's? I rode one as a kid (titled in my dad's name) and my grandfather had one for as long as I can remember. 90cc's...single cylinder.

Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't seem like it would be all that unusual. 8O

[katoranger]

It is probably the fact that you are trying to register a new vehicle and the dealer isn't doing it for you.

I spent 6 months getting a title.

Allen

[Cal25]

I thought at first that this was to be the first installment of a series. You ended up with the registration fairly easily it seems. Now go for a ride

[SpeedSouth]

Originally Posted by Cal25

I thought at first that this was to be the first installment of a series. You ended up with the registration fairly easily it seems. Now go for a ride

Yea, it was pretty easy overall. I was really worried there for a minute or two. If I had accepted her first response and just picked up my papers and walked away, there's no telling how much time I'd have wasted.

Luckily, I wasn't easily persuaded!


I sort of expected a few questions for doing it myself instead of a dealer...but that was never mentioned. It was always scooter, 300lbs and single cylinder. I think a dealer would have run into the same results, but maybe not I guess.



I wanted to take a ride but at 40 degrees, I'll wait. Been there, done that. :wink:

[katoranger]

I rode this morning. 22 miles to work.

It was refreshing.

Allen