Georgia Vehicle Power of Attorney

Introduction

Key Things to Know

1. 1

   The Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division publishes Form T-8, Limited Power of Attorney - Motor Vehicle Transactions, revised 3-2015, which appoints one named person to represent the owner before the Department or any County Tax Commissioner's office in Georgia with respect to a single described vehicle.

2. 2

   It must be notarized. The form carries an Acknowledgement of Notary Public block in which the notary certifies that the owner executed the form in the notary's presence and was proven to be the person named by positive picture identification, and the instruction line requires the form to be completed in its entirety, signed and notarized.

3. 3

   Submission must be accompanied by a copy of the appointed attorney in fact's driver's license or state issued identification. Without that attachment the form is not complete.

4. 4

   Photocopies are not acceptable and the original form must be submitted. Any alteration or correction voids the form, so a mistake means starting again on a clean copy.

5. 5

   The appointment is not valid beyond twelve months from the date of its execution. Until then it stays in force until written revocation reaches the Department of Revenue or the Tax Commissioner, and signing it revokes all earlier powers of attorney.

6. 6

   Only one attorney in fact may be appointed, and the Department will only appoint a natural person. A business name cannot be appointed as attorney in fact, so the full legal name of an individual has to go on the form.

7. 7

   Except for the signatures, the form may be typed, completed electronically and printed, or printed legibly by hand in blue or black ink. Versions of the form predating the 3-2015 revision are not accepted, and the form warns that willfully entering false information on it is a felony.

Georgia Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

• Form T-8, Limited Power of Attorney for Motor Vehicle Transactions

  Georgia uses Form T-8, titled Limited Power of Attorney - Motor Vehicle Transactions, published by the Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division. The revision in use is Rev. 3-2015, and prior versions of the form are not accepted after 3/1/2015.

• Notarization Required, With Positive Picture Identification

  The form must be completed in its entirety, signed and notarized. Its Acknowledgement of Notary Public block has the notary certify that the owner executed the form in the notary's presence and was proven to be the person named by positive picture identification, recording the license number, the name as listed on it and the issuing state.

• Attach a Copy of the Attorney in Fact's Photo ID

  Submission of the form must be accompanied by a copy of the appointed attorney in fact's driver's license or state issued identification. The form cannot go in on its own. Where an expedited title is sought at the DOR Southmeadow location, a copy of the owner's driver's license must accompany it as well.

• Original Only, and Any Alteration Voids It

  Photocopies are not acceptable and the original form must be submitted. Any alteration or correction voids the form, so a crossing out and initialing will not do. If a detail is wrong, print a clean copy, complete it again and have it notarized again.

• Twelve Month Outer Limit, and Earlier Appointments Revoked

  The appointment stays in full force until written revocation reaches the Department of Revenue or the Tax Commissioner, but in no event is it valid beyond twelve months from the date of its execution. Signing it also revokes all earlier powers of attorney.

• One Attorney in Fact, and a Natural Person Only

  Only one attorney in fact may be appointed. The Department of Revenue states that a power of attorney and affidavits can only be appointed to a natural person, that a business name cannot be appointed as attorney in fact, and that the full legal name of the person appointed must be included.

• Blue or Black Ink, Filled In Before Signing, Felony Warning

  Except for signatures, the form may be typed, completed electronically and printed, or printed legibly by hand in blue or black ink. The owner certifies that it was completely filled in at the time of its execution, and the form warns that willfully entering false information on it is a felony.

• Not for a Same-Party Odometer Disclosure, Where T-8S Applies

  A limited power of attorney cannot be used where the seller and buyer on the title assignment are the same person or agents of the same company and an odometer reading must be disclosed. The secure form T-8S covers that, only in rare instances when the title is missing or held by a lienholder, and it is bought from GIADA or GADA rather than from the Motor Vehicle Division or a County Tag Office.