State guide
Georgia
Georgia's abandoned-motor-vehicle process is centered in the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division and the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act. State law draws different timelines for public streets, private property, and vehicles left with repair or towing businesses, and title cannot be obtained by surety bond for an abandoned vehicle.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- Georgia treats a vehicle left unattended on public property for at least five days, or on private property for at least 30 days, as an abandoned motor vehicle in the situations listed by state law.
- Removing one from private property
- A private property owner may have only a towing and storage firm remove the vehicle, and the manual requires written notice to local law enforcement within three business days plus certified or registered notice to owners and lienholders.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- To obtain title, the abandoned vehicle must be sold at a public sale under a court order, then the buyer applies at the county tag office with MV-1, the court order, T-7, T-22B, and any other required documents.
- State agency
- Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division
- Official forms or instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in Georgia
Georgia DOR Abandoned Vehicles
Main Motor Vehicle Division page explaining who may remove abandoned vehicles and the forms used.
Georgia DOR Abandonment Process (after court order)
Official DOR checklist for getting title after the court-ordered abandoned-vehicle sale.
Georgia DOR MV-603
Official form page for Notice of an Abandoned Vehicle and Request for Information.
Georgia DOR Motor Vehicle Online Manual
The online manual includes the detailed pre-court and post-court abandoned-vehicle timelines.
Georgia DOR Bonded Vehicle Title
Official page stating an abandoned vehicle cannot be titled in Georgia on the basis of a surety bond.
Key facts for Georgia
- Georgia defines an abandoned motor vehicle on a public street or other public property as left unattended for at least five days when it appears the person does not intend to return.
- A vehicle left unattended on private property for at least 30 days is an abandoned motor vehicle under Georgia law.
- Only towing and storage firms are authorized to remove vehicles from public and private property under the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act.
- If the owner is unknown, the applicant must notify local law enforcement in writing within three business days after removing a vehicle from private property.
- If the vehicle is not stolen, owner and lienholder notice by certified or registered mail must include location, fees, and that the vehicle will be abandoned in 30 days.
- Georgia DOR says title for an abandoned vehicle requires a public sale and cannot be obtained on the basis of a surety bond.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in Georgia
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATL311 Fulton | Atlanta | Not published* | Atlanta's non-emergency service center accepts city service requests and the city says abandoned vehicles should be reported to ATL311. |
| City Directory / ATL311 Fulton | Atlanta | Not published* | The city directory says all non-emergency city service requests may be made through ATL311. |
| Augusta 311 Richmond | Augusta | (706) 821-2300 | Augusta's 311 center records non-emergency complaints and service issues for local government departments. |
| Customer Service Requests Richmond | Augusta | Not published* | Augusta's official service-request page lists Abandoned/Junk Vehicle as a request category. |
| Richmond County Marshal's Office Richmond | Augusta | (706) 821-2368 | Augusta's junk or inoperative vehicle page says complaints may be made by calling this office. |
| Columbus 311 Citizens Service Center Muscogee | Columbus | 706-653-4000 | Official Columbus 311 page for service requests, complaints, and local government information. |
| Code Compliance Chatham | Savannah | Not published* | Savannah's abandoned and derelict vehicles guide explains local tagging, compliance timelines, and recovery from impound. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If a vehicle is on your private property, use a towing and storage firm familiar with Georgia's abandoned-vehicle process; the statute does not let a private owner shortcut the notice steps.
- Start the owner-information request promptly with Form MV-603, because Georgia's manual ties several deadlines to the date of removal and the date the vehicle becomes abandoned.
- If you plan to buy the vehicle from the process, confirm the court order, public sale documents, MV-1, T-7, and T-22B will all be available for title application.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Georgia's population center, for comparison only):
- City of Chattanooga 311 Help Center, Tennessee · about 138 miles
- Property Maintenance Division, Alabama · about 156 miles
- Neighborhood Services / 311 Customer Service, Alabama · about 156 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Georgia DOR Abandoned Vehicles
Website →Phone: (800) 436-7442 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Georgia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.