Verified O.C.G.A. §40-2-8 · Checked July 2026 · 2 sources
What an expired-registration ticket costs in Georgia
Citation data · First offense O.C.G.A. §40-2-8
Misdemeanor, fine set by county court
Operating a vehicle without a properly validated plate (current revalidation decal) is a misdemeanor in Georgia (O.C.G.A. §40-2-8), but the statute sets no statewide dollar figure for the ordinary expired-decal case, so the actual fine comes from your county court’s schedule.
Verified July 2026
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Check the statutory protections first
You are not subject to penalties during the period allowed for registering, including 30 days after becoming a Georgia resident, or if you properly applied and the decal has not been delivered.
- 2
Renew and contact the county court
Georgia sets no statewide fine for the ordinary expired decal; the amount comes from your county court schedule, so the court listed on the citation is the authority on what you owe.
Note: amounts vary by county, Georgia sets no statewide fine for the ordinary expired decal, the figures above are the statutory frame, not a quote.
Is driving on expired tags a crime in Georgia?
Technically yes, a misdemeanor. In practice it is fine-only for the ordinary expired decal, at an amount set county by county. The statute does name specific dollars for the separate county-decal offense: $25 first, $100 subsequent.
Can it be dismissed?
The statute protects two situations outright: you are not subject to penalties during the period allowed for registering (including 30 days after becoming a Georgia resident), and not if you show you properly applied but the plate or decal simply hasn’t been delivered yet.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an expired-tag ticket in Georgia?
There is no statewide amount: O.C.G.A. §40-2-8 makes it a misdemeanor and leaves the fine to county court schedules, so the same expired decal costs different amounts in different counties.
Is there a grace period for expired tags in Georgia?
You are not subject to penalties during the period allowed for registration, including 30 days after becoming a resident, or if you properly applied and the plate or decal has not been delivered (O.C.G.A. §40-2-8).
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
Other tickets in Georgia
Driving Without Insurance in Georgia
Expired Registration: other states
TexasFloridaNorth CarolinaOhioPennsylvaniaMichiganTennesseeArizonaVirginiaIndianaMissouriCaliforniaIllinoisNew Jersey All states
General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of July 2026.