Breeze Through a Dekalb County Car Registration Renewal in 5 Steps

Most people dread the DeKalb County car registration renewal process since it can be highly inconvenient and expensive. If you decide to show up at the DMV offices, you may need plenty of patience. Sometimes the queues are extra-long, especially after the long holidays, leading to hours-long waiting times.

While the county offers other renewal options, some carry an extra cost. Others have stringent requirements that may lead you to blow the deadline and incur rack-up fines and penalties.

DoNotPay can help you stay on top of your tag renewal in DeKalb County, saving you considerable time, effort, and money. Learn more about how we can help you overcome this yearly requirement.

How to Renew Your Car Registration in DeKalb County

You have plenty of options for renewing your car registration in DeKalb County. These options range from traditional in-person, mail, and dropbox renewals to online renewals. Dig in as we explore these renewal options and their requirements.

1. Renew Your DeKalb Car Registration in Person

You need to visit any of the three Dekalb County Tax Commissioner offices to renew in person. You can pay for renewal decals through cash, money orders, personal checks, and certified funds. Other payment methods attract a processing fee of 1.5% or 2.29%.

For privacy reasons, the county can only issue the renewal decals to:

• The registered car owner
• A family member who shares the same last name or residential address as the vehicle owner.
• A car owner's representative who presents a notarized power of attorney.

2. Renew Your DeKalb Car Registration Online

You can renew your Dekalb car registration using Georgia DRIVES e-services. While convenient, the only service carries a 2.29% credit card processing fee. Online car registration has several limitations, and it doesn't cover:

• Cars without a valid Georgia insurance cover
• Vehicles over 8,500 pounds
• Cars with an incomplete emission test
• Vehicles covered by Georgia Fleet or self-insured insurance policy
• Vehicles with speciality license plates that require supporting documentation, such as certified firefighters, military, or amateur radio plates –
• Motorists who didn't update their current addresses
• Registrations that are nine months past their renewal dates

3. Renew Your DeKalb Car Registration via Mail

If renewing your car registration through the mail, you should mail the renewal payments at least three weeks before the renewal date to allow processing. Renewing through the mail has several strict renewal requirements. You must meet all the requirements before the county can process your renewal. Renewals with missing details are returned, and tax and tag penalties when paid late.

• The county only accepts personal or company checks, certified funds, money, or money orders.
• DeKalb County doesn't accept the counter, third party, counter, payroll checks, or cash payments.
• Checks must have your name, residential address, and a bank account number preprinted on the check.
• You should print your driver's license number, two phone numbers, and tag number on the face of the check.

Mail your payment to:

DeKalb County Tax Commissioner

Motor Vehicle Division

P.O. Box 100025

Decatur, GA 30031-7025

Penalties will apply if your mailed-in renewal payments are postmarked later than the renewal deadline. The county will return any incomplete application or one that lacks proper fees but won't extend the due date.

4. Renew Your DeKalb Car Tags in Tag Renewal Kiosks

There are five tag renewal kiosks in DeKalb County. They're located in five different DeKalb County Kroger Stores:

• 6678 Covington Highway Lithonia, GA 30058
• 2875 North Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033
• 4357 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker, GA 30084
• 4498 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338
• 4919 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034

Tag renewal kiosks allow you the flexibility to renew your tags whenever the store is open – after office hours, weekends, and nights. However, this convenience carries a $3.95 convenience fee.

How Much Does It Cost to Renew Your Car Registration in Dekalb County?

Like all counties in Georgia, DeKalb County charges a $20 flat rate for all car registration renewals. The County's DMV department should receive the tags renewal payment before your current tags expire. Late payments attract late fees and penalties.

Late Fees

Late registration renewals attract a 10% Ad Valorem Penalty (minimum $5.00) and a $5 tag penalty. Late renewals for cars under TAVT only attract a $5.00 tag penalty.

What Do I Need to Renew Your Car Registration in DeKalb County?

You need proof of ownership when renewing your car registration in Dekalb County.

The standard requirements for DeKalb car Registration renewal include:

• Your VIN or license plate number
• A valid Georgia driver's license
• All the required fees, taxes, and any applicable surcharges
• Passing emission inspection
• Current residential address

You need to attach your renewal notice if renewing your tags in-person or through the mail. Only select, typically older, vehicles need to pass an emission inspection test.

How Often Do You Need to Renew Your Car Registration in DeKalb County?

DeKalb County requires motorists to renew their car registrations every year. Car registrations in DeKalb County are valid for one year and expire at midnight on your birthday.

DeKalb County will mail a renewal notice 45 days before your car registration is up for renewal. You have a obligation to renew your tags within 45 days. You're obliged to renew your tags even when you don't receive a renewal notice. It's your responsibility as a car owner to renew your tags before they expire. Failing to renew your tags leads to hefty fines and penalties.

Renew Your DeKalb County Car Registration With DoNotPay

Renewing your car tags is a taxing yearly event that's best automated. With the help of DoNotPay, you can reduce this annual event to a few clicks of a button. Automating your tags renewal is quick and convenient and saves you a hefty sum of money. Late car registrations attract fines that could leave a gaping hole in your wallet.

How to renew your car registration using DoNotPay:

If you want to renew your car registration but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 5 easy steps:

1. Go to the Renew Car Registrations product on DoNotPay.

2. Answer a few questions about your current vehicle, including the license plate number, vehicle identification number, make and model, etc.

3. Verify your identity with a state driver's license and registration documents.

4. Decide how long you want to extend the renewal for (if your state offers multiple options)

5. Pay the registration fee (or let us automatically calculate it if you aren't sure).

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

DoNotPay is a versatile product crafted to improve the quality of life. We are on a mission to help you avoid the pain that results from bureaucratic and administrative processes. We have a solution for you if you don't like standing in line, being put on hold, or struggling with lengthy administrative procedures.

Signing up for DoNotPay can help you:

• Fight parking tickets
• Dispute seatbelt tickets
• Schedule a DMV appointment
• Standardize documents

DoNotPay can ensure that you never waste precious time queuing at the DMV. Our innovative solution lets you breeze through the Dekalb County ca registration renewal process without breaking a sweat. Sign up for DoNotPay today.