Sounds simple, but it isn’t always.  There are a number of issues that face the scooter that sometimes just getting legal is a major hassle, and one that some people might argue is more hassle than the risk of a ticket, and it’s associated fine.

First things first, this isn’t a problem specific to Georgia, these instructions are, though they may be of use in other places.  Generally speaking, your dealer will be able to guide you through many of these hurdles.  Unfortunately, no one can handhold your way through the maze of requirements that the DOT employees who see one of these per month will throw at you, frequently one at a time because they don’t know until the system prompts them for the paperwork. 

So, before you go to the DMV,  you need to gather some paperwork.  First and foremost, the Certificate of Origin must be filled out by the dealer.  If you are buying used, you should have a Title, which means that much of this legwork is already done.  If the vehicle is from out of state, you may still need the other supporting paperwork, from what I can tell it’s a luck of the dice depending upon the clerk you get.

The first form is of course the Title of Certificate of Origin.  With new scooters, the Certificate of Origin is the ‘Birth Certificate’, and it’s what will start the ball rolling.  Make sure it is properly filled out by the vendor.  Don’t forget the Bill of Sale, you will need that as well.  Next up, insurance.  It’s a pain, but it’s the law, so get covered.  For the uninitiated, you cannot add a motorcycle of any sort to an existing car policy, they will write a new one.  Many insurers don’t offer motorcycle insurance, so shop around.  Progressive isn’t the cheapest, but they are the easiest, you can buy your policy online and print out your card from the web until a permanent card arrives several days later. 

I recommend getting the insurance taken care of a couple of days prior to going to register the vehicle to ensure it’s electronically filed to the state.

With that done, it’s time to obtain and fill out the paperwork.  If the vehicle was previously titled in Georgia, this isn’t required.  However, for those that do require it, eg, most new scooters, particularly those from smaller manufacturers or chinese manufacturers, both the Form T-22 (not available online), and the Form T-22B (available from the State) will need to be filled out.  The first, you can fill out, but you may need to have it notarized.  I’ve heard it said that the notary isn’t required, but the clerk I dealt with required it.  Most Kroger stores have a notary at the customer service desk, as do most banks.  Generally the UPS stores also have a notary on staff, though they typically charge a couple of dollars to notarize things.   The second form, the T-22B, needs to be filled out by a police officer.  If you take the vehicle to a local police department, they can usually arrange for an officer to verify the VIN Number and fill out the form within a few minutes.

With all the paperwork on hand, I suggest calling the insurance company and confirming that the policy has been filed with the state.   Take the phone number with you in case you need to call them and have them force it through while you are there,  I know Progressive can deal with this through their service desk.  In addition, I recommend a quick phone call to the DMV, (404) 730-6100, to confirm that the computers are up, if they are down, they are down statewide, and are frequently down for hours at a time.  Finally, take a couple of photographs to confirm the color, and one of the VIN plate, just in case. While not required, they can help to speed up the process.

At this point, head on down and wait in line, take a book, most of the offices have taken to making you turn off your cell phone in the office, and you may be in line for a while.  Hopefully, you’ll come out the other end with a license plate and be ready to scoot, legally.

Quick Checklist:

1. ❖ Bill of Sale
   

2. ❖ Certificate of Origin / Title
   

3. ❖ Form T-22 (notarized to prevent any round trips)
   

4. ❖ Form T-22B (filled out by a state,county, or city police officer)
   

5. ❖ Proof of Insurance (as a backup, though they cannot take it)
   

6. ❖ Photographs (just in case)
   

7. ❖ Checkbook or sufficient Cash (no credit or debit cards accepted)
   

Good luck, and happy motoring....