Moving to Atlanta: The First 30 Days Checklist (the TAVT Car Tax and April 1 Homestead Deadline)
Georgia’s two money surprises: bringing a car means a one-time TAVT (Title Ad Valorem Tax) based on the vehicle’s value — often hundreds to a few thousand dollars — and homebuyers must file the homestead exemption by April 1 to cut property taxes. License and registration: 30 days each. Power is Georgia Power, but natural gas is deregulated — you pick a marketer. Here’s the sequence.
The 30-Day Timeline
| When | Task | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Before/Day 1 | Electric | Georgia Power for most of the metro (some suburbs: EMC co-ops by address) |
| Day 1 | Gas — you choose a marketer | Atlanta Gas Light owns the pipes, but you shop the marketer (Gas South, Georgia Natural Gas, SCANA, etc.) — compare rates; this is the deregulation quirk newcomers miss |
| Day 1 | Internet | Xfinity, AT&T Fiber, or Google Fiber by address |
| Week 1 | Water + trash | Jurisdiction-dependent: City of Atlanta (Watershed + Solid Waste) vs. county services in the suburbs — your address decides everything in fragmented metro Atlanta |
| Week 1–4 | GA driver’s license — 30 days | DDS centers; bring identity + two residency proofs |
| Week 1–4 | Vehicle registration — 30 days, budget for TAVT | One-time Title Ad Valorem Tax on the car’s value at the county tag office (new residents get a reduced rate — check the current percentage); annual tag renewals after |
| Week 2 | Voter registration | Online via GA DDS account — cutoff is 29 days before an election |
| At purchase / by April 1 | Homestead exemption (homebuyers) | File with your county (Fulton/DeKalb/Cobb/Gwinnett all differ slightly) — misses wait a full tax year |
| Month 1 | Tree + storm orientation | You moved into a forest: learn the tree-risk signs, and bookmark Atlanta tree removal prices before a thunderstorm forces the lesson |
Utilities Cheat Sheet
| Service | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | Georgia Power / EMCs | By address |
| Gas | Your chosen marketer on AGL pipes | Actually shop this — rate spreads are real |
| Water/trash | City of Atlanta or county | ”Atlanta” addresses are often unincorporated county — your services follow the jurisdiction, not the postmark |
| Internet | Xfinity / AT&T / Google Fiber | Fiber competition is genuine in much of the metro |
The Atlanta-Only Quirks Worth Knowing Early
- “Atlanta” is 50 jurisdictions in a trench coat: your mailing address can say Atlanta while your services, taxes, and police are Sandy Springs or unincorporated DeKalb — confirm your actual jurisdiction in week one; it determines trash, water, permits, and property taxes
- The tree canopy is a contract: half the metro shades the other half — storms drop limbs constantly (emergency removal economics), and the City of Atlanta’s tree ordinance means removing even your own tree may need a permit
- Humidity is an HVAC and crawlspace fact: Atlanta HVAC pricing, and if you bought a crawl-space house, moisture/encapsulation is the local upgrade
- Georgia’s contractor rules are homeowner-friendly: unlicensed contracts are legally void — use the verification, it has teeth here
- Arriving by truck? Atlanta moving rates — and the ITP/OTP (inside/outside the Perimeter) distinction will organize your entire social life; choose knowingly
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TAVT and how much will it cost me? Georgia’s one-time Title Ad Valorem Tax replaces annual car taxes — paid when you title your vehicle here, calculated on its value. New residents get a reduced rate (historically lower than the standard ~7%); on a $25,000 car expect a four-figure-adjacent number. Confirm the current rate at the county tag office before the visit.
Do I really get to choose my gas company in Atlanta? Yes — Georgia deregulated natural gas: Atlanta Gas Light delivers, but a marketer of your choice bills you. Rates vary meaningfully; comparing for 15 minutes on move-in week is free money.
When is Georgia’s homestead exemption deadline? April 1 for that tax year, filed with your county. Buy in March, file immediately; buy in May, calendar next April 1 — missing it costs a full year of higher property taxes.
How long do I have for license and registration in Georgia? 30 days for both. Do the DDS license first (it unlocks online voter registration), then the county tag office with TAVT budgeted.
Can I remove a tree in my own Atlanta yard? Inside the City of Atlanta, often not without a permit — the tree ordinance protects healthy trees above size thresholds and charges recompense fees. Suburbs vary. Check before cutting; fines exceed removal costs.
Last updated: June 11, 2026. Sources: GA DDS/DOR new-resident rules (30 days, TAVT); county homestead exemption deadlines (April 1); GA PSC gas deregulation; City of Atlanta tree ordinance; GA Secretary of State (29-day cutoff). Deadlines change — verify with official sites.