Georgia Form T-216 (Affidavit of Georgia Certificate of Title Lost in the Mail): What Gwinnett County Residents Need to Know About Notarization

If you recently purchased a vehicle or applied for a Georgia certificate of title and it never arrived in your mailbox, you're not alone. The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) provides a specific form to handle this situation: Form T-216, Affidavit of Georgia Certificate of Title Lost in the Mail. This form not only helps you get a replacement title quickly, but it also requires notarization to verify your identity and sworn statement.

What Is Form T-216?

Form T-216 is an official Georgia DOR affidavit used when a vehicle owner never receives their certificate of title in the mail. By completing this sworn statement, you certify to the state that you made reasonable inquiry with the State Processing Center or your County Tag Office, that the title was indeed issued and mailed, and that it was lost before delivery. The form includes a notary block where you swear under oath, under penalty of a felony for making a material false statement punishable by a fine of up to ,000 or imprisonment of up to five years (or both), that the information is true and accurate.

When Is This Form Needed?

You should use Form T-216 when:

• You applied for a Georgia certificate of title for a vehicle and never received it in the mail
• You have confirmed with the State Processing Center or County Tag Office that the title was issued and mailed
• The title was lost in transit before it reached you
• You need a replacement title within 60 days of the original title's issue date (to waive the .00 processing fee)

Why Does Georgia Law Require Notarization?

Under O.C.G.A. § 40-3-31, paragraph (5), Georgia law requires that a vehicle owner personally appear before a notary public to swear to the statements made in the affidavit. The notarization requirement serves several important purposes:

• Identity verification — The notary confirms you are who you claim to be by checking your valid Georgia driver's license or ID card
• Voluntariness — The notary ensures you are signing willingly and under your own free will
• Deterring fraud — The sworn oath, backed by felony penalties, discourages false claims about lost titles
• Public record — The notary's seal and signature create an official record of the sworn statement for the DOR's files

How to Complete Form T-216

Follow these steps to properly complete and notarize Form T-216:

1. Download the form from the Georgia DOR website at dor.georgia.gov/t-216-affidavit-georgia-certificate-title-lost-mail
2. Fill in your vehicle information — the title number, year, make, model, and VIN exactly as shown on the DOR record
3. Enter your name and address as they appear on the State Processing Center record
4. Provide the date the title was mailed (obtain this from your County Tag Office or the State Processing Center)
5. Sign the form in the presence of a notary public — do not sign before your notary appointment
6. Present a valid photo ID to the notary (Georgia driver's license or ID card)
7. The notary will administer the oath and complete the notary certificate with their signature, seal, printed name, and commission expiration date
8. Submit the notarized form along with a completed MV-1 Title/Tag Application to your County Tag Office or the State Processing Center

Note that the form states it cannot be completed by an attorney-in-fact — the vehicle owner(s) must personally appear and sign.

Important Deadlines

If you submit Form T-216 within 60 days of the title's issue date, the replacement title can be issued without the .00 processing fee. After 60 days, the standard .00 fee applies. Expedited service is available through the Processing Center's walk-in or mail-in service for an additional 0.00 special handling fee.

What If Your Title Is Lost or Stolen After You Received It?

If you received the title and then lost it or had it stolen, you do not use Form T-216. Instead, visit your County Tag Office with a completed MV-1 application and pay the .00 replacement fee. No notarized affidavit is needed for post-delivery losses.

Need this document notarized? Find a trusted notary in your area on Notary of Gwinnett.