Reminder: Software Changeover Requires Early Vehicle Tag Renewal

Stephens County Tax Commissioner Dene Hicks is reminding those who are planning to renew vehicle tags or register a new vehicle later this month at the Stephens County Tax office that the office will be undergoing a software change over the Memorial Day weekend.

Because of the changeover that week, the Tax Commissioners office will not be able to process vehicle tag renewals or registrations, according to Tax Commissioner Dene Hicks.

Hicks said the changeover to the new software will start on Tuesday, May 21st when all online services for motor vehicles will be taken offline.

Then on Thursday, May 23rd, in-person tag and vehicle registration services at the Tax Commissioners office will stop at 1p as the software transfer begins.

“The office will be open but we will not be able to process any motor vehicle transactions from 1p on Thursday til the following Tuesday at 8a,” Hicks said. “We will be open all day Thursday and Friday, but we will not be able to process any motor vehicle transactions. We will just be doing property tax, mobile homes, and other tax collections.”

The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) is installing a new state-of-the-art software system at all tax commission offices statewide over the Memorial Day weekend.  The new software system will then go live all over the State on Tuesday, May 28th.

That’s why Hicks said if you need to renew your vehicle tag this month, whether it’s a car, truck, boat or RV or trailer, you need to do it before the week of the 21st.  She says there will be no grace period if you renew late.

“There are people who will be coming in to renew vehicles that they have not renewed, such as a pontoon or a camper that has been in storage and if they come on the Friday before Memorial Day to renew their tags, we’re not going to be able to help them,” Hicks explained. “There will be nothing we can provide them with; not any kind of temporary registration and there is no grace period. So, any kind of vehicle registration has to be renewed before Thursday, May 23rd.”

Tag services will begin again as usual the Tuesday after the Memorial Day weekend.

According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, the new Georgia DRIVES software system will enable more self-service options, improve customer service, and enhance data integrity.

If you need more information regarding renewing your vehicle tag in May, you can contact the Stephens County Tax Commission office at 706-886-6731.