It used to be that as a private sale in Georgia, if the vehicle was not registered to a business, the buyer did not pay sales tax, which on a $37,500 vehicle would be a significant savings as compared to buying new or buying a used car from a dealer (7% tax, which is another ~$2,700).
Georgia sales/ad-valorem tax rules have changed in the last year and take effect March 1, 2013. See below.
New Motor Vehicle Title Tax
Effective March 1, 2013, House Bill 386 removes the sales tax and the annual ad valorem tax on newly-purchased vehicles. It replaces these taxes with a new title tax of 6.5% in 2013 and 6.75% in 2014. Here’s what you need to know:
If you purchase a vehicle on or after March 1, 2013, you will pay the new title tax when you apply for the title and register the vehicle.
The new title tax is not due every year but is due each time the vehicle is sold and titled. It applies to dealer sales as well as sales between individuals.
The new title tax is based on a percentage (6.5% in 2013) of the fair market value, not the sales price, of the vehicle as determined by the Georgia Department of Revenue.
You will continue to pay the annual ad valorem tax on vehicle(s) that you currently own.
If you purchase a vehicle in Georgia between January 1, 2012 and March 1, 2013 (when the new program begins), you have the option of paying the new title tax instead of the current annual ad valorem tax. You have from March 1, 2013 until December 31, 2013, to opt into the new program. Note: vehicles purchased out-of-state are not eligible to opt in.
All other existing annual vehicle registration requirements, including annual tag renewal fees, decals and emission tests (if applicable), remain in effect for all vehicle owners.
If I was the buyer of the used 2012 TE and and bought before the March 1st cut-off, I would probably opt to pay the new 6.5% title tax instead of the ad-valorem tax for however long I owned the vehicle, especially if I was keeping the TE for more than 5 years. But selling before March 1st might be incentive for someone to avoid paying the new title tax now and just pay the annual ad-valorem tax going forward.