Form T-23, Homemade Trailer Affidavit, is the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division affidavit an owner swears to before a notary to obtain a serial plate for a homemade trailer. The Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner, the office that also handles Gwinnett County property tax bills, publishes the form for owners who apply at its tag offices. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published at gwinnetttaxcommissioner.com.
Last updated
What is T-23?
Form T-23, Homemade Trailer Affidavit, is the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division affidavit that an owner uses to obtain a serial plate for a homemade trailer. The owner swears the information is true and has the signatures notarized.
The form has four sections: A Owner Information, B Trailer Information (trailer type, year model/built, weight, builder's full legal name and completion date), C Certification, and D Notary Public Acknowledgment. In section D the owner states that he or she is the legal and rightful owner of the trailer, that it is free and clear of all liens, security interests and encumbrances, and that the materials used to build it have been paid for.
The form is not for a manufactured trailer. It is also only the first step. The Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner's page explains that a homemade trailer needs a serial plate on its tongue before it can be registered and given a license plate, and that the serial plate then serves as the VIN. After you submit the affidavit, the county agent gives you the serial plate and Form T-22C, Permission for County Assigned Serial Number Plate for a Homemade Trailer. Georgia does not issue titles for homemade trailers or for trailers weighing 2,000 lbs. or less.
The form states that any correction or alteration will void the affidavit.
Who needs to file T-23?
The owner of a homemade trailer who needs a serial plate so the trailer can be registered files Form T-23. Section A has room for a primary owner and a secondary owner, and both sign in section C if there are two.
- Use it only for a homemade trailer. The form says the affidavit shall not be used to obtain a plate for a manufactured trailer.
- File it with the county tag office in your county of residence. In Gwinnett County, the Tax Commissioner's page says serial plates and license plates can be issued at one of its five tag offices.
- A valid Georgia driver's license or ID card is required for issuance of both plates, and section C asks for each owner's driver's license number.
- The trailer must be free and clear of liens, security interests and encumbrances, and its construction materials must be paid for, because the owner swears to both in section D.
The notary completes section D. The form names no other person who may sign for the owner.
When to file T-23
File Form T-23 when you need a serial plate for a homemade trailer, which is before the trailer can be registered and a license plate issued. The form prints no separate deadline.
The process runs in order. You submit the notarized affidavit with your parts receipts or bill of sale, receive the serial plate and Form T-22C, permanently affix the plate with rivets, have a Georgia Law Enforcement Officer complete the T-22C, and then return the completed T-22C to your county tag office for the license plate and registration certificate.
Have the affidavit notarized before you submit it: the instructions say all signatures must be notarized.
Documents you need
- Parts receipts or bill of sale for the trailer, submitted with the affidavit to the county tag office.
- A valid Georgia driver's license or ID card, required by the Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner for issuance of both the serial plate and the license plate.
How to fill out T-23
Print or type clearly in ink
Complete the whole affidavit, legibly typed or printed in blue or black ink. Do not correct or alter any entry, because that voids the affidavit.
Enter the primary owner in section A
Write the Primary Owner's Full Legal Name (first name, middle initial, last name, suffix), then street number, street name, apartment or suite, city, state, ZIP code and telephone number. The mailing address block should show the owner's physical address.
Add a secondary owner if any
If there is a second owner, enter the Secondary Owner's Full Legal Name and mailing address with the same details. Leave the block empty if there is no second owner.
Describe the trailer in section B
Enter the trailer type, the year model/built and the weight. Add the builder's full legal name and the completion date in MM/DD/YYYY order as the form's date boxes show.
Add driver's license numbers in section C
Enter the driver's license number of the primary owner and, if there is one, of the secondary owner. Leave the signature and date lines unsigned until you are in front of the notary.
Sign before the notary
Each owner signs and dates section C in front of the notary, since all signatures must be notarized.
Have the notary complete section D
The notary enters the day and month of the oath, full legal name, physical address, email, telephone number, commission expiration date, signature and seal or stamp.
Review, download and print the PDF
Check names, addresses and trailer details for accuracy. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then assemble it with your parts receipts or bill of sale as described under How to submit.
How to submit T-23
Submit Form T-23 to the county tag office in your county of residence, together with the required document. The form names no other channel.
- County tag office: the form refers you to http://dor.georgia.gov to locate the tag office in your county of residence. In Gwinnett County, serial plates and license plates can be issued at one of the five Gwinnett tag offices.
- What to bring: the completed, notarized affidavit, legibly printed in blue or black ink or typed, and your parts receipts or bill of sale. Bring a valid Georgia driver's license or ID card, which is required for issuance of both plates.
- After you submit: the county agent gives you a serial plate and Form T-22C. Affix the plate to the trailer's tongue with rivets, then have a Georgia Law Enforcement Officer complete the T-22C. The Gwinnett County Police non-emergency number is 770-513-5700. Return the completed T-22C to the tag office for the license plate and registration certificate.
- Fees: a charge applies for the serial plate, a fee applies for the license plate, and ad valorem tax may be due. Ask the tag office for the current amounts.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Correcting or altering an entry on the form. The form states that any correction or alteration will void the affidavit.
- Signing without a notary. The instructions say all signatures must be notarized, and section D must be completed by the notary.
- Using Form T-23 for a manufactured trailer. The affidavit is only for obtaining a serial plate for a homemade trailer.
- Entering a P.O. box in the Mailing Address block. The instructions say it should contain the physical address of the registrant.
- Writing in a color other than blue or black ink, or illegibly. The form must be legibly printed in blue or black ink or typed.
- Submitting the affidavit without parts receipts or a bill of sale, the required document.
- Filing in a county other than your county of residence.
- Skipping the T-22C step: the serial plate must be permanently affixed with rivets and the T-22C completed by a Georgia Law Enforcement Officer before you return for the license plate.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form T-23 used for?
Form T-23, the Homemade Trailer Affidavit, is used to obtain a serial plate for a homemade trailer in Georgia. The owner swears the information is true, the trailer is free of liens and the building materials are paid for. It is not used for a manufactured trailer.
Does Form T-23 have to be notarized?
Yes. The instructions say all signatures must be notarized, and section D is the Notary Public Acknowledgment, which the notary completes. Sign the certification in section C in front of the notary, not beforehand.
What do I need to submit with Form T-23?
Parts receipts or a bill of sale. Submit them with the completed affidavit to the county tag office in your county of residence. A valid Georgia driver's license or ID card is also required for issuance of the plates.
What happens after I submit Form T-23?
The county agent gives you a serial plate and Form T-22C. You permanently affix the plate to the trailer with rivets, have a Georgia Law Enforcement Officer complete the T-22C, and return it to the tag office for your license plate and registration certificate.
Is there a fee for a homemade trailer serial plate?
Yes. The Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner says a charge applies for the serial plate and a fee for the license plate, and ad valorem tax may be due. The amounts are not on the form, so ask the tag office for current figures.
Does Georgia issue a title for a homemade trailer?
No. The Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner states that Georgia does not issue titles for homemade trailers or for trailers weighing 2,000 lbs. or less. The serial plate, once affixed, serves as the VIN for registration.
Can I fill out Form T-23 online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent, is not the agency and does not file the form: you still need the notarized original and must submit it to your county tag office.
Ready to fill out T-23?
Fill out T-23 now