HOW TO APPLY FOR AN OUT-OF-AREA EXTENSION

If your vehicle is temporarily located outside the 13-county metro Atlanta emissions testing area, you may qualify for an Out-of-Area Extension.

How to Submit Your Application

Out of Area applications may be submitted electronically through this website, or you may print, complete, and submit the forms in-person at any GCAF Customer Service Center.

GCAF also partners with metro Atlanta tag offices to offer waiver services. GCAF recommends contacting your local tag office to find out the services they offer.

Please note: Not all tag office locations offer waiver services. Contact your local tag office for additional information.

After GCAF determines your application is complete and the supporting documents meet the requirements, your application will be conditionally approved.

🚫 Mailed applications are not accepted.

If you've already submitted your application and need to provide additional documentation, please upload it via the waiver assistance portal.

Required Documentation

The following documentation must be submitted when applying for an Out-of-Area Extension. Additional information may be required in order to process the Out-of-Area Extension. GCAF only accepts documentation in English; documents in other languages will not be accepted.

1. Completed Out-of-Area Extension application

• The registered owner’s address section:

  • The address must be in one of the 13 metro Atlanta counties that require emissions testing.

  • If an acceptable proof of ownership document is presented, GCAF will accept a P.O. Box as the registered owner’s address, when the P.O. Box is in Georgia.

• The out-of-area driver information section:

  • Must be the out-of-area address where the driver is staying.

  • Do not put the out-of-area driver’s address for their home located in Georgia, unless it is well-outside the 13 metro Atlanta counties that require emissions testing.

  • If the out-of-area address is located less than 100 miles from a covered testing county, you are not eligible for an out-of-area extension.

• Vehicle identification information must include the year, make, model, vehicle identification number (VIN), and tag number.

• Military Extension Proxy Section: I

  • If you are completing the application on behalf of the primary registered owner, you must:

    1. Complete the proxy section of the applications, and

    2. Sign the application.

2. Government-issued ID

The ID of the primary owner must be submitted with the application. This may include: a driver’s license, passport, resident card, etc.

NOTE: For Military Extensions - If a proxy is submitting the application, we will need a government-issued ID from the primary vehicle owner and the proxy.

STOP AND READ!

It is illegal to copy a military ID. Do not submit a copy of the military ID and please use one of the IDs mentioned above.

3. Proof of ownership of the vehicle

You may submit one of the following:

1. Copy of Georgia registration

2. Copy of the current year or last year’s renewal notice (Georgia)

3. Copy of last year’s Georgia tag receipt

4. Copy of Georgia title

   *Please be aware that the email renewal notice does not display the full VIN and will not be accepted. All proof of ownership documents must display the full VIN, the primary owner’s name, and an expiration date (expiration date is not needed when submitting a title).

4. Proof the vehicle owner or driver is out of the area

Student Extensions

You may submit one of the following:

1. Completed Student Verification Form click here (recommended)

2. A copy of a current transcript that identifies the school, the student, and shows current enrollment

3. A copy of student registration or tuition bill

4. A statement on the school’s letterhead from the registrar or director of admissions of the school containing the following information:

   1. Identifies the out of area driver;

   2. Provides the location of the student out of the area;

   3. Is dated within 60 days of the application submittal date; and

   4. Includes the contact information for the individual signing the letter

   *All documentation must identify the student and the school.

Business Extensions

You may submit one of the following:

1. Completed Employment Verification Form click here (recommended)

2. Employment verification letter on company letterhead that contains the following information:

   1. Identifies the out of area driver;

   2. Provides the location of the out of the area driver;

   3. Is dated within 60 days of the application submittal date; and

   4. Includes the contact information for the individual signing the letter

Military Extensions

You may submit one of the following:

1. Military orders, which can be up to 48 months old

2. A letter on military letterhead from a supervising officer that contains the following information:

   1. Identifies the out of area driver;

   2. Provides the location of the out of the area driver;

   3. Is dated within 60 days of the application submittal date; and

   4. Includes the contact information for the individual signing the letter

      *NOTE: If you are a dependent, your name must be listed in the military orders or included in the written statement from the supervising officer.

Please provide all the requested information as listed above. Failure to provide acceptable supporting documentation will result in a denial or delay your consideration for approval.

Allow three (3) business days for processing electronic applications.

Next Steps

What Happens Next?

If you printed the application and completed it: please take it in to any GCAF Customer Service Center convenient to you.

If you submitted your application online:

You’re all set for now!

You should have received a confirmation number (waiver number) at the completion of your application that will allow you to follow up on your application.

Please allow up to three business days for a response. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received.

If you did not receive a confirmation number, you may contact our call center at 1-800-449-2471 and give them the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). They will be able to look up your application and provide you with the confirmation number.  

Once your application has processed, a service representative will call the primary owner’s phone to provide an update on the application’s status.

If no one answers the call, a voicemail will be left, if possible.

If an email address was provided, in addition to the phone call, we will reach out to explain the application’s status.

If you did not provide us an email address, then we will attempt one final call to update you.

After two attempts have been made (phone call and email or two phone calls), we will not make any further attempts to notify you of the application’s status.

Instead, you may contact our call center at 1-800-449-2471 to check your status after three (3) business days have passed, since you submitted your application. Please have your VIN or confirmation number available.  

NOTE: If the application packet is complete, it will be processed within three business days. If the application packet does not contain all applicable documents required by the extension, exemption, or waiver, or the documents were not verifiable, the applicant will be notified, and the processing time will take longer. When the correct documentation is received, the processing time resets to the times outlined above. After 30 days of non-response/inactivity, applications lacking acceptable and required documentation will be deemed incomplete and closed by GCAF. 

You’re Approved, Now What?

If the application is approved, the approval will immediately be sent electronically to the tag office to remove the emissions test hold on your vehicle.  

You may now complete the registration of your vehicle by going online, utilizing a kiosk, or visiting your county tag office.

What about Testing My Vehicle?

Your vehicle will not need to be tested for the current registration renewal period. However, if you are still in need of an extension, exemption, or waiver, you will need to reapply and qualify under any new requirements each year.

For Out of Area applications only: Once the vehicle returns to Georgia, it must be taken for an emissions test.

Vehicles can be tested at any state-certified emissions station, not just at emission stations in your county of residence. You may find the nearest emissions testing station online.

Remember that vehicles can be tested well in advance if the vehicle will be out of the area at the time of the owner’s registration. A test is valid for 12 months or one registration renewal by the same owner.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us at 800.449.2471. Once you are past the language prompt, select option 4, and then choose the topic that relates to your request. Please listen to all of the information provided with your request. 

APPLICATION

To quickly access Out-of-Area Extension applications, please select the type of extension for which you are applying from the list below. Please read the instructions on this page carefully before applying for an Out-of-Area Extension.