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.

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 a Student Out-of-Area Extension. Additional information may be required in order to process the Student 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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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. 

APPLICATION

To quickly access the Student Out-of-Area Extension application, please select START APPLICATION.