Pro tip: Touring Georgia's diverse landscapes, from urban centers to rural areas, calls for reliable driving skills. Dive into our comprehensive guides on maneuvering stick shifts and precise parallel parking. Become proficient in reversing into parking slots and carrying out three-point turns. Check that your mirrors are adjusted optimally for safe driving. Our Online Driving Simulator can aid in honing your skills, and for international drivers, it's important to understand Georgia's international driver's license regulations.
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Once you meet these requirements, the DDS Customer Service Center will issue you a temporary Georgia Class CP instructional permit. Your permanent permit should be mailed to you within 30 days. If you have not received it by then, contact the DDS.
Your Class CP instructional permit is valid for two years. If you haven't obtained a driver license by the time your permit expires, you will have to renew your instructional permit to keep driving.
Can I get a permit if I’m 14 years old? You can, but only if your parent or guardian is visually impaired.
Complete a driver’S education course
Only if you are younger than 17, you must complete the DDS-approved driver's education course. You may look for a suitable Driver's Ed program here.
Hold your instruction permit for at least a year
Your permit shouldn’t be suspended. If you had held an instructional permit in another state or country before you became a resident of Georgia, the time that you held that instructional permit will count toward this one-year requirement.
Practice driving
With your instructional permit, practice supervised driving for at least 40 hours, at least 6 hours of which are at night. Your parent, guardian, or DDS-certified driving instructor must certify your driving practice by filling out and signing a Driving Experience Affidavit (Form DDS-7) at the Customer Service Center. Pick one up at the Customer Service Center.
Complete an adap class
It’s an Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) class at your high school. If you missed it, complete a "makeup" ADAP class conducted monthly at various locations. Contact the DDS to find out when and where the next ADAP classes will be given. Alternatively, complete it online (eADAP). This option is only available if you are unable to take ADAP in the usual classroom setting. Register for eADAP here. Provide the Certificate of Completion to the DDS.
Apply in person
You must apply at a DDS Customer Service Center. To locate a nearby Customer Service Center, use this map of DDS Customer Service Centers. However, the Customer Service Centers don't all offer the same services. Contact a Customer Service Center to find out what services it offers.
Complete your application form
You can obtain an application form at the Customer Service Center, or you can fill out the application online ahead of time, but your parent, guardian or driving instructor must accompany you to the Customer Service Center and sign the application in the presence of a DDS employee.
Bring documentation to verify the following:
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Verify your secondary school education
Bring Georgia DDS Certificate of Attendance form notarized from your school (valid 30 days; during the summer vacation it is valid from May until August or until school starts) or a diploma.
Pass a vision test
If your visual acuity readings are below 20/60 even with corrective lenses, and a field of vision is less than 140 degrees, you will be asked to have a DS-274 completed by an eye specialist.
Pay the fee of $10 and pass a road test
You may take the road test at a DDS Customer Service Center. Make the appointment at a Center or by calling the Reservation Line at (678) 413-8400 and then selecting Option 5 and Option 1. Some certified driving schools also conduct road tests, but they may charge a fee.
Surrender your instructional permit
You will be issued a temporary Class D provisional license. Your permanent license should be mailed to you within 30 days. If you have not received it by then, contact the DDS.
How long will my license be valid?
For up to 5 years and will expire on your birthday. However, when you turn 18, you should upgrade your provisional license to a Class C full adult driver license.
Your provisional license restrictions:
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If you are unable to provide the documentation of your Social Security number or residential address, the DDS may issue you a temporary 120-day license until you can provide DDS with those documents. You don't have to go back to the Center but fax, mail or upload them as instructed here. Just be sure to do this at least 20 days before your temporary 120-day license expires.
Upgrade my provisional license.
To upgrade your Class D provisional license to a Class C full license visit the Class D to C Upgrade webpage of DDS Online Services and follow the instructions. (To apply online, you must be a US citizen.) Pay a $32 fee by card and your new license will be mailed to you within 7 days. Alternatively visit a DDC customer service center in person.
I have legally changed my name.
If it no longer matches that on your documentation, you must have the Social Security Administration update your name before you provide that documentation to the DDS Customer Service Center. Submit either the original or a certified copy of documentation verifying your change of name. If you are new to Georgia, you must provide documentation of all your past changes of name, not just your most recent one.
For US veterans and their spouses.
If you are a veteran who served in the US armed forces or the National Guard, or the spouse of a disabled veteran without a driver license or the unmarried spouse of a deceased veteran, you may apply for Veterans Driving License or Honorary Driver License. Fill out and submit to DDS a Certificate of Eligibility for Veteran's Driver's License (Form DS-516). If you are currently serving in the National Guard, fill out and submit to DDS a Certificate of Eligibility for Georgia "National Guard" Driver's License (Form DS-318). To obtain any of these licenses, you do not have to pay the usual $32.00 license fee.
At the end of the road test, the examiner will show you the score sheet and will provide you an opportunity to discuss the results. You must achieve a minimum score of 75% to pass.
If you fail, you’ll have to wait one day before retaking the test provided it’s your first failure. If it’s your second or subsequent failure, you must wait 7 days before retaking. If you get into a traffic accident or have a traffic violation during the test, your waiting period will be extended to 30 days.
Georgia defines a resident of the state as a US citizen or an alien with legal authorization from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, for whom at least one of the following is true:
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Not able to provide the documentation of your SSN or residential address?
The DDS may issue you a temporary 120-day license until you can provide DDS with those documents. You don't have to go back to the Center but fax, mail or upload them as instructed here. Just be sure to do this at least 20 days before your temporary 120-day license expires.
Have you legally changed your name?
If it no longer matches that on your documentation, you must have the Social Security Administration update your name before you provide that documentation to the DDS Customer Service Center. Submit either the original or a certified copy of documentation verifying your change of name. You must provide documentation of all your past changes of name, not just your most recent one.
Unless you are a US citizen, you won't have to surrender your foreign license no matter which country or US territory issued it. The procedure of transferring your foreign driver license is similar to applying for a new Class C Full Driver License. Please start with step one of How to Apply for Georgia Class C Full (Adult) Driver License unless your license was issued by South Korea.
If you hold a South Korean driver license, provide a License Certification Letter from the South Korean Consulate and pass a vision test. You won’t have to take either a knowledge test or a road test. Apply in person at a DDS Customer Service Center. To locate a nearby Customer Service Center, use this map of DDS Customer Service Centers.
