Georgia Drivers License Instructions

DMV got you confused? Check out our easy instructions for earning your Georgia drivers license.

1. Complete a DDS-approved Georgia drivers education course

2. Study for the Georgia learners permit test

3. Apply for the Georgia learners permit

4. Take drivers training and practice driving under supervision

5. Take the driving test for your Georgia drivers license

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5

1. Complete a DDS-approved Georgia drivers education course

According to Joshua’s Law, beginning January 1, 2007, all 16 year olds applying for a Class D license must:

Complete a state-approved Georgia drivers education course that includes 30 hours of classroom instruction and also complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
Complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving, including at least 6 hours at night. A Certificate of Completion from a drivers education school must be presented at time of drivers license application.

You can take the 30-hour classroom portion your drivers education course online with DriversEd.com and receive an official Certificate of Completion. The DriversEd.com Georgia drivers education course is DDS-approved and satisfies the 30-hour drivers education classroom requirement of Joshua’s Law.

2. Study for the Georgia learners permit

In order to get a Georgia learners permit and ultimately a Georgia drivers license, everyone no matter how old must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. 70% of test-takers fail on their first try and end up returning to the DMV.

A proven way to increase your chances of passing your learners permit test is with up-to-date online Georgia DDS practice permit tests. Randomly generated questions test your driving knowledge and prepare you for the real deal.

Fifty online practice permit tests come free with our Georgia drivers education course or can be purchased separately.

3. Apply for the Georgia learners permit

When you are ready to take your written permit test, save time by scheduling your test appointment at your local DDS location. You can call 678-413-8400 or 678-413-8500 and select option 3. If you live outside metro-Atlanta but in Georgia, you can call 866-754-3687.

To be eligible for the Georgia learners permit, you must:

Be at least 15 years old.
Provide acceptable form of personal identification that includes your full name and date of birth, such as:
- Original birth certificate (State issued)
- Certified copy of birth certificate (with seal)
- Certificate of birth registration
- Certified copy of court records (adoption, name changes, or sex changes.)
- Certified naturalization records
- Immigration I.D. card
- Valid Passport
- U.S. citizens must furnish proof of citizenship. Non-U.S. citizens must present proper USCIS documentation.
Submit a Social Security number.
Submit a Georgia DDS Certificate of Attendance form signed and notarized from a school. All applicants under the age of 18 not enrolled in school must provide a GED diploma, high school diploma, or an attendance form from your local Board of Education if enrolled in an approved home school program.
Pass a vision test.
Pass a knowledge test.
Pay $10 application fee.

Once you pass the vision and knowledge tests, you will be issued a learners permit.

Note: There must be a licensed driver who is at least 21 in the front seat next to you at all times. The learners permit is valid for 24 months.

4. Take drivers training and practice driving under supervision

Once you have your Georgia learners permit, you will need to practice driving under supervision. You have two options.

You can complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training at a licensed driving school and an additional 40 hours of supervised driving or
You can choose to complete 40 hours of parent-taught driving that follows the GA Parent/Teen Driving Guide.

No matter which option you choose, 6 of the 40 hours must also be completed after dark.

Want to make this supervised driving period as stress-free as possible? Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide directs parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive.

It also comes with a FREE passenger-side rear-view mirror that lets you to see exactly what your teen sees while driving.

5. Take the driving test for your Georgia drivers license

When you are ready to take the driving test, make an appointment at your local DDS office. You can call 678-413-8400 or 678-413-8500 and select option 3. If you live outside metro-Atlanta but in Georgia, you can call 866-754-3687.

To be eligible for the Georgia drivers license:

Be at least 16 years old.
Have held a learners permit for a year and a day.
Effective January 1st, 2007 16 year olds must be in compliance with Joshua's Law. This means that, if you are under 17, you must present a Certificate of Completion of drivers education of 30 hrs classroom instruction (can be done online) and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
Submit your Social Security Number.
If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign an affidavit that the applicant has completed at least 40 hours of on-the-road driving experience (6 hours of which was at night) with a parent or guardian. The 40-hour requirement is in addition to the driving completed with an instructor during an approved driver education class (if under 17).
At the time of the road test examination, a parent or legal guardian with a Georgia Drivers License or ID Card will have to sign for you. The legal guardian must have a certified guardianship paper from court or adoption papers with an embossed court seal.
A Georgia DDS Certificate of Attendance form must be signed and notarized from your school. It is only valid for 30 days. All applicants under 18 not enrolled in school must provide a GED diploma, high school diploma, or an attendance form from the local Board of Education if enrolled in an approved home school program.
You must have the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) card.
Applicant will be required to pass a vision and a driving test.
The vehicle the driver is testing in must be properly insured, registered, have a valid tag, and must pass a safety inspection. You will be asked to show a valid insurance card. You may not take the test in a rental car.

Once you pass your road test, you’ll be issued a Class D license, which is a provisional license.

The Class D license has the following restrictions:

No driving between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.
During the first six months following issuance, only immediate family members may ride in the vehicle.
During the second six months following issuance, only one unrelated passenger under 21 years of age may ride in the vehicle.
After the first and second six-month periods, only three unrelated passengers under 21 years of age may ride in the vehicle.

To upgrade from a Class D license to a Class C license, a Class D license holder must be free from any convictions of major traffic violations that result in the mandatory suspension of the license for 12 months preceding application.

DriversEd.com is a privately held company and is in no way associated with the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other government agency. DriversEd.com does not claim any responsibility for the accuracy of the drivers license information posted within or for the business practices associated with any other schools listed on the DriversEd.com site. For up-to-date information, please consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles or vehicle registration agency. Also, DriversEd.com is not liable for any information or claims posted within third party links.