1. 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 DDS.
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. Note: these practice permit tests are for the purpose of preparing you for your learners permit written exam only.
2. Apply for the Georgia learners permit
When you are ready to take your written permit test, just walk in to your local DDS location with a parent or guardian—there's no need to make an appointment.
To be eligible for the Georgia learners permit, you must:
- Be at least 15 years old.
- Provide acceptable forms of personal identification that include 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 a $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.
3. 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 in-car driving lessons.
- 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 the time of your drivers license application. Note: completion of the DDS approved Parent-Teen Driving Guide will serve as an affidavit that this requirement has been met; if you obtain the behind-the-wheel component of drivers education from a certified instructor, a separate document affirming that this requirement has been met must be completed at the time of the road test.
- Have held their learners permit for one year and a day.
- If you have not completed an approved driver education course, you cannot obtain a Class D license until you reach the age of 17.
Take your 30-hour classroom portion of drivers education online with LearnersPermit.com and receive an official Certificate of Completion. The LearnersPermit.com Georgia drivers education course is approved by the State of Georgia and the DDS (Department of Driver Services) and satisfies the 30-hour drivers education classroom requirement of Joshua's Law.
4. 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 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 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 for 30 hours of classroom instruction (or online instruction) and 6 hours of in-car driving lessons.
- 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 the application.