Your First-Time Georgia Drivers License Guide

by Jim Thompson | Last Updated: June 7, 2021

Most first-time drivers in Georgia must complete a drivers ed course to learn how to drive safely. This step is required by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (GA DDS) to obtain a driving permit or a drivers license. Fortunately, it’s not difficult going through one of these courses, and there are plenty available to choose from.

Steps to Getting Your Georgia License

If you’re looking to get your Georgia drivers license, we’re here to help. Welcome to our step by step guide to get you off of your couch and out onto the road. We know you have a lot of questions, so let’s get going.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, getting your first license can be an exciting, scary, and confusing time, sometimes all at the same time. First off, let’s clear up some Georgia DDS terms. In some cases, it seems they’ve gone out of their way to make it confusing.

Terms (and abbreviations) you should know:

• Joshua’s Law—Law created to ensure that teenage drivers are properly prepared before getting behind the wheel.
• Classroom Driver Education—A.K.A. “drivers ed.” A state-approved course that will cover driving law and basic driving skills.
• Instruction Permit—A.K.A. “Learners Permit” or “Class CP.” This permit will allow you to practice drive legally before applying for your license.
• Provisional Drivers License—A.K.A. “Class D.” Per the Georgia Graduated Licensing Program, a first license with restrictions. More about those later.
• Class C License—The license you’re shooting for, allowing you to drive any vehicle besides a motorcycle or commercial vehicle.
• Knowledge Test—A.K.A. “Written Driving” or “Permit” Test, it’s the one you’ll have to pass to get a permit.
• Driving Skills Test—A.K.A. “Road Skills Test” or just plain ‘ol “Driving Test,” it’s the one you’ll have to pass to get your license.
• GDL—A.K.A. “Graduated Drivers License.” A “Class R” with some restrictions. These restrictions will apply if you are under 18.

See? I told you they made it confusing!

Who Must Take Georgia Drivers Ed?

No matter your age, it’s probably not a bad idea for anyone to take a drivers ed course before getting their first license. However, Georgia only requires drivers ed for driving candidates younger than 18. You can enroll in drivers ed at age 16.

The Path to a Georgia License in a Nutshell

The quick and dirty looks like this:

• Get a learner’s permit
• Complete Joshua’s Law requirements
• Pass a road skills test

Now let’s take a look at what it’ll take to get those three steps done.

Step 1—Get a Learners Permit

If you are 15 you can apply for your instruction permit.

Application for a permit will happen at your local DDS office. You’ll need to start the process online.

When you arrive, be sure to have the following:

• A Georgia DDS Certificate of School Enrollment (DS-1). The form must be completed and dated within the past six (6) months
• Transcript provided by your most recent school of attendance. The transcript does not have to be certified and can be printed online in most school districts
• Most recent progress or grade report
• A current school identification card issued by the school or school system
• If you are home-schooled, you must provide one of the following:
  • A Certificate of Enrollment from the Georgia Department of Education
  • A “Declaration of Intent To Utilize a Home Study Program” filed with the Georgia Department of Education
• If you are under 18 and not enrolled in school, you must provide either one of the following:
  • A high school diploma
  • GED
  • Special diploma
  • Certification of high school completion
  • Proof of enrollment in a GED program or post-secondary school
• A Responsible Adult
• You’ll also need to bring
  • Your eyeballs (for a vision test)
  • Check, cash, or credit card to pay your application fee

After you have shown all of this to the folks at the DDS, hold on to it! You’ll need much of it again when you apply for your license.

Now it’s time for your written permit test

The test will include questions about:

• Driving laws and their penalties
• Various kinds of driving skills, such as turning, signaling, lane changing, and parking
• Differences between highway driving and city driving, including speed limits
• Procedures to be used in accidents or emergencies
• Distinguishing various signs and their meaning based on color and shape
• Meanings of pavement markings on both highways and streets

To pass the 40-question multiple-choice test, you’ll need to score 75%, and testing must begin 30 minutes before the DDS office closes. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare.

Another way to give yourself a leg up on passing the permit test is to consider one (or more) of the following:

• Study the Georgia Drivers Manual
• Take a driver prep course, a great way to get you ready for your license. (Learn more)
• Quiz yourself with a Georgia permit practice test

A permit practice test has everything the “real” test does, except the pressure. That’s because practice tests feature questions taken from actual DMV exams. It’s like seeing all the answers before the test even begins! Don’t head to the DMV without a dress rehearsal, you want to pass the first time.

What If Your Test Didn’t Go Like You Planned?

What if you get to the testing center and, despite all your best preparation, your nerves get the best of you, and you wind up failing the test? First, don’t panic. Nearly 1 out of 3 test-takers fail on their first attempt.

If you do happen to fail, the DDS will give you more chances, but there are some rules.

• You will have to wait until at least the next day for another attempt
• You must pay fee again

Another Note—If you’re new to Georgia and started this whole license dance somewhere else, here are some tips that might help.

Step 2—Complete Joshua’s Law Requirements

There are 4 methods by which 16 and 17-year-olds can complete the requirements of Joshua’s Law.

• Method 1—
  • 30 hours of classroom instruction
  • 6 hours behind the wheel training at the certified school
  • 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian (6 hours of the 40 hours must be at night)
• Method 2—
  • 30 hours of classroom instruction at the certified school
  • 40 hours parent-taught behind-the-wheel training. Use the Parent/Teen Driving Guide (a 40-hour comprehensive driving course)
• Method 3—
  • 30 hours of online instruction with a certified virtual program
  • 6 hours behind the wheel training at a certified school
  • 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian (6 hours of the 40 hours must be at night)
• Method 4—
  • 30 hours of online instruction with a certified virtual program
  • 40 hours of parent-taught behind-the-wheel training. Use the Parent/Teen Driving Guide (a 40-hour comprehensive driving course)

If you are 17—

• You must complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving. 6 hours of the 40 hours must be at night
• You are not required to take the 30 hours of online instruction or the 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training

If you choose Method 3, nothing beats the convenience of an online defensive driving course, but it’s important that you select the right one. To meet all requirements, the course you select must be approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. To start your search for an online course, take a look at our list of Georgia DDS approved course providers.

Nothing beats the convenience of completing your Georgia DDS drivers ed course requirement online. With the ability to log in and out as often as you like, it makes it easy to fit the course into your busy schedule. Below is a list of online courses available, all approved by the Georgia DDS.

Best Georgia DDS Online Drivers Ed Providers

Website	Name	Phone	Register NOW!
	I Drive Safely	800-723-1955	Get Started
#1 Choice	Aceable	512-900-6837	Get Started
	Drivers Ed	888-651-2886	Get Started
	Joshua’s Law by Improv	800-660-8908	Get Started
	Driver Ed To Go	866-749-4445	Get Started
	JoshuasLaw Course.com	800-732-4135	Get Started
	Awesome Driving School	844-423-7411	Get Started
	Safe Teen Driving Academy	706-507-5504	Get Started
	Georgia Driving School	478-755-8888	Get Started
	Just Driver Training	770-363-4857	Get Started
	Safe2Drive	800-863-1297	Get Started
	Driving Advantage	770-830-0045	Get Started
	Academy of Action	770-889-1023	Get Started
	Alfa Driving School	770-650-7787	Get Started

If you (or your folks) would prefer a traditional driving school experience, check out our guide to selecting the best driving school.

The classroom curriculum will cover topics such as:

• Georgia traffic laws
• Meanings of road signs, signals, and markings
• Your responsibilities as a licensed driver
• Alcohol safety and drug abuse awareness
• Motor vehicle operation fundamentals
• Driving in hazardous situations
• Driving in emergency situations

Out Of Georgia Drivers Ed and Out Onto the Road for 40 Practice Driving Hours

Now it’s time to put that learners permit to good use, and you are required to use it for one year and one day before you can apply for your provisional license.

Before you can take a driving test, you’ll have to complete 40 hours of practice driving, and at least 6 of those will need to happen after dark.

Your permit does come with some restrictions. You must be accompanied at all times by a licensed driver who is:

• 21 or older
• Class C licensed
• Riding in the front passenger seat

While you might be nervous at first, do your best to enjoy this time and always pay close attention to what’s going on around you. You never know the kinds of things, good and bad, that you might learn from the drivers around you. Take time to learn all you can from the licensed driver who is with you.

Also, do yourself the favor of driving in as many conditions as you can, places like:

• On the highway
• In neighborhoods
• On winding or hilly roads
• In downtown areas
• In bad weather

It’s better if you don’t see these things for the first time on your own.

Since you’ll be using your permit for 366 days, there’s no reason not to drive WAY more than 40 hours! It can only do you good.

Step 3—Pass a Driving Test

Once you have fulfilled the Joshua Law requirements, you are ready to apply for your intermediate license. To do so, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Have held your learners permit for at least one year and one day
• Complete ADAP, an alcohol and drug awareness program
• Pass a vision exam and a road skills test

You must schedule an appointment with the DDS for a driving test. You should have the following with you when you arrive:

• Learner’s Permit (Birth Cert/Passport if permit has been lost)
• Proof of insurance, registration, and unexpired valid metal tag on the vehicle
• Current Certificate of Enrollment from school
• GA ADAP Card or Certificate
• If 16, Certificate of Completion for Driver’s Education required
• Parent/Legal Guardian or Responsible Adult to sign an affidavit that the child has completed 40 hours driving practice
• Secure ID documents required if not already enrolled
• Check, cash, or credit card to pay your application fee 
• Your eyeballs and best smile (for another vision test and a photo)

Told you that you wanted to hang on to all the stuff from when you got your permit!

Road Test Time!

Finally, the last hurdle, your driving test. It’s all good. You got this.

On the driving test, you’ll be expected to perform the following:

• Parallel Parking
• Backing
• Stopping for Signs or Traffic Signals
• Turnabout
• Use of Clutch
• Approaching Corners
• Yielding Right-of-Way
• Turning
• Passing
• Following

Using Your New License

Per the rules of the Georgia Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program, your new license will come with some restrictions concerning when you can drive and who you can have in the car with you.

TIME:

• If you are under age 18, you can’t drive state-wide from midnight to 5 A.M.

PASSENGERS:

• For the first six months—You can only transport immediate family members
• For the second six months—You can only transport one passenger under age 21 (along with immediate family members)
• After one year—You can transport three passengers under age 21 (along with immediate family members)

At age 18, you can upgrade your license to a Class C (under 21) Driver’s License. A Class D to C upgrade can be done using Online Services or by downloading the DDS 2 Go Mobile App from the App Store or the Google Play Store.

A Final Note

Any licensed driver will tell you that you will never face a driving situation as complicated, nerve-wracking, and time-consuming as getting your license. By no means should you let your guard down once you’re behind the wheel but, rest assured. You’ll never face anything on the road that will compare with the process it took to get you your license.

Good luck as you work your way through this. Can’t wait to see you out on the road!

A Final Final Note

If you’ve made it this far, may we suggest you bookmark this page? You’ll probably be coming back to it often as you work your way through this!