Georgia Virtual Road Test: Requirements, Scoring, and Scheduling

The Georgia virtual road test is the state’s standard non-commercial driving skills exam, and it replaces the examiner in the passenger seat with a dual-facing dashboard camera and a hands-free communication device. A licensed adult age 21 or older rides in the car with you while a Department of Driver Services examiner watches the live feed and gives instructions remotely.¹²

How the Test Is Run

The camera gives the examiner real-time visibility of both you and the road ahead. The examiner monitors everything from a computer or phone and speaks to you through a hands-free device.²

Because no examiner is physically in the vehicle, a licensed adult 21 or older must ride along for the entire test.³ That person is a required safety passenger, not a coach; they’re not there to evaluate you or give driving tips. The test itself is run on public roads off DDS property, so you’ll handle real intersections, turns, and traffic while the examiner watches through the camera.¹

Who Can Take It

To qualify for a Class D provisional license, you must be at least 16 and have held a Class CP learner’s permit for a minimum of one year and one day. The clock starts on the date DDS issued your permit. You also cannot have had any major traffic violations that led to a mandatory suspension during the permit phase.⁴

Under Joshua’s Law, every 16- or 17-year-old applicant must finish a DDS-approved driver education course before getting a Class D license. That means 30 hours of classroom or online instruction plus 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a DDS-certified driving school. Parent-supervised hours do not substitute for those 6 school-taught hours. You also need 40 hours of supervised driving practice with a parent or guardian, at least 6 of them at night.⁵ DDS publishes a 40-Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide to help track that time.⁶

Teens under 18 must also complete the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program before DDS will issue a Class D license.⁷ ADAP is typically offered through Georgia high schools starting in ninth grade, and approved outside providers can also deliver it.⁸

What To Bring

Teens under 18 need to bring every document required for a Class D provisional license, and a parent or guardian must be present to apply and confirm the supervised driving hours.⁵ You also need a paper copy of the vehicle’s registration and a current, valid insurance card.³ If the car has temporary tags or was bought within the last 30 days, bring the bill of sale. Expired insurance or registration on test day means the examiner will send you home.

What the Car Has To Do

The vehicle has to pass a DDS safety inspection before the test begins.² Turn signals, brake lights, headlights, and horn all need to work. Mirrors should be properly adjusted, tires should have adequate tread, and the windshield needs to be clear of cracks or obstructions. Rental cars are allowed, but the applicant’s name must appear on the rental agreement.

Scheduling the Appointment

Road test appointments are booked through the DDS online scheduling system. Fill out the online license application first, then pick a road test slot at a DDS center that offers non-commercial testing.³ Not every location runs road tests, so check the location page before you book.⁹ Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early.

What You’re Scored On

You need a minimum score of 75% to pass.² The examiner tests three set-piece maneuvers:

Parallel parking: park midway between two markers with the vehicle less than 18 inches from the curb.²
Backing: drive in reverse for about 50 feet at a slow speed, keeping the car straight and smooth, with your head turned to look back the entire time.²
Turnabout: reverse direction in a narrow space using a two-point, three-point, or five-point turn.²

Beyond those maneuvers, the examiner grades how you handle intersections, left and right turns, and a quick-stop command. Afterward, the examiner walks through the score sheet with you and explains any deductions.

If You Fail

A first failure carries a one-day wait before you can reschedule. A second failure bumps the wait to seven days. If you fail because of an accident or a traffic violation during the test, whether you get ticketed or not, the mandatory wait jumps to 30 days.²

After You Pass

Georgia law caps the licensing fees at $10 for a Class D provisional license or instruction permit, $20 for a five-year Class C license, and $32 for an eight-year Class C license.¹⁰

DDS issues a temporary paper license on the spot so you can drive legally right away. The permanent plastic card can take up to 45 days to arrive by mail at the address DDS has on file.¹¹ Keep the temporary document in the car until the permanent card shows up.

Class D Restrictions for Teens

A new Class D license at 16 or 17 is not unrestricted. Georgia’s graduated rules loosen over time:¹²

No driving between midnight and 5:00 a.m., with no exceptions.
For the first six months, only immediate family members can ride as passengers.
In months seven through twelve, one passenger under 21 who is not an immediate family member is allowed.
After one year, up to three passengers under 21 who are not immediate family members are allowed.

Violating any of these restrictions can lead to a suspension of your driving privileges.

1
National Association of State Chief Information Officers. Driving Safety and Success: The Virtual Road Test (VRT)
2
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Test and Exams Information
3
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Road Test Appointments
4
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Chapter 1: TADRA
5
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Joshua’s Law Requirements
6
Georgia Department of Driver Services. 40-Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide
7
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program
8
Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia Comp. R. and Regs. R. 375-5-4 – Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program
9
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Find a Location
10
Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-25 – Applications, Fees, Provisions for Voluntary Participation in Various Programs
11
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Renew a License or ID
12
Georgia Department of Driver Services. Teen Driving Laws FAQs