The Georgia DDS-7 Driving Experience Affidavit is a one-page, notarized statement in which a parent or legal guardian swears that a 16- or 17-year-old applicant has completed 40 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 6 hours after sunset. You fill it in, sign it in front of a notary, and bring it with the rest of the required paperwork to a Department of Driver Services Customer Service Center on the day of the road test.
Who Needs to Submit a DDS-7
Under Joshua’s Law, every 16- or 17-year-old applying for a Class D provisional license must complete an approved driver education course and 40 hours of supervised driving with at least 6 of those hours at night.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-22 – Issuance of Instruction Permit The DDS-7 is the document a parent or guardian uses to verify those hours.
One boundary matters up front. If a licensed driver training school provided the behind-the-wheel instruction, the school’s own records satisfy the requirement and no DDS-7 is needed.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-22 – Issuance of Instruction Permit The affidavit is for families who logged practice hours at home using the state’s Parent/Teen Driving Guide.
The Driving Hours You Are Swearing To
Before signing, your teen needs a cumulative total of at least 40 hours behind the wheel, with a minimum of 6 hours after sunset.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-22 – Issuance of Instruction Permit Cumulative means the hours can be spread across as many sessions as you need; no single session has to last any particular length of time.
The adult supervising each session must be at least 21 years old, hold a valid Georgia license for a noncommercial Class C vehicle, and sit in the front passenger seat.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-22 – Issuance of Instruction Permit The supervisor does not have to be the parent or guardian. Any licensed adult who meets those qualifications can ride along, but only the parent or legal guardian signs the DDS-7.
Keep a written log as you go. Georgia’s Parent/Teen Driving Guide includes a 40-hour driving log sheet built for this purpose. Recording dates, times, conditions, and total minutes gives you something to reference when you fill out the form.
How to Fill Out the Form
You can download the DDS-7 from the Department of Driver Services website or pick up a copy at any DDS Customer Service Center.2Georgia Department of Driver Services. Find a Customer Service Center The form is short. It asks for a small set of identifying details and then a sworn statement about the hours.
Enter the applicant’s full legal name and date of birth exactly as they appear on the existing instructional permit. The parent or guardian then provides their own name and confirms the legal relationship to the teen. The heart of the form is the sworn statement affirming that the applicant completed 40 hours of guided practice, 6 of which were after sunset, and that every session in the driving log is complete.
Fill in every field neatly and check the teen’s name against the permit. A mismatch or a blank line can delay the appointment. Do not sign yet. The signature has to happen in front of a notary.
Getting the DDS-7 Notarized
Georgia law requires the affidavit to be signed before a person authorized to administer oaths, which in practice means a notary public.1Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-22 – Issuance of Instruction Permit The notary watches you sign, verifies your identity with a government-issued photo ID, and applies their seal. If you sign the form before you reach the notary, the document is invalid and you will need a fresh copy.
Notary services are available at most banks, UPS stores, law offices, and some county offices. Under Georgia law a notary cannot charge more than $2.00 for the notarial act itself, plus another $2.00 for attendance and certification if required, for a combined maximum of $4.00.3Justia. Georgia Code 45-17-11 – Fees of Notaries Many banks notarize documents free for account holders.
What to Bring on Road Test Day
The DDS-7 travels with a stack of other paperwork. When you arrive at the Customer Service Center for the road test, bring:
- The teen’s valid instructional permit, held for at least one year and one day before testing.4Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-24 – Instruction Permits, Graduated Licensing and Related Restrictions
- The notarized DDS-7 (unless a driver training school provided behind-the-wheel instruction).
- A Certificate of School Enrollment form, signed and notarized by the teen’s school. It expires 30 days after issue, so time it close to the test date.
- The ADAP card proving completion of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program.
- Proof of driver education, required for 16-year-olds under Joshua’s Law.
- Vehicle insurance card and registration for the car being used, with a valid tag.
- The $10.00 license fee. DDS accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and cash.
Missing any one item means no test that day. The school enrollment form is the piece families most often overlook, because its 30-day window is easy to miss. If your school issued it too early, you will need a new one.
At check-in, a DDS representative reviews the paperwork and looks specifically for the notary seal on the DDS-7.5Georgia Department of Driver Services. Road Test A missing seal sends you home to reschedule.
Penalties for Signing a False Affidavit
The DDS-7 is a sworn statement, not a formality. A parent or guardian who signs it knowing the teen has not actually completed the required hours commits the offense of false swearing under Georgia law. A conviction carries a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of one to five years, or both.6Justia. Georgia Code 16-10-71 – False Swearing The hours requirement exists to keep underprepared drivers off the road, and the signature is what stands behind it.