Georgia’s DS-23 is the application you complete to get a driver’s license, learner’s permit, or state ID from the Georgia Department of Driver Services, and it exists only in digital form. You cannot download or print a paper Georgia DDS application form DS-23; you fill it out through DDS Online Services at dds.drives.ga.gov or the DDS 2 GO mobile app, then visit a customer service center in person to finish.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. DDS Forms Gather your documents before you start. A missing or expired paper is the most common reason a trip to the counter stalls.
Completing the DS-23 Online
Both the online portal and the DDS 2 GO app walk you through the same fields.2Georgia Department of Driver Services. DDS 2 GO Mobile App Georgia Code § 40-5-25 requires the application to collect your full legal name, date of birth, sex, and residential address, along with a brief physical description. You will also answer questions about your driving history — whether you have been licensed before, in which state, and whether any license was ever suspended or revoked — and about medical conditions that could affect your ability to drive safely.3Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-25 – Applications; Fees
When you submit the application, the system generates a confirmation barcode. Print it or save it to your phone. At the customer service center, the staff scans the barcode to pull up your application instantly rather than retyping everything.
Documents to Bring to the Counter
Georgia issues REAL ID–compliant cards, marked with a gold star in the upper corner, and most applicants should get one because it doubles as federal identification for domestic flights and federal facilities. Bring originals — no photocopies — in three categories.4Georgia Department of Driver Services. Secure ID Brochure
Identity, one document:
- Certified U.S. birth certificate (hospital keepsake certificates are not accepted)
- U.S. passport, not expired more than 10 years
- Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship
- Consular report of birth abroad from the U.S. Department of State
Social Security number, one document:
- Social Security card or Statement of Benefits
- W-2 showing your full nine-digit number
- Paycheck or pay stub showing your name and full SSN
- SSA-1099 or non-SSA-1099 form
- Denial letter from the Social Security Administration
Georgia residential address, two documents:
- Mortgage document, deed, or property tax bill (current or prior year)
- Health insurance statement or explanation of benefits
- Paycheck, pay stub, or W-2 (current or prior year)
- Georgia or federal income tax return (current or prior year)
- Utility bill, bank statement, or rental contract dated within the last two years
A P.O. Box will not work. Every residency document must show a physical street address. You can black out account numbers and dollar figures as long as your name, address, and the document’s date stay visible.4Georgia Department of Driver Services. Secure ID Brochure
Name-Change Documents
If your current legal name differs from your birth certificate, bring a certified document for every name change in the chain. A marriage certificate covers a married surname, a divorce decree with a name-change order covers a reversion, and adoption papers or a court order covers anything else. A surname change through marriage also requires a Social Security card or SSA letter reflecting the new name.5Georgia Department of Driver Services. Update License Applicants who already hold a valid Georgia license need only the most recent name-change document, but people new to Georgia must present the entire trail from birth certificate forward.4Georgia Department of Driver Services. Secure ID Brochure
If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen
Non-citizens must appear in person and present valid, original immigration documents proving lawful status.6Georgia Department of Driver Services. Information for Non-US Citizens DDS does not keep copies on file, so bring the originals every time you request any license or ID service. A license or ID issued to a non-citizen with a temporary status expires when the immigration document expires; watch both dates.
At the Customer Service Center
Appointments are required only for the behind-the-wheel road test. For new licenses, renewals, ID cards, and address changes, you can walk in.7Georgia Department of Driver Services. Appointments
Hand the agent your confirmation barcode and originals. After document verification, you complete a vision screening. Georgia requires a minimum of 20/60 acuity in at least one eye (with or without corrective lenses) and a 140-degree field of vision.8Georgia Department of Driver Services. Medical and Vision Information If you fail the field-of-vision portion, a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist must complete a Vision Report Form (DS-MR-274), which you bring back.9Georgia Department of Driver Services. Test and Exams Information
Once the vision screening is done, you sign digitally, have your photo taken, and pay. The agent then issues a temporary document you can use immediately.
Knowledge and Road Tests for First-Time Applicants
If you have never held a driver’s license, two additional exams stand between you and issuance.
The knowledge exam has two parts, Road Rules and Road Signs, each with 20 questions. You need 15 correct on each to pass. The Georgia Driver’s Manual is free on the DDS website and is the material the questions come from.9Georgia Department of Driver Services. Test and Exams Information
Schedule the road test in advance through DDS Online Services or by calling a customer service center.7Georgia Department of Driver Services. Appointments The test runs in either the traditional format, with an examiner in the passenger seat, or a virtual format using a dual-facing camera with a licensed adult age 21 or older in the vehicle. A score of at least 75% passes. The vehicle you bring must have valid liability insurance, current registration, and an unexpired license plate.9Georgia Department of Driver Services. Test and Exams Information
Fees and Payment
What you pay depends on the document and validity period:10Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms
- Eight-year Class C license (standard noncommercial): $32
- Five-year Class C license: $20
- Class D provisional license (ages 16–17), five years: $10
- Instruction permit: $10
- Georgia ID card, eight years: $32
These maximum fees are set by statute.3Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-25 – Applications; Fees Customer service centers accept cash, credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Personal checks are not on the DDS list of accepted payment methods.10Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms
Veterans and National Guard
Qualified veterans receive a free driver’s license. Bring your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) showing honorable separation, or a Certificate of Eligibility (DS-516B) from the Georgia Department of Veteran Services. The waiver also covers the spouse of a disabled veteran who does not already hold a license, and the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who has not remarried.11Georgia Department of Driver Services. Military, Veterans, and National Guard
Active members of the Georgia National Guard in good standing qualify for a free license as well. Your commanding officer signs a Certificate of Eligibility (DS-318B), which you bring to any customer service center. Former National Guard or reserve members with 20 or more years of creditable service qualify for the same waiver.11Georgia Department of Driver Services. Military, Veterans, and National Guard
Getting Your Permanent Card
After approval and payment, DDS issues a temporary paper license or ID that is legally valid while your permanent card is produced. Allow up to 45 days for the card to arrive by mail.12Georgia Department of Driver Services. Renew a License or ID You can also download and print a temporary paper license from your DDS Online Services account.
If 45 days pass and nothing arrives, call the DDS customer contact center at 678-413-8400 or visit any customer service center. DDS does not offer a self-service tracking tool for mailing status, so a call or in-person visit is the way to check.13Georgia Department of Driver Services. Renewals FAQs Non-delivery most often traces back to an incorrect or outdated mailing address, so verify your address before you submit the application.
Penalties for False Information
Lying on the DS-23 is a criminal offense. Under Georgia Code § 40-5-125, anyone who uses a false name or fictitious address on a driver’s license application, or who knowingly makes a false statement or conceals a material fact during the licensing examination, is guilty of a violation of Code Section 16-10-20, Georgia’s false-statements statute.14Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-125 – Fraudulent Drivers License DDS can also deny or revoke your license. If you are unsure what to disclose, call DDS at 678-413-8400 before you submit the form.