To get a Georgia driver’s permit, you need to be at least 15, bring proof of identity, your Social Security number, two documents showing Georgia residency, and (if you’re under 18) a notarized Certificate of School Enrollment to any Department of Driver Services (DDS) Customer Service Center, then pay a $10 fee and pass a vision screening and a 40-question written knowledge test. The permit, officially called a Class CP instructional permit, is valid for two years and lets you drive only with a qualifying adult in the front passenger seat.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. License Classes
Who Can Apply
You’re eligible on your 15th birthday.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. License Classes Applicants under 18 must show they’re enrolled in school or have already graduated or earned a GED, and a parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult has to come to the DDS office and sign the application as consent.2Georgia Department of Driver Services. Section 2: Obtaining a License, Permit or Identification Card
If you’re already 18 and have never been licensed, skip the permit entirely. Adults can apply directly for a full Class C license by passing both the knowledge test and a road skills test in one visit.
Documents to Bring
DDS turns people away for incomplete paperwork, so pull everything together before the trip:
- One proof of identity. An original or certified birth certificate with a raised seal, or an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.3Georgia Department of Driver Services. How Do I Learners Permit
- Your full Social Security number, entered on the required online form. You don’t need the physical card unless electronic verification fails.3Georgia Department of Driver Services. How Do I Learners Permit
- Two documents proving Georgia residency, from separate sources, showing your name and current street address. Utility bills, bank statements, and school records all qualify. P.O. boxes do not.4Georgia Department of Driver Services. Georgia REAL ID Information
Applicants under 18 also need a notarized Certificate of School Enrollment (Form DDS-1), which your school registrar or counselor fills out.5Georgia Department of Driver Services. School Enrollment Documents The form must be notarized and must cover the most current or recent academic year, including summer break.6Georgia Department of Driver Services. Certificate of School Enrollment Form
Georgia’s permit document rules already match federal REAL ID standards, so the same stack of documents gets you a REAL ID-compliant permit.4Georgia Department of Driver Services. Georgia REAL ID Information
The Fee and How You Pay
The permit costs $10, and DDS collects it before you test. If you fail, you don’t get it back, and you’ll pay another $10 before each retake. DDS accepts cash, credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.7Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms
The Vision Screening and Knowledge Test
You’ll take a quick vision screening and a two-part multiple-choice knowledge exam at the office. The exam breaks down like this:
- Road Signs: 20 questions on identifying traffic signs and symbols.
- Road Rules: 20 questions on right-of-way, lane usage, and Georgia traffic laws.
You need at least 15 correct answers on each part to pass.8Georgia Department of Driver Services. Test and Exams Information If you fail only one part, you retake just that part, but the $10 fee applies again every time.7Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms Study the Georgia Driver’s Manual first. The test is offered in 26 languages, including Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, and French.9Georgia Department of Driver Services. List of Languages
What Happens at the DDS Office
You don’t need an appointment for a permit. DDS only requires appointments for behind-the-wheel road tests; permit applicants are accepted as walk-ins at any Customer Service Center.10Georgia Department of Driver Services. Appointments
To shave time off the visit, use the “Skip a Step” online pre-application on the DDS website before you go. It lets you enter your personal information in advance and bypass the self-service kiosk at the office.
Once you check in, a staff member reviews your documents. You pay the $10 fee, take the vision screening and knowledge exam, and have your photo taken if you pass. DDS issues a temporary paper permit on the spot, and that paper document is legally valid for driving while your permanent plastic card is produced and mailed. The permanent card should arrive before the paper permit expires. If it doesn’t, contact DDS directly.11Georgia Department of Driver Services. Georgia Driver’s Permit
What You Can and Can’t Do With a Permit
A Class CP permit is not a license to drive alone. Every time you’re behind the wheel, a supervising driver must sit in the front seat next to you. That person must be at least 21, hold a valid Class C license (commercial or noncommercial), and be physically capable of taking control of the vehicle.12Justia. Georgia Code 40-5-24 – Instruction Permits; Graduated Licensing and Related Restrictions; Temporary Licenses No exceptions for short trips or neighborhood driving. Getting caught without a qualifying supervisor can bring fines and delay your Class D license.
Your permit is valid for two years from the date it’s issued.7Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms If you don’t upgrade to a Class D license before it expires, you start over with a new application and fee.
Georgia’s hands-free law applies to permit holders like every other driver. You cannot hold a phone or support it with any part of your body while driving. Headsets and earpieces are fine; scrolling, texting, or holding the phone to your ear is not. Fines run up to $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second within 24 months, and $150 for a third or later within that window.13FindLaw. Georgia Code Title 40 Motor Vehicles and Traffic 40-6-241 A first-time violation can be dismissed if you show the court you’ve bought a hands-free device, but that forgiveness is one time only.
Moving From a Permit to a License
The permit is the first step. To upgrade to a Class D provisional license, you must hold the permit for at least one year and one day with no major traffic violations that resulted in a suspension during that period.14Georgia Department of Driver Services. Class D
Before DDS will issue a Class D license at 16 or 17, you also need to complete a state-approved driver education course under Joshua’s Law. All four approved methods include 30 hours of classroom or online instruction and 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian, and some methods add six hours of behind-the-wheel training at a certified driving school. At least six of the 40 supervised hours must be at night.15Georgia Department of Driver Services. Joshua’s Law Requirements Start logging those hours soon after you get the permit; families routinely underestimate how long 40 hours takes to accumulate. You’ll also need to complete the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP or eADAP) before the Class D is issued.14Georgia Department of Driver Services. Class D