To pass the Georgia driver’s license test, you need to clear three separate evaluations at a Department of Driver Services (DDS) center: a written knowledge exam with a Road Rules part and a Road Signs part (15 of 20 correct on each), a vision screening, and a road skills test that includes parallel parking, a three-point turn, straight-line backing, and an on-the-road driving evaluation.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. Test and Exams Information Preparation is what separates a one-visit pass from repeat trips, so the details below walk through exactly what each part measures and where applicants most often lose points.
The Knowledge Exam
The knowledge exam is split into two parts of 20 questions each. You need at least 15 correct answers on both the Road Rules portion and the Road Signs portion to pass.1Georgia Department of Driver Services. Test and Exams Information If you pass one part but fail the other, you only retake the part you failed.2Georgia Department of Driver Services. Georgia Department of Driver Services – Section 3 Continued
Road Rules questions cover right-of-way, proper signaling, safe following distance, and legal blood alcohol limits. Road Signs questions test your ability to identify highway signs, signals, and markers by their shapes, colors, and symbols.3Georgia Department of Driver Services. Section 3 – Testing Information Both are taken on computer kiosks at DDS centers, and the system stops each part as soon as you’ve either locked in a pass or lost enough questions to fail.
Study the DDS Driver’s Manual. Every knowledge question is drawn from it, and it is free to download from the DDS website. The exam is available in 26 languages, including Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, French, and Russian.4Georgia Department of Driver Services. List of Languages The $10 learner’s permit fee is due before you sit down, and it is not refunded if you fail; you pay it again for each retake.5Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms
Vision Screening
Georgia requires visual acuity of 20/60 or better and a horizontal field of vision of at least 140 degrees. If you meet the standard only with glasses or contacts, your license will carry a corrective lens restriction. If one eye tests at 20/60 or worse even with correction, your license will require a left-side outside rearview mirror.6Georgia Secretary of State. Subject 375-3-1 General Provisions Wear your usual corrective lenses to the screening.
The Road Skills Test
The road skills test has two parts. The first is a basic skills evaluation in a controlled area, and the second is an on-the-road driving evaluation in traffic.7Georgia Department of Driver Services. Guidelines for Road Skills Test Routes
The Three Basic Maneuvers
- Parallel parking. You park midway between two markers, positioning the car no more than 18 inches from the curb, inside a space measuring 22 feet long by 10 feet deep.
- Three-point turn. You reverse direction in a confined space using a three-point turnabout.
- Straight-line backing. You back the car approximately 50 feet at slow speed, staying straight and within the boundary lines. You must turn your head and look behind the vehicle while backing.
On the Road
Once you leave the controlled area, the examiner scores how you handle real traffic. Watch for lane positioning at intersections, signal before every turn, keep a safe following distance, yield to pedestrians and other drivers, and keep both hands on the wheel.2Georgia Department of Driver Services. Georgia Department of Driver Services – Section 3 Continued Scoring is based on time, distance, and path violations. The examiner can end the test early for unsafe actions or for failing to follow instructions, so treat every direction as part of the evaluation.
The Vehicle You Bring
You supply the car for the road test, and a DDS examiner inspects it before the evaluation begins. Bring a paper copy of the vehicle’s registration and a current, valid insurance card. If you are driving a rental, your name must appear on the rental agreement. For a car with a temporary tag or one purchased within the last 30 days, bring the bill of sale.8Georgia Department of Driver Services. Road Test Appointments
The safety inspection checks working turn signals, brake lights, a functioning horn, intact mirrors, and a windshield with a clear view. Tires need adequate tread. Both the driver and examiner need working seatbelts. If any of this fails, the test does not proceed until the problems are fixed. Check the car the day before, not in the parking lot.
Documents and the Appointment
Before any of this, you have to be admitted to test. Bring one document proving identity, one proving your Social Security number, and two separate documents proving your Georgia residential address.9Georgia Department of Driver Services. Secure ID Brochure
Acceptable identity documents include a certified U.S. birth certificate, a valid or recently expired U.S. passport, a certificate of naturalization, or a certificate of citizenship. A hospital keepsake birth certificate does not count. For Social Security proof, use your Social Security card, a W-2 showing the full number, a recent pay stub with the full number, an SSA-1099, or an SSA denial letter. For residency, two documents such as a utility bill, bank statement, mortgage document, property tax bill, or Georgia tax return will work; utility bills and bank statements must be dated within the last two years.9Georgia Department of Driver Services. Secure ID Brochure
Complete the License/ID/Permit application online through DDS Online Services or the DDS 2 GO mobile app before your visit. Paper forms are no longer accepted at the counter.10Georgia Department of Driver Services. DDS Forms
The knowledge exam does not need its own appointment; you take it when you visit for your learner’s permit. The road skills test does require an online appointment, and walk-ins are not accepted. Submit the online application first, then use the DDS scheduling tool to pick your date, time, and location. Same-day slots are not available. Arrive at least 20 minutes early. Showing up late may cost you the appointment.8Georgia Department of Driver Services. Road Test Appointments
Extra Requirements If You Are Under 18
Georgia’s Joshua’s Law adds requirements before a driver under 18 can take the road test for a Class D provisional license. You must hold your learner’s permit for at least one year and one day. During that time you must complete a 30-hour driver education course, available in person or online through a certified program, and log 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian, including at least 6 hours at night.11Georgia Department of Driver Services. Joshua’s Law Requirements
Applicants 18 and older skip the formal driver education course, but they still sign an affidavit at the road test confirming 40 hours of supervised driving, including 6 hours at night.8Georgia Department of Driver Services. Road Test Appointments Teens also cannot qualify for the Class D license if they have certain serious traffic convictions, including DUI, hit-and-run, racing, or reckless driving, in the 12 months before applying.12Justia Law. Georgia Code 40-5-24 – Instruction Permits
If You Fail
A failure is a delay, not a bar. After your first failure on any portion of the knowledge exam or road test, you have to wait until the following day to retake the part you failed. After a second or later failure, the wait extends to seven days.2Georgia Department of Driver Services. Georgia Department of Driver Services – Section 3 Continued
Each knowledge exam retake requires another $10 permit fee.5Georgia Department of Driver Services. Fees and Terms A non-commercial road skills retest carries no separate testing fee, but you have to book a new appointment through the online system. Use the wait to work the DDS Driver’s Manual for missed knowledge topics, or practice the specific maneuver that tripped you up, before you go back.