Notes

Georgia law requires that any person wanting
to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways
of this state obtain a Georgia driver’s license or
permit within 30 days of becoming a resident.
A person meeting at least one of the following
criteria is considered a Georgia resident according
to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. §40-5-1):
• A person who has a permanent home or
abode in Georgia and, when absent, has the
intent of returning;
• A person who accepts employment or engages
in any trade or occupation in Georgia
or who enters his/her children in school;
• Any person that has been in the state for 30
days or more.
Not required to obtain a Georgia
Driver’s License/Permit
• Any employee of the United States government
who is operating a motor vehicle owned
by or leased to the United States government
or that is being operated on official business.
This exemption does not apply if the employee
is required by the United States government
or any agency of the United States
Government to have a state driver’s license;
• A nonresident who is at least 16 years of age
and who has in his or her immediate possession
a valid license issued to him or her in
his or her home state or country. However,
any restrictions that would apply to a Georgia
driver’s license as a matter of law would
apply to any person who has an out-of-state
license. If the license is in a language other
than English, a valid international driving
permit must also be carried at all times;
• A nonresident who is on active duty in the
armed forces of the United States if he or she
has a valid license issued by his or her home
state. This includes their spouse or dependent
son or daughter who has a valid license issued
by their home state;
• Any person who is on active duty in the
armed forces of the United States and who
has in his or her immediate possession a valid
license issued in a foreign country by the
armed forces of the United States. However,
this license will only be accepted for a period
of not more than 45 days from the date of his
or her return to the United States;
• Any person driving or operating a farm tractor
or farm equipment temporarily operated
on a highway for the purpose of conducting
farm business;
• Any member of the reserve components of
the armed forces of the United States who is
operating a motor vehicle owned by or leased
to the United States government. However,
the motor vehicle must be operated in accordance
with the duties of the person as a
member of the reserve components of the
armed forces;
• Any person seeking to obtain a driver’s license
while he or she is taking the driving
examination to obtain a license. This person
must be accompanied by a driver examiner
of the department or a certified examining
agent of the department;
• Any migrant farm worker who works in this
state less than 90 days in any calendar year
and who possesses a valid driver’s license
issued by another state;
• Any resident who is 15 years of age or over
while taking actual in-car training in a
non-commercial training vehicle and while
under the direct personal supervision of a
DDS-licensed driving instructor. A driving
instructor must test the eyesight of any unlicensed
person who will be receiving actual
in-car training prior to the training, and the
person must meet the vision requirements
listed on page 8 of this manual;
• Any person who is operating a motorized
cart on any roadway publicly maintained
for the use of motorized carts only, or when
crossing a street or highway used by other
types of motor vehicles at a location designated
for such crossing by a motorized cart;
• A nonresident of Georgia who is attending
a school in this state, as long as:
a. He or she is at least 16 years of age and
has in his or her immediate possession
a valid license issued to him or her in
his or her home state or country and a
valid international driving permit if the
license is in a language other than English;
provided, however, that any restrictions
which would apply to a Georgia driver’s
license apply to the privileges given to this
person; and
b. He or she is currently enrolled or was enrolled
during the immediately preceding
period of enrollment in a school in this
state, has paid the tuition charged by the
school to nonresidents of Georgia for the
current or immediately preceding period
of enrollment, and has in his or her possession
proof of payment of such tuition paid
for the current or immediately preceding
period of enrollment.
Applicants under age 18 —
automobile or motorcycle
In addition to the requirements listed above,
applicants under 18 years of age must present
proof of the following:
• All applicants under 18 years of age must have
a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult
present to sign the application. A responsible
adult only applies to emancipated applicants
with court ordered documentation.
• Completion of Alcohol and Drug Awareness
Program (ADAP);
• Satisfaction of school attendance and conduct
requirements;
• For a Class D license or for a Class MP instructional
permit at age 16, proof of completion
of a DDS-approved driver education
program;
• For a Class D license or a Class M instructional
permit (MP) at age 16, evidence of at
least forty (40) hours of supervised driving,
six of which must be at night.
Additional details concerning these requirements
can be found on pages 30-32 of this
manual or on our website at www.dds.ga.gov.
Previous Licenses,
Instructional Permits or
Identification Cards
In most cases, when applying for renewal,
replacement or transfer of any license, instructional
permit, or identification card (ID Card)
previously issued in Georgia or any other state
or foreign jurisdiction, customers must surrender,
the previously-issued license/permit/ID
to DDS. In some cases, surrender of all valid
licenses/permits/ID cards will be required.
Most non-citizen customers with a valid out
of country driver’s license, permit, or ID, may
retain their out of country document upon issuance
of a Georgia-equivalent document. U.S.
citizens will not be allowed to retain any licenses,
permits, or identification cards issued to them by
foreign countries.
Health Requirements
In the interest of highway safety, DDS must ensure
that all persons seeking to obtain a Georgia
driver’s license are physically and mentally capable
of safely operating a motor vehicle. Therefore,
you must answer questions truthfully concerning
your health. You will be asked if you now
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