new georgia drivers license - GA

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You must apply for a Georgia driver's license within 30 days of becoming a Georgia resident. All Customer Service Centers can transfer an out of state license to a Georgia license. These Customer Service Centers in the Metro Atlanta area offer appointments to transfer your out of state license to Georgia: Decatur-South DeKalb Mall, North Cobb-Canton Rd in Marietta, Lithonia,Lawrenceville, and Locust Grove. View the current fee information.

Age Requirements

Age 18 for Class A, B and C license
Age 16 for Class D provisional license
Age 15 for Class CP instructional permit
Age 17 for Class M license
Age 16 for Class MP instructional permit

Under 18 Additional Requirements

All unlicensed applicants under 18 will be required to show (on a form prescribed by the DDS) they have completed a course on alcohol and drugs before they are issued a driver's license. This course will be taught by an instructor authorized by DDS.
All applicants under the age of 18 must provide a Certificate of Attendance (DS-1) , dated within thirty days, as proof of enrollment in school or must have received a GED, a high school diploma, or has completed high school.
Applicants under age 18 who have never been licensed by any other jurisdiction cannot receive an initial issuance of a class C or D license unless such person:
- Has held an instructional permit for a minimum of one year and one day
- If age 16, has completed an approved driver education course in a licensed private or public driver training school
- Has completed 40 hours of supervised driving, with at least 6 hours at night.
- The parent or guardian of an applicant under the age of 18 or the applicant if over the age of 18 must sign a verification form attesting to the above requirement.

Other Requirements

Applicant must surrender all previous driver's licenses, identification cards, and instructional permits issued by any other state or country if a US citizen or a CDL license holder. Non US citizens may retain foreign and international licenses.
If applicant does not have in their possession, a license/ID card to surrender must provide a certified copy of Motor Vehicle Report or status letter from previous state.
A DS-36 is required in Classes A and B.
For applicants under the age of 18, a certified copy of the motor vehicle report from the former jurisdiction will be required in order to give credit for a license or permit held in another state, only if the out of state permit /license is lost or stolen, if the out of state license / permit is not valid, or if the issue date on the out of state permit is not the original issue date (later replacement date). The certified motor vehicle report is good for 30 days. A separate certified motor vehicle report must be presented for both permit issuance and Class D license issuance, unless permit and license are issued within 30 days.
Documents presented must be either in English or translated into English by a translator approved by the Department of Driver Services.
The Department may require a medical evaluation if an applicant has a mental or physical condition that could prevent the safe operation of a motor vehicle.

Note: Knowledge (written) testing must begin at least 30 minutes before the center closes.

Click here if you have a Driver's License from another country

All documents must be in English. Click here Translator List to locate an approved document translation company.

Steps to get Your New Georgia Drivers License

Exchange a Valid (or expired less than 2 years) Out of State License for a Georgia License
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Surrender a valid out of state license or an out of state license expired less than two years. If you do not have the license in your possession, see Lost or Expired Out of State License section on this page.
  1. An out of state license is defined as one issued by one the other 49 states and District of Columbia.
  2. For licenses from other countries, see Drivers From Other Nations.
  3. By surrendering a license as described above, you are exempt from the written and road test.
    - Exception: Licenses from US Territories must pass the written and road tests.
  4. You will need to pass the vision exam.
- Social Security requirements
  1. Have a social security number (the card itself is not required) OR
  2. Present certification from the Social Security Administration (Letter of Denial, Form SSAL 676) that you are not eligible for issuance of a social security number due to alien status and not authorized to work in the United States.
  3. Your social security number will be verified with the Social Security Administration and personal information must be consistent with both Agencies to be issued a license.
- Provide proof of Georgia residency
  1. Present a bank statement issued within the past 60 days
  2. A utility bill issued within the past 60 days
  3. Current valid rental contracts and/or receipts for payments made within the last 60 days for rent payments with valid Georgia residence address
  4. Employer verification (letter from employer on company letterhead stating applicant's full name and home address) or check stub stating name and address.
  5. Georgia driver's license of parent, child, guardian or spouse; the GA license/ID card holder must also be present for identification.
- Provide proof of identity
  1. An original birth certificate, certificate of birth registration, certified copy of birth certificate or delayed birth certificate (Hospital birth certificates not acceptable)
  2. If your name has changed from your original birth record or passport, you must present the complete trail of certified documents supporting all name changes. Documents include but are not limited to:
    - Marriage license, marriage certificate or marriage license application (for all marriages) Please note: by law, same sex marriage certificates cannot be accepted for name changes.
    - Divorce decree (if a name change was specified on the decree). Divorce decree may not substitute for marriage documents.
    - Adoption – court orders
    - Legal name change – court orders
  3. Certified naturalization documentation
  4. Immigration ID Card
  5. Valid passport
  6. Military identification card issued by the United States armed forces (must provide additional proof of citizenship).
  7. Provide proof of citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S.
    1. To prove U.S. citizenship provide one of the following:
      - Birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory (Military ID is not proof of US citizenship.)
      - Valid US passport
    2. To prove lawful presence in the United States, provide Valid and current immigration documentation.
      
      --All documents must be originals; faxes and copies are not acceptable--
Lost and Expired Out of State License
- If you do not have the out of state license in your possession, an original letter of clearance or certified driving record from the issuing state must be presented.
  - The letter or driving record must be dated within 30 days.
  - All licensing information from the issuing state must be included in the letter or driving record.
- You must also provide proof of residency, identity and U.S. citizenship or lawful presence as noted above.
- Out of state license expired
  - If the out of state license is expired for less than two years, you will only be required to take a vision test.
  - If the out of state license is expired for two years or more, you will be required to pass the written, road and vision exams.

Documents needed

Identity (One from the List Below)

New Georgia residents applying for a license or permit must show some acceptable form of personal identification that includes full name, month, day and year of birth. After verification of full name and date of birth, documents will be returned immediately to the licensee. The following items are acceptable but must be Original or a Certified Copy:
- Original birth certificate (State issued) State Vital Statistics (Hospital birth certificates are not acceptable).
- If your name has changed from your original birth record or passport, you must present the complete trail of certified documents supporting all name changes. Documents include but are not limited to:
  - Marriage license, marriage certificate or marriage license application (for all marriages. Please note: by law, same sex marriage certificates cannot be accepted for name changes.)
  - Divorce decree (if a name change was specified on the decree). Divorce decree may not substitute for marriage documents.
  - Adoption – court orders
  - Legal name change – court orders
- Certified copy of birth certificate (Issued by Vital Statistics with affixed seal)
- Certificate of birth registration
- Certified naturalization documents
- Immigration I.D. card Immigration and Naturalization
- Valid (unexpired) Passport
- Military identification card issued by the United States armed forces (must provide additional proof of citizenship)

Residency (One from the list Below)

Each applicant must furnish proof that he or she resides in Georgia and must provide documentation of a valid Georgia residence address. The following items are acceptable as proof of residency:
- Utility bill issued within the last sixty (60) days
- Bank statement issued within the last sixty (60) days
- Current valid rental contracts and/or receipts for payments made within the last sixty (60) days for rent payments
- Employer verification, including, but not limited to, one of the following:
  - Paycheck or paycheck stub
  - Letter from employer; or
  - W-2 for current or preceding calendar year
- Non-expired Georgia driver's license, permit or identification card issued to parent, child, guardian, or spouse; the GA license/ID card holder must also be present for identification.
- Health insurance statement
- State of Georgia or Federal income tax return for current or preceding calendar year
- Annual social security statement for current or preceding calendar year;
- Medicare or Medicaid statement
- School record or transcript for current or preceding calendar year
- Mortgage, payment coupon, deed, or property tax bill for current or preceding calendar year.

Citizenship or Lawful Presence in the U.S.

In addition to providing personal identification, all applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S.
U.S. citizens must furnish proof of citizenship. In order to prove U.S. citizenship, an applicant for an initial Georgia driver license, permit or identification card shall furnish one of the following as proof:
- Original birth certificate issued by a United States jurisdiction;
- Certified copy of birth certificate issued by a United States jurisdiction;
- Valid United States passport;
- Original certificate of citizenship (Form N560);
- Certified copy of certificate of citizenship (Form N560);
- Original certificate of naturalization (Form N550);
- Certified copy of certificate of naturalization (Form N550).
- Military ID does not prove citizenship; must present one citizenship document from list above
Non US Citizens must meet one of the following requirements:
- Valid (not expired) Foreign passport with I-94 card or stamp or I-551 stamp
- Permanent resident alien card (I-551)
- Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- Reentry Permit (I-327)
- For Refugees/Asylees: I-94 only (no passport required), or Refugee Travel Document (I-571)
- For F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2 status – I-94 with valid foreign passport AND I-20 (F-1/F-2) or DS-2019 (J-1/J-2).
- For customers from Visa I-94 waiver countries: Valid foreign passport with Visa I-94 Waiver stamp
  Note: Non US Citizens must present original immigration documentation for each service or transaction conducted with the Department Of Driver Services.