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Getting your first driver license can seem overwhelming at first. But with the right advice, you can do anything. This article will walk you through the process of getting a driver license in Georgia for the first time no matter what your reason is; whether you’re moving to the country from a nation without a reciprocity agreement, you’ve just become old enough to qualify, or any of another million reasons.

How Do I Get a (Class C) License in Georgia?

The Class C regular driver license is Georgia’s standard-class driver license. It enables you to drive most civilian sedans, pickups, SUVs, etc. for personal use. It does not enable you to drive commercial vehicles of any kind, “big rig” semi trucks, or motorcycles.

To get your Class C driver license in Georgia, you’ll need to either go through the full standard application process or transfer a license from another state.

If you already have, for example, a Florida standard-class driver license, then you can just head on down to the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and have it exchanged. The same goes for if you have a driver license from a foreign country that has a reciprocity agreement with Georgia’s DDS.

If you have never had a driver license before (or if your driver license is from a country that does not have a reciprocity agreement with Georgia’s DDS), then you will have to go through the entire application process as normal.

Who Can Get a Class C License?

Anybody who is at least 18 years old and a resident of the state can obtain a Class C driver license in Georgia.

Note that individuals under the age of 18 years are allowed to get driver licenses in the state of Georgia. However, the driver licenses available to 16- and 17- year-olds are not Class C regular licenses. Individuals under the age of 18 can obtain provisional driver licenses. These are not the same. We will discuss provisional driver licenses later in this article.

Documents

Like the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the DDS is famous for its love of documentation. In order to spend as little time as possible at your DDS appointment, it’s important to bring all of the necessary documentation. Your documentation must prove all of the following criteria:

• Your full legal name.
• Your residential address.
• Your citizenship status (plus proof of legal residency, if applicable).
• Proof of social security.

If you already have a driving permit issued by the state of Georgia, bringing that, your US Passport, and your original Social Security card can satisfy all of these requirements.

If you have an out-of-state driver license or permit, you will need to surrender it to the DDS representative in order to receive your new driver license. Furthermore, all of your documents must be written in English.

If your out-of-state driver license or permit has been lost or stolen, you will need to provide the DDS with a copy of your official driving record or motor vehicle report (MVR) from the state that issued the card instead. That MVR must be dated within the last 60 days and can be faxed directly to the DDS from the out-of-state agency.

At the DDS

To begin the process of getting a Georgia driver license, you’ll need to schedule an appointment at the DDS location in your county. Wait until your appointment date comes and then head to the DDS office with all of your paperwork and supporting documents. The customer service representative will review your paperwork and documents to ensure that they are sufficient before moving on to the next step: the vision test.

You will need to pass a vision test in order to qualify for a driver license in Georgia. You should first attempt to pass the vision test without your glasses or other corrective lenses, as doing so will enable you to drive without those lenses. However, if you cannot pass the vision test unless you are wearing corrective lenses, that’s okay. All that means is that you will be legally required to wear those corrective lenses whenever you are operating any motor vehicle.

Once you’ve passed your vision test—if this is your first time getting a driver license—you will be required to pass the state’s Knowledge Exam and Road Skills Test. Each of these tests must be passed with a grade of at least 75% or else you will not be permitted to obtain your license.

After passing all of the necessary tests, you will take your license photo, pay all applicable fees, and obtain your Class C Georgia driver license.

Teen Licenses

Teenagers ages 15, 16, and 17 can be permitted to drive vehicles on public roadways in Georgia, but only under certain limited circumstances. Nobody under the age of 18 years can obtain a Class C regular driver license in Georgia. Instead, a driver permit or provisional driver license will be issued.

Types of Licenses for Teens

The first type of license for teens is the learner’s permit. The learner’s permit becomes available once the teen turns 15 years old and passes a written exam. While in possession of a learner’s permit, you will only be allowed to drive a vehicle when under the direct supervision of a passenger over the age of 21 who has a Class C regular license.

The second type of license for teens is the provisional driver license. This license becomes available when the teen turns 16 years old, has held their learner’s permit for 366 days (one year and one day), and has passed their Road Skills Test.

For the first six months after receiving a provisional driver license, you will not be permitted to drive between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. and the only passengers you will be permitted to drive with will be immediate family members (unless under the direct supervision of somebody over the age of 21 years with a valid Class C Georgia driver license).

After six months have passed since you first earned your provisional driver license, you will be permitted to drive with one passenger one the age of 21 years of age to whom you are not related. The midnight to 5:00 a.m. time restriction still applies.

After a full year passes since you earned your provisional license, you will be able to drive with three passengers to whom you are not related. The midnight to 5:00 a.m. time restriction still applies.