A Quick Guide to Getting a Georgia Drivers License
Published October 25, 2022
A driver’s license is often at the top of everyone’s list of essential documents. It’s like passports and birth certificates in that they can come in handy in numerous situations. Not only do you need it to drive a car, but it’s also a type of ID card. Alas, a driver’s license is a document that requires a lot of time and effort to obtain. It involves several steps, like collecting documents and taking exams, among other things.
It also doesn’t help that every state has slightly different requirements for issuing a driver’s license. That said, if you reside in Georgia, here’s a quick guide to getting a Georgia driver’s license to help you out.
Can I Get A Driver’s License?
Before anything else, it’s important to understand that there are different types of driver’s licenses.
You won’t be eligible for every type. So, rather than asking if you can get a driver’s license, you must instead ask what kind of driver’s license you can get with your existing credentials or documents.
For our purposes, we’ll only look at three types of driver’s license in Georgia: (1) a Learner’s Permit or Class CP, (2) a Class D License, also known as a Provisional License, and (3) a Class C License.
All three types require roughly the same documents and undergo the same process.
The difference lies in the basic requirements, and that’ll be the focus of this section.
Learner’s Permit (Class CP)
A Learner’s Permit is a driver’s license with a couple of restrictions. In Georgia, this permit will allow you to drive a vehicle as long as a 21 years or older adult is present in the same car to accompany you.
They must also have a Class C License. A Learner’s Permit is for drivers 15 years of age.
Requirement/s:
- Being 15 years or older is pretty much the only requirement, apart from the documents.
Class D License (Provisional License)
A Class D License, also known as a Provisional License, is likewise a license with several restrictions, albeit a bit lighter. It’s typically what teen drivers get next once they obtain the Learner’s Permit.
Requirement/s:
- Only those 16 years of age or older can get a Class D License.
- You must be a holder of a Class CP or Learner’s Permit for one year and one day.
- There must be no record of major violations that may cause you to lose the permit.
- You must complete a driver education course with a certified driver training school.
Class C License
A Class C License is a level up from a Class D License. It doesn’t have many restrictions, apart from the vehicle you can drive. Most drivers in Georgia have and use this type of driver’s license.
Requirements/s:
- Applicants must be 18 years or older to get a Class C License.
At this point, you should’ve already determined what kind of license you have to get. Since the basic requirements are mostly just to be old enough, it shouldn’t be an issue. The next step is also simple.
Submit An Application Online
You must submit an application first if you intend to visit the Customer Service Center to get your Georgia state license. That way, the staff can expect your visit to their location and prepare for it accordingly.
Here’s how this will go:
- You will visit the online portal.
- The portal will ask for your personal information, including the following:
- Full Name
- Residential Address
- Demographics (Gender, Eye Color, Weight, and Height)
- Contact Information
- The portal will ask you a few YES/NO questions. You will answer honestly.
- Before the visit, you must inform them already what kind of documents you’ll provide when you visit their center, and you’ll do so through the portal.
There are three things you need to prove, and each one requires a corresponding document.
- Proof of Identity: You can give either one of these: Certificate of Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, US Birth Certificate, US Passport, and Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
- Proof of Social Security Number: You can give any of these: Paystub, W-2, Social Security Card, etc.
- Proof of Georgia Residency: You can choose between several options, including Credit Card Statement, Bank Statement, and Car Insurance. You must give two documents.
- You will submit the application.
Upon submitting the application, the next step would be to visit the Customer Service Center. But you need to wait for a date. While waiting, you must obtain the documents you chose in the portal.
That’s why choosing the documents you already have or are the easiest to get is advisable.
Once You’re In The Center
During your visit, the staff will require a few things from you. Of course, it’s a given that they’ll look for the documents you chose in the portal. Again, you need to bring and provide a total of four documents. One to prove your identity, one to show your social security number, and two to prove your Georgia residence.
Apart from that, you also have to pass a variety of tests and examples. These include:
- A Vision Exam
- A Knowledge Exam
- A Road Skills Test
You must also take a photo for the ID card. And lastly, you need to pay the license fee.
The fee depends on the state or region and what kind of license you’re getting. The Learner’s Permit and the Class D License each incur a fee of $10 each, while a Class C License will cost you $32 in fee.
Also, note that you must bring an adult if you want to get a Learner’s Permit or a Class D License.
That’s everything there is to know about getting a Georgia drivers license. While it’s indeed much harder to get than other documents, the reason why people tend to hold off getting it is not that it’s difficult but more so because it’s a hassle. But that’s not really the case, especially if you have a guide like this.
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About The Author
Lenard Arceo is an experienced blogger and writer who enjoys learning to code in his spare time. His commitment to delivering factual content is what has helped him create hundred of helpful articles that have reached millions of people.
