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Georgia teens need at least 40 hours of supervised driving, including 6 at night, before a Class D license. Georgia has no required log. Instead, a parent or guardian signs an affidavit at DDS. The free DDS Parent/Teen Driving Guide is a set of lesson plans that can replace the 6 instructor hours under Joshua’s Law. This checklist covers both.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- At least 40 hours of supervised driving, at least 6 of them at night.
- No driving log is required.
- At the road test, a parent, guardian or authorized DDS-certified instructor swears or affirms the hours were done.
- The Parent/Teen Driving Guide is free to download or available at any Customer Service Center.
- Paired with a 30-hour classroom or online course, the guide meets Joshua’s Law.
Who can supervise practice hours?
DDS’s driver education FAQ says the supervising person must:
- be at least 21
- hold an unexpired Class C driver’s license
- sit next to the driver at all times
- be capable of taking control of the vehicle if needed
Two routes: 6 instructor hours or the guide
| Instructor route | Parent/Teen Driving Guide route | |
|---|---|---|
| Behind-the-wheel training | 6 hours with a DDS-certified school | Parent-taught, following the guide |
| Supervised driving | 40 hours on top, 6 at night | The guide’s 40 hours, which include the supervised driving |
| Paperwork at DDS | The 40-hour affidavit, plus a separate document confirming the instructor hours | Driving Experience Affidavit (DDS-7), signed at DDS |
| Insurance discount | DDS says only 30 classroom hours plus 6 behind-the-wheel hours from a state-licensed school qualifies | Not named in DDS’s insurance answer, so ask your insurer |
The full Joshua’s Law rules are in Georgia Joshua’s Law explained.
What is in the Parent/Teen Driving Guide?
The guide is organized as numbered sessions from 1 to 40, building from a parking lot to expressways and night driving:
| Sessions | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Instrument panel, controls, mirrors and blind spots (bring a tape measure and cones or cups) |
| 3 to 5 | Moving, stopping, reference points and steering at different speeds |
| 6 and 7 | Backing and one-hand steering |
| 8 to 10 | Turning, lane position and visual skills |
| 11 to 13 | Searching your path 12 to 20 seconds ahead, curves and turns on quiet roads |
| 14 to 16 | Angle, perpendicular and parallel parking |
| 17 and 18 | Turnabouts: 2-point, 3-point and U-turns |
| 19 to 21 | Multiple-lane roads: lane changes, following distance, blind spots |
| 22 to 24 | Crowded urban roads |
| 25 to 28 | Expressways at speeds up to 70 mph |
| 29 and 30 | Crash avoidance: vision, steering and braking drills |
| 31 to 40 | Driving after sunset: glare, headlights and night vision |
The guide suggests mixing night driving into lessons where possible. Sessions 14 to 18 line up with the parallel parking and turnabout tasks on the Georgia road test.
Tips from the guide for supervising parents
- Start in an automatic car if you can, in a large empty parking lot, then move to quiet neighborhoods.
- The guide calls 30 minutes the best learning period for beginners. Spend the first half of a one-hour session on new skills and the second half checking them.
- Give directions in two parts: where first, then the action (“At the next intersection, turn right”).
- Use commentary driving. Have your teen say out loud what they see and plan to do.
- Practice your own emergency moves from the passenger seat: steering with your left hand, and using a center parking brake if your car has one.
- Check your teen has the permit and insurance information before every drive.
Tracking your hours anyway
Georgia does not require a log, but the adult who signs is swearing under penalty of law that the hours were done. A simple record of date, minutes, day or night, and the skill practiced makes the affidavit honest and easy to sign. It also shows you whether you have reached the 6 night hours.
Common questions
Do I need a driving log in Georgia?
No. A parent, guardian or authorized DDS-certified instructor attests to the 40 hours when you apply.
Can a grandparent supervise?
Any supervisor who is at least 21 with an unexpired Class C license and sits next to you can supervise practice. The affidavit is signed by a parent, guardian or authorized instructor.
Do the 6 instructor hours count toward the 40?
DDS describes the 40 hours as other driving experience, in addition to the instructor’s 6 hours.
Where do I get the Parent/Teen Driving Guide?
It is a free download on the DDS manuals page and is also available at any Customer Service Center.
Do adults need 40 hours too?
Yes. First-time applicants aged 18 and over sign an affidavit confirming 40 hours of supervised driving, including 6 at night.
How do Georgia’s hours compare with other states?
See supervised driving hours by state.
Related: Georgia instructional permit at 15. Back to the main guide: Learning to drive in Georgia.
Sources
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “40-Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide 2024-2025”, introduction and sessions 1 to 40 (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Driver Education FAQs” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Joshua’s Law Requirements” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Joshua’s Law Explained FAQs” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Section 2: Obtaining a License, Permit or Identification Card”, Georgia Driver’s Manual (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Manuals” (dds.georgia.gov)