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The Georgia permit test is the DDS knowledge exam you pass to get a Class CP instructional permit at 15 or older. It has two parts, Road Signs and Road Rules. Each part has 20 questions, and you need 15 correct on each to pass. This page covers the format, fees, languages, retakes and what to study.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Two tests: Road Signs (20 questions) and Road Rules (20 questions).
- Pass mark: 15 out of 20 on each, which is 75%.
- Fee: $10, paid before every attempt, with no refund if you fail.
- Walk-in at any DDS Customer Service Center. No appointment is needed.
- You must be on the computer at least 30 minutes before the center closes.
- Retest: next day after a first failure, 7 days after a second or later failure.
How many questions are on the Georgia permit test?
40 in total, in two separately scored tests:
| Test | Questions | To pass | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Signs | 20 | 15 correct | Identifying standard highway signs, signals and markers |
| Road Rules | 20 | 15 correct | Driver responsibility, Georgia traffic laws and safe driving practices |
The parts are scored separately. If you fail one part, you retake only that part.
What to bring on test day
- The online License/ID/Permit Form, submitted before your visit. DDS keeps it on file for 60 days.
- Identity, lawful presence and two Georgia residency documents. Your full Social Security Number goes on the online form.
- Proof of school enrollment if you are under 18.
- A parent, guardian, responsible adult or authorized driver training instructor to sign for you if you are under 18.
- $10. DDS centers take cash, credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
You also take a vision exam. The standard is 20/60 in at least one eye, with or without glasses, and a 140-degree field of vision. Full document list: Georgia instructional permit at 15.
Test room rules
Breaking any of these counts as misconduct, and the whole session is marked as a fail:
- No pens, pencils, paper or other items in the testing area.
- No cell phones, texting devices or other wireless devices.
- No talking to anyone except the examiner.
What languages is the Georgia knowledge test in?
DDS’s Test and Exams page says both the Road Rules and Road Signs tests are available in 26 languages: English, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Pashto, Portuguese (Brazil), Rohingya, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, Wolof and Yoruba.
The online Driver’s Manual still says Road Signs is English only. If you plan to take Road Signs in another language, confirm at your center first. The road test itself is in English only.
Oral exams are available for customers with reading disabilities, and centers can schedule an interpreter for hearing-impaired customers. Ask your local center, as schedules vary.
What to study for the Road Signs test
Section 7 of the Georgia Driver’s Manual is your source. Georgia uses seven basic sign shapes. Learn to recognize each one by shape and color from a distance:
- Octagon: always means stop. Stop at the stop line, or before the crosswalk if there is no line.
- Vertical rectangle: usually regulatory, telling you what you must do.
- Horizontal rectangle: usually a guide sign showing places, directions or information.
- Orange signs with black letters or symbols: work zone warnings.
Also learn the pavement markings: solid yellow line on your side means no passing, the X and two Rs before railroad crossings, and center turn lanes that are for left turns only. The national guides US road signs by shape and color, US pavement markings and traffic signals in the US cover the shared national system.
What to study for the Road Rules test
Questions come from the manual. These Georgia facts are worth memorizing:
| Topic | Georgia rule |
|---|---|
| Permit supervisor | Licensed Class C driver aged 21 or older, in the seat beside you |
| Class D curfew | No driving 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. |
| Default speed limits | 30 mph urban or residential, 35 mph unpaved county road, 70 mph rural interstate, 65 mph urban interstate, 55 mph elsewhere |
| Super Speeder | $200 state fee for 75 mph or more on a two-lane road, or 85 mph or more on any road |
| Railroad crossing stop | No closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail |
| No passing | Within 100 feet of a railroad crossing, bridge, viaduct or tunnel |
| Parking | Not within 15 feet of a hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, or 30 feet of a stop sign or signal (momentary pick-up or drop-off only) |
| Alcohol under 21 | 0.02 or more counts as under the influence |
| Teen points | Under 18: suspension for 4 points in 12 months |
| Phones | No holding or supporting a phone while driving |
Right-of-way questions are common: the driver on the left yields at uncontrolled intersections, and the first to arrive goes first at all-way stops. See four-way stops explained.
If you fail
- First failure: wait until the next day to retake the part you failed.
- Second or later failure: wait 7 days.
- Pay the $10 fee again before each attempt.
Common questions
Is the Georgia permit test hard?
You need 75% on each part, so you can miss up to 5 questions per part. Study the manual and use DDS’s free online practice test.
Can I take the Georgia permit test online?
DDS describes the knowledge exam as walk-in at Customer Service Centers. The online option is the practice test only.
Do I need an appointment for the knowledge test?
No. Appointments are needed only for road tests.
Do I need ADAP for my permit?
DDS’s learner’s permit page does not list ADAP. You need the ADAP certificate for your Class D license. See ADAP and eADAP.
What happens after I pass?
You get your photo taken and receive a temporary permit. The permanent card is mailed to you.
How do other states compare?
Back to the main guide: Learning to drive in Georgia.
Sources
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Section 3: Testing Information”, Georgia Driver’s Manual (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Test and Exams Information” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Get a Learners Permit (Class CP)” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Fees and Terms” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Practice Tests & Guides” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Section 5: Traffic Laws” and “Section 7: Signs, Signals & Markings”, Georgia Driver’s Manual (dds.georgia.gov)