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Georgia’s licensing fees are low: $10 for a Class CP learner’s permit, $10 for a Class D provisional license and $32 for a full Class C license. The catch is that the permit fee is charged again every time you sit the knowledge exam. Knowledge exams are walk-in. Road tests are by appointment only, booked through DDS Online Services after you submit the online License/ID/Permit Form. This page is for Georgia teens, parents and first-time adult drivers.
Georgia DDS fees for new drivers (as of November 2026)
| Item | Fee | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Learner’s permit (Class CP) | $10, paid before the test, and again before every attempt | 2 years |
| Provisional license (Class D, ages 16 and 17) | $10 | 5 years |
| Regular license (Class C, 18 and older) | $32 | 8 years |
| Replacement or duplicate license, permit or ID | $10 | Original expiration date |
| Driving history report (MVR), 3-year | $7 | N/A |
| Driving history report (MVR), 7-year or lifetime | $9 | N/A |
DDS lists no separate fee for a non-commercial road test. You pay the license fee for the class you’re getting. Every Georgia license issued after 2012 is REAL ID-compliant, so there is no REAL ID surcharge. DDS noted on its fees page that MVR prices changed from July 1, 2026. Check the live figure if you need a report.
Failing costs money at the knowledge stage
The $10 permit fee is not refunded if you fail any part of the test, and you pay it again before each new attempt. Three tries cost $30. That’s why practicing before you go pays off: try the Georgia permit practice test and read the Georgia DDS permit test guide.
Driver education is the big cost
For a Class D under Joshua’s Law, you need an approved 30-hour driver education course plus 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training (or the Parent Teen Driving Guide). DDS says certified courses generally start at around $250. Online classroom courses cost less. See Georgia Joshua’s Law explained.
How to pay at DDS
- Customer Service Centers: cash, credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- DDS Online Services and the DDS 2 GO app: credit or debit cards only (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express).
- Some eligible transactions done online get a $5 discount.
Booking the Georgia knowledge exam
- Submit the online License/ID/Permit Form. DDS requires it before any center visit. It stays on file for 60 days, so don’t submit it months early.
- Gather your documents: Georgia permit documents checklist.
- Walk in to a Customer Service Center. Start at least 30 minutes before closing, because the knowledge exam isn’t started after that.
How to book a Georgia road test
Road tests are appointment only. DDS doesn’t take walk-ins or offer same-day appointments.
- Submit the online License/ID/Permit Form (if it’s more than 60 days since your last one).
- Use DDS’s “Schedule or Modify Appointment” tool to book an automobile road test.
- Keep your appointment number and the email you used. You need both to change or cancel.
Who can book
| Applicant | Main requirements |
|---|---|
| Teen (under 18) | All Class D requirements: permit held 1 year and 1 day, driver education, ADAP, 40 hours supervised driving (6 at night), school enrollment proof. See Class CP and Class D rules. |
| 18 and older | A valid Georgia learner’s permit, a signed affidavit of 40 hours supervised driving including 6 at night, and a passed knowledge exam |
Drivers with a suspended license can’t test.
Virtual or traditional?
DDS offers non-commercial road tests virtually: you drive with a licensed adult 21 or older in the car, using a dual-facing camera and a hands-free device. Read Georgia virtual road test explained.
Testing at a driving school
Some DDS-certified full-service driving schools can give the road test, but only to students who did their 30 and 6 course there. The school sets its own price. See taking your Georgia road test at a driving school.
Changing or canceling your appointment
- Change or cancel online with your appointment number and email.
- The center may reschedule you itself if you don’t meet the requirements or it finds duplicate bookings.
- Testing can be suspended for bad weather, equipment failure or other things outside DDS’s control.
- The 72-hour notice rule on DDS’s road test page is for commercial (CDL) tests, not car tests.
What to bring to the road test
- A licensed driver 21 or older. Only you and that driver may be in the car, with no other children or pets.
- A paper copy of the vehicle registration and a current insurance card.
- Rental car: your name must be on the rental agreement.
- Temporary tags or bought within 30 days: the bill of sale.
- A car that passes the DDS safety inspection before the test.
What’s scored: Georgia road test guide.
If you fail the road test
| Attempt | Wait before retest |
|---|---|
| First fail | Next day |
| Later fails | 7 days |
| Fail because of a crash or traffic violation | 30 days |
Book the retest through the same appointment tool. Remember: no same-day appointments. Other states compared: retake waiting periods by state.
Other DDS rules once you hold a permit or license
- Moving house: update your address with DDS within 60 days, online or at a center. Mail from DDS is not forwarded.
- Name change: done in person within 60 days, with a certified marriage document or court order.
- Lost or stolen card: order a replacement online or at a center. A new card number needs a police report showing the card was stolen.
- Away at college or on military duty: some out-of-state students and service members can renew by mail, but that route does not give a REAL ID.
- Voter registration: your application details go to the Secretary of State for voter registration unless you tick the opt-out box. DDS does not register you itself.
- Selective Service: DDS asks men aged 18 whether they have registered and reports the answer.
- Optional extras: you can join the organ donor registry and make small voluntary donations when you apply.
Common questions
How much does it cost to get a license in Georgia at 16?
DDS fees are $10 for the permit (per knowledge exam attempt) and $10 for the Class D. Driver education is extra.
Is there a fee for the Georgia road test?
DDS’s fee table lists no separate non-commercial road test fee. The $50 road test fee on DDS pages is for commercial (CDL) tests.
Can I walk in for a road test in Georgia?
No. Road tests need an appointment, and same-day appointments aren’t offered.
Can I pay by check?
DDS’s fees page lists cash, cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay at centers. Checks and money orders aren’t on the list.
Do I pay again when my Class D turns into a Class C at 18?
Upgrading to a Class C carries the Class C fee of $32 for 8 years. Confirm the exact charge for your upgrade with DDS.
Can I book the road test before my permit is a year old?
You can book through the tool, but you must meet the 1 year and 1 day rule on test day, or DDS can reschedule you.
Main guide: learning to drive in Georgia. Compare states: US license costs by state and how to book a DMV test appointment.
Sources
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Fees and Terms” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Road Test” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Learners Permit” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “REAL ID” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Test and Exams Information” (dds.georgia.gov)
- Georgia Department of Driver Services, “Joshua’s Law Requirements” (dds.georgia.gov)