After you pass in Georgia: restrictions and your licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state the Class D night driving restriction.
• You can apply the passenger limits for each period after you pass.
• You can explain who counts as immediate family.
• You can explain what you need to upgrade to a Class C at 18.
• You can describe how the under-21 suspension rules affect you.

What you need to know and understand

• Class D drivers may not drive between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., with no exceptions.
• For the first 6 months, only immediate family members may ride with you.
• In months 7 to 12, you may carry no more than one non-family passenger under 21.
• After 12 months, you may carry no more than three non-family passengers under 21.
• Immediate family means parents, stepparents, grandparents, siblings, step-siblings, your children, and anyone who lives in your home.
• The Class D is a 5-year license costing $10; the Class C costs $32 for 8 years.
• Your permanent card is mailed to you; you leave the center with a temporary license.

Your passenger timeline

The midnight to 5 a.m. limit applies the whole time you hold a Class D, and DDS lists no exceptions for work, school events or anything else. Plan your evenings so you are parked before midnight.

• Months 1 to 6: family only, whatever the passenger's age. A cousin or friend who does not live with you is not allowed.
• Months 7 to 12: family, plus at most one passenger under 21 who is not family.
• After 12 months: family, plus at most three passengers under 21 who are not family.

Stricter penalties until 21

Georgia's under-21 rules apply on top of the Class D limits. A single conviction for reckless driving, aggressive driving, racing, hit and run, fleeing police, passing a stopped school bus, or speeding 24 mph or more over the limit suspends your license for 6 months, or 12 months for a second offense. Under 18, reaching 4 points in 12 months also suspends you. A BAC of just 0.02 counts as under the influence for anyone under 21.

Remember too that the adult who signed your application can ask DDS to revoke your license at any time until you turn 18.

Moving up to a Class C at 18

At 18 you can exchange your Class D for a full Class C. You must have held the Class D until 18, and you must have had no major traffic convictions, the kind that bring a mandatory suspension, during the 12 months before you apply. You surrender your Class D, pay $32 and get an 8-year license. U.S. citizens need no further testing, and DDS Online Services lists the upgrade as an online transaction.

Your insurer will also want to know about your new license. Our insurance minimums guide covers coverage for new drivers, and our Class CP and Class D rules guide has worked examples of the passenger limits.

Common mistakes

• Driving a friend home in the first six months because it is just around the corner.
• Leaving a party at 11:55 p.m. with a 20-minute drive home. The curfew starts at midnight, not when you set off.
• Counting a friend who stays over sometimes as family. Only people who live at your home count.
• Getting a 4-point ticket at 17 and assuming the Class C upgrade will still go ahead on your birthday. A major conviction in the previous 12 months blocks it.

Test yourself: After you pass in Georgia: restrictions and your licence

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Georgia Permit Test
• Georgia Car Insurance Minimums and What to Do After a Crash
• Georgia 40-Hour Supervised Driving and the Parent/Teen Guide