Moving to Georgia, REAL ID and renewals

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain who counts as a Georgia resident and the 30-day deadline.
• You can describe how adults transfer an out-of-state license.
• You can explain the extra requirements for teens moving to Georgia.
• You can say what happens with a license from another country.
• You can describe REAL ID and the basic renewal rules.

What you need to know and understand

• You are a Georgia resident if you have a permanent home here, take a job or enroll your children in school here, or have been in the state 30 days or more.
• New residents must get a Georgia license or permit within 30 days of becoming a resident.
• Adults with a valid out-of-state license, or one expired less than 2 years, surrender it, pass a vision test and show documents; no written or road test.
• Teens transferring a license must first meet Georgia's school enrollment, driver education and ADAP requirements.
• Licenses from outside the 50 states and DC are generally not transferable; you take the knowledge, road and vision tests unless your country is on the DDS exemption list.
• A standard Class C license lasts 8 years and costs $32; renewing online saves $5.
• Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant card with a star, or another accepted ID, is needed to board domestic flights.

Adults moving from another state

You must be 18, or 17 if your license equals a Georgia Class C with no time, route, purpose or passenger restrictions. If your old license expired more than 2 years ago, you must pass the knowledge, road and vision exams. Some people do not need a Georgia license, such as nonresident active-duty military with a valid home-state license, and some out-of-state students who meet DDS conditions.

1. Submit the online License/ID/Permit Form before you visit a DDS Customer Service Center.
2. Bring proof of identity, proof of citizenship or lawful presence, your full Social Security Number, and two documents showing your Georgia address.
3. Surrender your out-of-state license. If you cannot, bring a certified driving record from your old state dated within 30 days.
4. Pass the vision test and have your photo taken.
5. Pay the fee and receive a temporary license; the permanent card is mailed.

Teens and foreign licenses

Teens with a valid license or permit from another state can normally get a comparable Georgia credential, but only after meeting all Georgia teen requirements, including school enrollment proof, Georgia driver education and ADAP. Children of active-duty military parents may use an out-of-state driver education certificate if they move within 9 months of their 16th birthday. Because states differ, DDS suggests calling its Customer Contact Center to check your case.

Licenses issued outside the 50 states and DC cannot simply be swapped. You complete the full process, including all tests, unless you are a citizen of a country DDS lists as exempt from knowledge and skills testing. Most non-citizens may keep their foreign license; U.S. citizens must give theirs up. Our moving to Georgia guide covers more cases.

REAL ID, renewals and changes

• A Georgia REAL ID shows a star in the upper right corner. Once you have one, many future transactions can be done online or in the DDS 2 GO app.
• Renew online or in person before your license expires. Online renewals get a $5 discount.
• If your license has been expired more than 2 years, you must pass vision, knowledge and road tests again.
• Drivers aged 64 and over must pass a vision screening every 8 years.
• Update your address within 60 days of moving, online or in person, and change your name within 60 days of a legal name change.
• Military members stationed out of state and full-time students away from Georgia can renew by mail in some cases.

Common mistakes

• Waiting months after moving to swap your license. The deadline is 30 days after you become a resident.
• Bringing photocopies of identity documents. Originals or certified copies are required.
• Assuming a teen's out-of-state license transfers automatically. Georgia's driver education and ADAP rules still apply.
• Letting a license lapse for over 2 years. You would have to retake every test.

Test yourself: Moving to Georgia, REAL ID and renewals

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

Go deeper

• Moving to Georgia
• Georgia 40-Hour Supervised Driving and the Parent/Teen Guide
• Georgia ADAP and eADAP