The state of Georgia requires drivers who are 16 years old to complete an approved driver education course. Drivers who are 17 are required to complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving, with six hours of the driving done at night. Drivers 18 and older are required to pass the written knowledge test, driving test, vision test, and have all proper identification requirements.

Drivers Education

Georgia requires 16 year olds to complete drivers education before obtaining a drivers license. Joshua’s Law requires drivers to successfully complete 30 hours of classroom time and 40 hours of supervised driving time. Six hours of driving must be done at night.

Insurance companies require teen drivers to complete a 30 and six driver education course before offering any premium discounts. This type of course consists of at least 30 hours of classroom training on the rules of the road and other related matters. It also includes six hours of behind-the-wheel-training. All courses must be approved by the GA Department of Driver Services (DDS).

There are different methods used to obtain driver education:

• Complete 30 hours of classroom training and six hours of behind-the-wheel training at an approved DDS school; students will also need an additional 40 hours of supervised driving.
• Complete 30 hours of classroom training at an approved DDS school and complete the 40 hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide.
• Complete a DDS approved online program and six hours of behind-the-wheel training at an approved DDS school; students will also need an additional 40 hours of supervised driving.
• Complete a DDS approved online program and completion of the 40 hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide.

Regardless of which option they select, all students must have six hours of supervised driving at night.

If driver education is obtained through a private driver education school, parents or guardians are eligible for a tax credit of up to $150 if the student successfully completes the course. However, courses taken at private or public schools do not qualify for this incentive.

Driver Training

First-time drivers age 17 years old and older are not required to take a driver education class to earn their Georgia driver license. However, if they are uncomfortable with driving, they can enroll in a Defensive Driving Program. This program is a six hour classroom course that is designed to teach drivers about safe driving attitudes and behaviors.

GA DDS requires all classes to be taken in a classroom, not online. Some insurance companies could offer a reduction in insurance premiums for this type of class; check with your agent for further details.

Georgia Alcohol Drug Awareness Program

Applicants 18 and younger must successfully complete the Georgia Alcohol Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) to obtain their drivers license. This course is taught in public and private schools. Students generally take the ADAP course during the ninth grade in four one-hour sessions. Students are required to pass a written exam to finish the class.

Practice Tests for Your Georgia Drivers License

All applicants, regardless of age, are required to successfully pass a road signs test and road rules general knowledge test. All the necessary information to pass this written test is included in the Georgia driver manual. You can test your knowledge with the practice test on the official GA DDS Web site.