Georgia Drivers License Restrictions
In certain situation, the Department of Drivers Services may place a restriction onto your Georgia drivers license, a restriction that limits your driving privileges to operating a certain type of vehicles or to driving only when certain conditions are met. A good example is a “daylight driving only” restriction that applies to people who do not meet minimum vision requirements. A separate class of restrictions are the Georgia class D drivers license restrictions, also known as provisional license restrictions, which are part of the state's graduated license program. You can find most of the Georgia drivers license restriction codes in the drivers handbook. In case you do not find a specific code, please call the DDS and they will decipher the code for you.
Drivers License Restriction Codes
Here is a list of Georgia driver license restriction codes, as listed in the DDS drivers handbook:
- A - no restrictions
- B - corrective lenses
- C - mechanical aids
- D - business only
- E - automatic transmission
- F - right side mirror
- G - daylight only
- H - employer’s vehicle only
- I - left outside mirror
- J - prosthetic aid
- K - Georgia only
- L - without air brakes
- M - no expressways
- N - power brakes
- O - power steering
- P - Interlock
- Q - no passengers
- S - to/from school
- T - to/from medical
- V - class B or C passenger vehicles
- W - class C passenger vehicles
- Y - farm waiver required
- Z - visually impaired parent
- 1 - bioptic lenses
- 2 - personal vehicles only
- 3 - Ignition Interlock Device restrictions apply
- 4 - no tractor trailers
There can be more than one restriction placed onto your drivers license if the situation warrants it. You can remove drivers license restrictions only through the DDS and in most cases, you will need to prove that the reason for placing the restriction onto your license was eliminated. For example, if you have a restriction that allows you to operate only vehicles with automatic transmission placed onto your Georgia drivers license, the restriction will be removed only when you pass a Georgia driving test in a vehicle equipped with manual transmission.
Provisional Class D Drivers License
Issuance of a provisional drivers license is part of the Georgia graduate drivers license program. In order to achieve a provisional class D license, you have to satisfy the following requirements:
- be at least 16 years of age
- hold a Georgia drivers permit for at least one year and one day
- complete a state-approved Georgia drivers education class
- complete at least six hours of driving lessons with a certified driving instructor or complete a Parent Teen Driving Guide
- not have any traffic violations within 12 months prior to the application date
- pass a Georgia drivers test
Those who do not wish to take a drivers education course cannot obtain a provisional drivers license until they are at least 17 years of age. All other requirements remain the same.
A class D drivers license allows a licensee to drive without having a supervising driver seated next to him, however it is still not a full unrestricted drivers license. If you are operating under a provisional license in Georgia, you must observe the following license restrictions:
- Curfew. There is a nighttime driving restriction that prohibits you from driving between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m.
- Passenger restrictions. During the first six months, only immediate family members can ride in the vehicle. During the second six months, one one passenger under the age of 21 years who is not a family member can be present in the vehicle. After one year, only three passengers under age of 21 years who are not members of the driver's immediate family can be present in the vehicle.
Note how these are different from Georgia permit restrictions that you have to observe while operating under a learners permit. Operating under a learners permit does not allow any unsupervised driving at all, you must have a licensed driver at least 21 years of age accompany you whenever you are behind the wheel.
If you still haven't got your permit, you may want to prepare for the Georgia drivers permit test. Grab yourself a copy of the Georgia drivers license manual, study the rules, then take a few practice Georgia drivers tests. The book also contains all permit and drivers license restrictions for each stage of the graduated license program.
