Georgia Drivers Test

Everyone who is applying for their first drivers license is required to take a Georgia driving test. Drivers license testing is conducted by the Georgia DDS and you can make an appointment for the drivers test up to 90 days in advance. If you currently hold a drivers license that was issued by a different state, you will most likely not have to take a Georgia drivers test while exchanging it for a Georgia license. Teenagers who choose to take a Georgia driver's license test before reaching the age of 18 years will need to satisfy the state's graduated drivers license requirements first. If you want to make sure that you pass your Georgia DDS driving test the first time you take it, try to get as much driving practice hours as you can.

Driving Test Requirements

Taking a drivers license test is the final step in the process of applying for a drivers license. This means that before you van get to this step, you will need to meet other drivers license requirements. License requirements are age dependent and drivers who will be taking a driver's test before the age of 18 years will need to follow Georgia's graduated drivers license program. Teenagers that are subject to the program must complete a Georgia DDS-approved drivers education course if they want to receive a class D drivers license before the age of 17. The program also mandates a number of additional permit and license restrictions that apply to all licensees under 18 years of age.

Under 18 Years of Age

You can enter the graduated license program and start preparing for the drivers license test as soon as you are 15 years old. At this age you can go ahead and apply for a Georgia drivers permit (also called a CP instructional permit). You will be required to take a vision exam and pass a driver's permit test on driving rules and road signs.

Once you have the permit, you can start practicing for your Georgia driving test with an adult at least 21 years of age who holds a valid Georgia drivers license. You must hold your learners permit for at least one year and one day and during this period, you are to receive at least 40 hours of supervised driving practice.

If you choose to take a drivers education course, you will be able to take a drivers test at the age of 16 (provided you have held a drivers permit for the required period of time). You will also need to complete at least six hours of behind the wheel lessons with a professional driving instructor or the Parent / Teen driving guide that is provided by the DDS. If you choose not to take a drivers education class or driving lessons, you will have to wait until you are at least 17 years of age to take your Georgia driving test.

When all of the above requirements are met, you are good to call the DDS and schedule your Georgia road skills test.

18 Years of Age and Older

If you are at least 18 years of age, the graduated license rules do not apply to you and you don't need to meet the same requirements as teen license applicants. In fact, you can even go ahead and take a Georgia drivers test omitting the permit stage entirely. However, this route is only valid for those who have held a drivers license some time ago and already have some driving experience.

If you have previously held a drivers license and lost it for some reason, you may just visit the DDS, file the required paperwork, take a vision exam, a drivers permit test and then the driving test. When you complete all of the tests, you are issued with a Georgia drivers license. This application procedure is only good for those who have previously held a license since you are required to have at least 40 hours of driving experience prior to taking a drivers test and if you never held a license before, you will not meet this requirement.

Those who never held a drivers license should start by visiting a DDS office and applying for a Georgia CP instructional permit. You are required to present the same paperwork as teen drivers and you must also take a vision exam and a Georgia permit test. The test covers the state driving rules and road signs and is based on the information contained in the Georgia drivers license handbook. Those who would like to test themselves before visiting the DDS for the real test may take an online Georgia drivers practice test.

Once you pass the required tests and are issued with a drivers permit, start practicing for your Georgia driving test. Remember that you need to receive at least 40 hours of supervised driving instruction before you can schedule the drivers test. During this period, you have to observe all Georgia drivers permit restrictions and are not allowed to drive without supervision. As soon as the supervised time requirement is met, you are good to schedule your DDS drivers test.

Scheduling a Drivers License Test

At the moment, there is only one way to schedule a Georgia driver's test and that is to contact the DDS by phone. You may call the following numbers to schedule the road skills exam: (678) 413-8400, (678) 413- 8500, (678) 413-8600, or toll free at (866) 754-3687 if calling from outside the metro Atlanta area.

You may schedule your drivers license test up to 90 days in advance and we advise that you schedule it as soon as possible, in some cases, the waiting period can be couple of months.

Things to Bring / What to Expect

One of the main concerns for those who are taking a road test is the vehicle that will be used during the exam. The DDS does not offer vehicles for drivers license testing, so you will have to arrange one yourself. A vehicle must be registered, titled and carry proper car insurance. The vehicle must also be in good mechanical condition, otherwise you will not be allowed to take your Georgia drivers test.

It is all right to use a rental vehicle for the test, provided your name appears on the rental contract, you bring the contract to the drivers testing station with you and you can provide proof of liability insurance for the vehicle.

The following documents must be brought to the testing site when you show up for your Georgia DDS driving test appointment:

proof of identity
proof of US citizenship or lawful presence
Social Security Number
proof of Georgia residency
a signed affidavit for 40 hours of driving (or a completed Parent / Teen Driving Guide if you are under 18 years of age)
drivers education certificate of completion (if you are are under 17 years of age)

Your drivers license examiner will verify these documents before the test begins.

The driving test in Georgia assesses your ability to control the vehicle and to follow the state traffic rules while driving. You will be required to do the following during your exam:

Parallel Parking: Park midway between two standards so that your car is not more than 18 inches from the curb. The standard parallel parking dimensions utilized in the driver’s license test are 22 feet in length by 10 feet in depth.
Quick Stops: Drive at a speed of 20 miles per hour and make a quick, safe stop when the examiner instructs you to do so.
Backing: Back your car for a distance of approximately 50 feet at a slow rate of speed as straight and as smoothly as possible. You must turn your head and look behind the vehicle at all times while backing.
Stop for Signs or Traffic Signals: Give the proper hand or brake signal; approach in the proper lane; stop before reaching a pedestrian crosswalk and remain stopped until all pedestrians have cleared the crosswalk on the side of the roadway upon which you are traveling; move through the intersection only when you may do so safely.
Turn About: Turn your car in a narrow space using two-, three-, or four-point turns.
Use of Clutch: If your car has a manual transmission, you must shift smoothly and correctly.
Approaching Corners: You must be in the proper lane and look in both directions.
Yielding Right-of-Way: Always yield right-of-way to pedestrians, vehicle operators, and bicyclists who move into the intersection before you by stopping and remaining stopped until they have cleared the intersection.
Turning: Move into the proper lane and signal an adequate distance before the turn.
Passing: Always check in front of and behind your vehicle to make sure you can safely pass without interfering with other traffic.
Following: Do not follow other cars too closely. Watch the car ahead of you; when it passes some reference point, such as a telephone pole, count “one- thousand-one, one-thousand-two.” If you pass the same spot before you are finished counting, you are following too closely.
Maintaining Good Posture: Keep both hands on the steering wheel. Do not rest your elbow on the window and do not attempt to carry on a conversation with the Examiner because he/she will be busy giving instructions and recording your score

When the test is completed, the examiner will show you the scoring sheet and will discuss the mistakes you may have made during the test. You need to get a minimum score of 75% in order to pass the drivers test.

If you pass the test, you are issued with a drivers license. Drivers under the age of 18 will be issued with a class D drivers license and need to observe all Georgia drivers license restrictions until they are 18 years of age.

There is only one key to passing your Georgia driving test and that is practicing as much as possible. Try to practice driving with different supervisors as they may teach you different driving skills. This will also allow you to get used to having different people in the vehicle, so you will not be stressed during your driving test when the drivers license examiner is in the vehicle.