This chapter walks through Georgia's step-by-step licensing ladder for new drivers: the Class CP instructional permit at age 15, the Class D provisional license after holding the permit at least a year and a day, and the full Class C license at 18. It also covers Georgia's ID cards, veteran and National Guard licenses, and what new residents must do to transfer an out-of-state or out-of-country license.
Most-tested material is the set of Class D provisional restrictions — the driving curfew, the phased passenger limits over the first and second six months, and the requirement of a clean record in the 12 months before applying for a Class C license — plus the driver education components (classroom or online hours, behind-the-wheel hours, and total supervised driving hours including night driving).
A common mistake is treating the Class D curfew or passenger rules as flexible; the manual states the nighttime restriction applies with no exceptions. Another frequent confusion is between surrendering a previous permit or license and simply affirming an inability to surrender it — both paths are accepted, but the requirement to do one of the two is easy to overlook.
What has to happen before a Class CP holder can move up to a Class D license?⌄
The permit holder must have held a valid Class C Instructional Permit for at least one year and one day, then apply for the Class D Provisional License, which comes with its own curfew and passenger restrictions until the driver is ready for a full Class C license.
How do the Class D passenger restrictions change over time?⌄
During the first six months after a Class D license is issued, only immediate family members may ride along; during the second six months, one non-family passenger under 21 is allowed; after both periods, up to three non-family passengers under 21 may ride along.
What does Georgia's driver education requirement actually include?⌄
To get a Class D license at 16 or 17, a driver must complete an approved classroom course (or equivalent online course) plus behind-the-wheel instruction, and separately log a cumulative total of supervised driving hours that includes a set number of hours at night.