Guides:

A Guide to Getting a Driver's License

by Clara Pauw, Emory University Graduate

Work, school, grocery shopping: everyone has places to go.  The question is how to get there.  Maybe you feel uncomfortable riding the public bus system, MARTA.  Maybe it doesn’t go to your area of town.  In any case, you have decided that a car is the best option for you.  Now you need to know how to operate it legally and safely.  The first step is getting a Georgia driver’s license. 

If you are a noncitizen visiting Georgia and you have a valid driver’s license issued by your home country, you may legally drive in the state.  However, if you become a Georgia resident, you must apply for a state driver’s license.

Applying for a License
If you are a non-citizen applying for a license you must:

1. Provide proof of identification which may be a(n) :

• Original birth certificate
• Certified copy of birth certificate
• Certificate of birth registration
• Certified copy or court records
• Certified naturalization records
• Immigration ID card
• Valid Passport
• Military identification issued by the US

2. Prove that you are here legally – either by showing US citizenship or an INS document that proves you are here legally.
A document that proves you are here legally can be:

• A valid passport
• A temporary resident alien card
• A permanent resident alien card
• An Employment Authorization Card

3. Proof of a valid residence address:

• Utility bill w/ valid Georgia residence address
• Bank statement with valid residence address
• Rental contracts/receipts
• Employee Verification
• Georgia license issued to parent, guardian or spouse

Your license cannot be issued longer than 5 years. If there is no expiration date on the immigration documentation you provide, the license will only be issued for a period of 1 year.

IMPORTANT: All first time drivers in the state of Georgia are required by law to take a 30-hour driver education course.  You can sign up for this course online at www.dmv.org. After you have successfully completed this online course, you will receive a completion certificate in the mail, and the DMV will be notified as well. 

Licensed Drivers from Out of State
If you already have another state, you can transfer your license to an official Georgia license.  This process takes 30 days or less.  To do this you must go to your local driver’s license office and:

• Show proof of residency (utility bill, rental receipt, bank statement, or letter from employer dated within the past 45 days)
• Be 18 years or older
• Provide your social security number
• Give them your out-of-state license
• Provide proof of identity (birth certificate, passport, military ID card, certified naturalization papers, or immigration ID card).
• Pass an eye exam
• Pay the fee for a new license

New Drivers
If you don’t have a driver’s license or you are a new driver, you must take a written test and a driving test to get a license.  You should study for the written test using the Georgia Driver’s Manual provided by the DMV.  You can view the PDF file on the DMV website (http://www.dmv.org/ga-georgia/department-motor-vehicles.php) or pick up a free print copy at the DMV office closest to you.  To get a license you must provide:

• Proof of identity (birth certificate, passport, military ID card, certified naturalization papers, or immigration ID card).
• Social Security number
• Proof of Georgia Residency (utility bill, rental receipt, bank statement, or letter from employer dated within the past 45 days)
• Proof that you have completed the driver’s education course and 20 hours of supervised driving (with six of those hours being at night) OR proof that you have completed 40 hours of supervised driving (with six of those hours being at night).

Fee ($20 for five years and $35 for 10 years) 

If you fail the drivers test the first time, you may take it again within seven days.  If you fail the second attempt (and for all further attempts), you must wait 30 days.

Appointments
Although it’s not required, these processes can be expedited if you make an appointment.  To do so, call 678-413-8500 and select option 3.  Operators should answer the phone Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.      

Different Kinds of Licenses
There are many different kinds of licenses, depending on the type of vehicle you will be driving.  Most people apply for a Class C license, which is required for driving standard automobiles.  
The different classifications are:

• Class A – for tractor-trailers with a trailer weighing over 10,000 pounds.  You must have a Class C license and be 18 years or older.
• Class B – for tractor-trailers with a trailer weighing under 10,000 pounds.  You must have a Class C license and be 18 years or older.
• Class C – The standard drivers license.
• Class D – A Class C license with restrictions for teen drivers.
• Class M – Issued for motorcycles.  You must be at least 16. 

Once you get your driver’s license, keep in mind that there are different rules for driving in the United States. Maneuvers that may be acceptable to do in other countries might be considered rude or even illegal in Georgia.  Many basic pointers can be found in the driver’s manual provided by the DMV.  Stay posted for an article on safe driving habits and tips.

**This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers or visitors are encouraged to seek the counsel of an attorney to directly address their concerns.

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