Reviewed and updated October 21, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every fact on this page was read that day from the Georgia Department of Driver Services' own pages and, for titles and registration, the Department of Revenue's, and the official page each fact came from is linked where it appears.
Georgia driver and vehicle services in one place: who does what, license and permit fees, title, registration and TAVT, the 195 DDS locations with their hours and closures, and all 53 guides.
In this guide: Who does what in Georgia, Driver licenses, permits and ID cards, Vehicle registration, titles and the TAVT, Offices, hours and holidays, Every Georgia DDS guide on SearchSystems, Questions people ask about the Georgia DDS
Who does what in Georgia
Georgia splits driver and vehicle work between two departments. The Department of Driver Services issues licenses, permits and ID cards and gives the tests at its own customer service centers and kiosks. The Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division titles and registers vehicles through the county tag offices, one per county, and collects the title ad valorem tax that replaces sales tax on a car.
Start with the DDS location list for a license, an ID or a test, with the county tag office guide for a title or a plate, and with the online services guide for the renewals and replacements that need neither.
Driver licenses, permits and ID cards
The DDS fee schedule, read October 21, 2026, prices a regular license in the noncommercial classes at $32 for an eight year term, a Class CP learner's permit at $10 for two years, paid again for another attempt after a failed test, and gives a $5 discount on eligible online transactions. On the commercial side it lists a $35 CDL application, a $50 CDL road skills test and a $32 CDL license.
A REAL ID in Georgia is the standard card once the documents on the DDS REAL ID page are shown, and the renewal instructions allow a renewal up to 150 days before expiration. The REAL ID guide, the driver license guide and the fee guide take those apart.
Vehicle registration, titles and the TAVT
The Department of Revenue's fee schedule, read October 21, 2026, lists $20 for a passenger registration or renewal, $18 for an original title, $8 for a replacement title and $8 for a replacement plate or decal. The larger figure on a purchase is the title ad valorem tax, 7 percent of the state's taxable value, or 3 percent for a qualifying new resident bringing a car in.
A private buyer has 7 business days to register, a dealer buyer and a new resident 30 days, and an insurance lapse on a registered vehicle carries a $25 charge. The registration guide, the title guide, the TAVT guide and the emissions guide for the metro Atlanta counties set out the paperwork.
Offices, hours and holidays
The DDS locations list, read October 21, 2026, carries 195 customer service centers and kiosks, 34 of them open on Saturday and 0 on Monday, because the Georgia week runs Tuesday to Saturday. DDS publishes one telephone number for all of them, (800) 436-7442, and requires an appointment for a road test only.
The 2026 closures DDS lists for its centers, the Saturday before each Monday holiday among them, and every location are on the Georgia DDS location list.
Every Georgia DDS guide on SearchSystems
Each guide below is written from the Georgia DDS and Department of Revenue pages and names the date its facts were read. There are 53 of them.
Licenses and IDs 12 guides
- Georgia Driver License Classes, Eligibility, and DDS ServicesGeorgia issues personal driving credentials through the Department of Driver Services.
- Applying for a Georgia Driver License at DDSA Georgia license application begins before the Customer Service Center visit.
- Renewing a Georgia Driver License Through DDSGeorgia renewal options depend on citizenship, REAL ID status, vision evidence, and whether the license record needs another change.
- Replacing a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Georgia LicenseA missing Georgia license calls for a DDS replacement service, unless the expiration date makes renewal necessary.
- Georgia Nondriver ID Cards, Eligibility, and DDS ApplicationsA Georgia identification card provides a state identity credential without requiring the holder to pass driving examinations.
- Georgia REAL ID Stars, Documents, and Travel PlanningMost Georgia customers already have a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, identified by the appropriate star.
- Georgia Digital ID in Apple, Google, and Samsung WalletsGeorgia offers a digital version of an eligible DDS license or ID in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet.
- Updating a Georgia Driver License Name or AddressGeorgia uses different procedures for a move and a legal name change.
- Proving Identity, Lawful Status, and Georgia Residence to DDSA Georgia DDS document file must establish several different facts: who the applicant is, which citizenship or immigration record applies, and where the person lives.
- Georgia Limited Term Licenses, Status Verification, and ExtensionsGeorgia prints a limited term designation on credentials issued to eligible noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents.
- Georgia licenses, waivers, and vehicle benefits for military familiesGeorgia military benefits involve more than one agency and several different eligibility categories.
- Get a Georgia Class M license or MP motorcycle permitGeorgia offers two main routes to a motorcycle license: qualifying rider training with a DDS test waiver, or motorcycle examinations through a Customer Service Center.
Teens, seniors and testing 6 guides
- Georgia Class CP Permit Rules and the Path to a LicenseThe Class CP learner's permit is Georgia's supervised practice credential for ordinary passenger vehicles.
- Georgia Teen Driving: Class CP, Class D, and the Adult UpgradeGeorgia's teen licensing system combines a supervised permit, approved education, a provisional license, and a later Class C upgrade.
- Georgia DDS Knowledge, Vision, and Road ExaminationsGeorgia tests road rules and road signs separately, then evaluates driving in an eligible vehicle.
- Choosing a DDS-Certified Georgia Driving SchoolGeorgia driver education is offered by certified schools and instructors, with several approved ways to combine theory and practical driving.
- Georgia licensing and vision renewal for drivers 64 and olderGeorgia requires a vision screening at each renewal beginning at age 64.
- Georgia medical review, vision reports, and adapted drivingGeorgia DDS reviews whether a medical concern affects a particular driver's ability to operate safely.
Vehicles, titles and plates 11 guides
- Obtain, transfer, and correct a Georgia vehicle titleGeorgia titles establish the vehicle ownership record through the Department of Revenue.
- Georgia vehicle registration through your county tag officeA Georgia registration begins with your county tag office and the Department of Revenue, even though your Georgia license comes from the Department of Driver Services.
- Choose, display, transfer, and replace a Georgia license plateGeorgia plates connect a vehicle to its county registration and can carry standard, specialty, prestige, or historical treatment.
- Georgia Vehicle Sales and Ownership TransferA Georgia vehicle sale needs a valid ownership assignment, accurate mileage disclosure, and a clean handoff of the registration responsibilities.
- Transferring a Georgia Vehicle After the Owner DiesA Georgia vehicle transfer after a death depends on the title's ownership wording, the estate documents and the person receiving the vehicle.
- Georgia Bonded Titles, Older Vehicles, and Registration EvidenceGeorgia offers a bonded-title procedure for qualifying vehicles with missing ownership evidence, but it excludes abandoned vehicles and vehicles for which a title is not required.
- Georgia Vehicle Lien Foreclosure, Public Sales, and Title DocumentsGeorgia vehicle lien sales depend on a recognized legal interest and the required foreclosure or repossession process.
- Georgia Salvage Brands, Rebuilt Inspections, and Scrap RecordsGeorgia distinguishes a damaged vehicle that may qualify for rebuilding from a vehicle reported as scrapped, dismantled, or demolished.
- Georgia Titles for Foreign Vehicles and Federal Import EvidenceA foreign vehicle needs an acceptable Georgia ownership application as well as lawful federal entry.
- Georgia Assembled Vehicle Titles and Inspection PreparationGeorgia has a documented application and inspection route for qualifying assembled cars and motorcycles.
- Georgia Motorcycle Titles, Tags, and RegistrationGeorgia motorcycle paperwork goes through the Department of Revenue and county tag offices.
Registration, fees and inspections 9 guides
- Renew a Georgia tag without overlooking the county scheduleMost Georgia drivers renew around the first registered owner's birthday, but several counties use other periods and businesses follow their own schedules.
- Replace missing Georgia vehicle credentials through the proper routeA missing metal plate, a renewal decal that never arrived, and a lost registration certificate call for different Georgia paperwork.
- Georgia DDS fees, DOR charges, and county vehicle taxesGeorgia has separate bills for the driver, the vehicle record, and vehicle tax.
- Pay Georgia vehicle charges and send refund claims to the correct officeGeorgia driver-service payments, county tag transactions, state vehicle fees, and TAVT refunds use different channels.
- Keep Georgia liability coverage and the registration record alignedGeorgia requires liability coverage for driving and for an ordinary vehicle kept actively registered.
- Applying for Disability Parking Credentials in GeorgiaGeorgia disability parking placards and plates are handled through the Department of Revenue and county tag offices.
- Take a Georgia vehicle off the road without leaving an active insurance recordGeorgia provides voluntary registration cancellation for stored, inoperable, sold, or otherwise unused vehicles.
- Calculate Georgia TAVT from the transaction and vehicle valueGeorgia Title Ad Valorem Tax can be the largest part of a vehicle title transaction.
- Meet Georgia emissions requirements in the 13 covered countiesGeorgia emissions testing applies to specified vehicles registered in 13 Atlanta-area counties.
Suspensions, DUI and records 6 guides
- Georgia DUI suspensions, insurance filings, and recovery requirementsA Georgia DUI can create an administrative suspension following the arrest and a conviction-based suspension later.
- Georgia ALS hearings and ignition interlock electionsThe Georgia DDS notice issued after a DUI arrest starts a licensing process with its own election period.
- Restore a Georgia license through the correct DDS processGeorgia reinstatement begins with the reason DDS withdrew the driving privilege.
- Georgia points, driver improvement, and license penaltiesA Georgia ticket can affect a driver's record through points, a separate mandatory suspension, or an additional state assessment.
- Requesting and Reviewing a Georgia Driving History ReportGeorgia DDS supplies individual driving histories as motor vehicle reports, commonly called MVRs.
- Requesting and Understanding a Georgia Traffic Crash ReportGeorgia crash reports are obtained through the agency that investigated the collision or the Georgia Department of Transportation's report system.
Commercial, trucks and special vehicles 7 guides
- Georgia CDL classes, permits, training, and testsGeorgia DDS issues commercial licenses, while the truck's registration and the carrier's operating responsibilities belong to separate systems.
- Add Georgia passenger, school bus, tank, hazmat, and trailer endorsementsA Georgia CDL endorsement qualifies the driver for a particular type of vehicle or cargo.
- Georgia commercial medical records and the NRII processGeorgia receives required CDL medical certification electronically from FMCSA after the medical examiner submits the examination.
- Georgia truck credentials, lane rules, inspections, and carrier recordsGeorgia truck operation involves DDS driver qualifications, Revenue's commercial registration and fuel-tax systems, and Public Safety's commercial enforcement.
- Georgia Commercial Vehicle and Trailer RegistrationGeorgia commercial registration depends on where the vehicle operates, its weight and axle configuration, and the title or lease arrangement.
- Georgia Boat Registration, Vessel Titles and Boating RequirementsGeorgia boat owners deal with the Department of Natural Resources for vessel registration and the state's electronic vessel title record.
- Georgia ATV, Dirt Bike and Multipurpose Off-Highway Vehicle RulesGeorgia treats an off-road motorcycle, a conventional ATV and a qualifying utility task vehicle differently.
Offices, online services and new residents 2 guides
Public records beside the Georgia DDS
The Georgia DDS holds licenses and titles, not court cases, arrests or deeds; those are public records kept by other offices, and SearchSystems covers them for the whole state: Georgia court records, the Georgia arrest records guide, the Georgia property records guide, the Georgia people search guide, the Georgia background check guide and Georgia records requests, all from the Georgia public records index.
Court cases, jail bookings and deeds are kept county by county. The largest in Georgia: Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, Chatham, Clayton, Cherokee and Forsyth.
Questions people ask about the Georgia DDS
Who runs the DMV in Georgia?
Two departments: the Department of Driver Services for licenses, permits, ID cards and tests at its customer service centers, and the Department of Revenue for titles, registration, plates and the TAVT at the county tag offices.
How much is a Georgia driver license in 2026?
The DDS fee schedule lists $32 for a regular license with an eight year term and $10 for a two year learner's permit, with a $5 discount on eligible online transactions.
How much does a Georgia title cost?
$18 for an original title and $8 for a replacement on the Department of Revenue schedule, plus the title ad valorem tax, 7 percent of the taxable value on most purchases.
What is the registration fee in Georgia?
$20 a year for a passenger vehicle, paid at the county tag office, which also collects the annual ad valorem tax on older vehicles.
Do I need an appointment at a Georgia DDS center?
Only for a road test; everything else is a walk-in after the online license, ID or permit form DDS asks for.
When are Georgia DDS centers closed?
On the 2026 dates on the DDS office closures page, from New Year's Day to the Saturday after Christmas, with the Saturday before each Monday holiday closed instead of the Monday.