Georgia (United States) - Apply for Class M Driving License

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Procedure

Vision Exam

Your eyes will be tested by means of a mechanical device. The minimum acceptable vision is 20/60 in one eye, with or without corrective lenses, and a field of vision of, at least, 140 degrees. Upon failure of the field vision exam the applicant will be required to have a DS-274 completed by a licensed practitioner.

Knowledge Exam

The Knowledge Exam consists of two tests the Road Rules Test and the Road Signs Test. The applicant must pass each test. To pass the exam applicants must get a minimum of 15 out of 20 correct answers, on each test.

For more information: DDS Driver Manual.

Take a practice test online for free.

When you take the knowledge exam, you must be at the Customer Service Center 30 minutes before it closes, to allow adequate time for testing and issuance.

Road Skills Test

1. All vehicles used for the Road Skills Test must be covered by liability insurance (you must show a valid insurance card), pass a safety inspection and if the vehicle is not equipped with turn signals you must know your hand signals.
2. You must present your vehicle registration and the tag (license plate) must not be expired.
3. The Road Skills Test is conducted in English only.

Applicants are advised to set up an appointment to take a Road Skills Tests. Without a reservation you will be worked in between scheduled appointments, but there is no guarantee that you can be served on a particular day.

Road Test Appointments

When you take the Road Skills Test, you will be expected to do all or part of the following:

• Parallel Parking: Park midway between two standards so that your car is not more than 18 inches from the curb.
• Quick Stops: Drive at a speed of 20 miles per hour and make a quick, safe stop when the examiner instructs you.
• Backing: Back your car for a distance of about 50 feet, at a slow rate of speed, and as straight and as smoothly as possible. Turn your head and look back at all times while backing.
• Stopping 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 you can move safely through.
• Turnabout: Turn your car in a narrow space using two-, three- or five- point turns.
• Use of Clutch: If your car has a standard transmission, you must shift smoothly and correctly.
• Approaching Corners: You must be in proper lane and look in both directions.
• Yielding Right-of-Way: Always yield right-of-way to pedestrians, motor vehicles, bicyclists or anyone else who moves into the intersection before you.
• Turning: Get into the proper lane and give signal an adequate distance before reaching the turn.
• Passing: Always look ahead and behind to make sure you can safely pass without interfering with other traffic.
• Following: Do not drive too closely behind other cars. Watch the car ahead of you; when it passes some reference point, such as a telephone pole, and then count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two." If you pass the same spot before you are through counting, you are following too closely.
• 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 they will be busy giving instructions and recording your score.

The applicant must achieve a minimum score of 75% to pass the exam.

Retesting

1. For those who failed the Knowledge Exam or Road Skills Test, you must wait at least one day to take the test again.
2. Applicants who fail the Knowledge Exam or Road Skills Test a second or subsequent time (third, fourth, etc.) must wait at least 7 days to retest.
3. A 30 day waiting period to retest applies to an applicant who fails the Road Skills Test due to a traffic accident or traffic violation during the Road Skills Test, whether ticketed or not.
4. All retesting is subject to reservation availability.
5. The permit fee must be paid before the test begins. DDS accepts cash, money order, check or credit/debit cards.
6. Fees are not refundable and must be paid each time the test is taken.

Other ways on how you can obtain a motorcycle license (Class M):

1. Complete the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Course and, if successful, present the 90-day License Test Waiver to a DDS Customer Service Center.
2. Pass the Vision Exam.

Benefits for taking the Basic Course are:

• Learn to operate a motorcycle safely.
• Professional in-class and on-cycle training.
• Successful completion earns a Class M (motorcycle) license.
• Motorcycle and helmet provided

The introductory/ Basic Course is intended for a new rider with little or no experience. The Cost is $250.00. For more information visit, Motorcycle Safety Program Webpage.

Note: Students, under age 18, who successfully complete the Basic Course, earn a 90-day License Test Waiver. However, to obtain a Class M license, the student must be at least 17 years of age BEFORE the 90-day waiver expires and must also comply with the requirements of Joshua's Law.

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Required Documents

• Applicants must submit documents that shows their identity, residential address, full social security number, and U.S. citizenship or proof of lawful presence in the United States.
• An applicant new to Georgia must surrender a driver's license/permit/ID card issued by another state.
• For applicants that have been previously issued a driver's license/permit/ID card in another state, and that card has been lost or stolen, applicants must provide a certified copy of his or her driving record or motor vehicle report from the state that issued the card. The MVR must be dated within the last 30 days. The DDS does not accept uncertified copies printed from websites, but a fax may be sent to the DDS directly from the other state agency.
• For applicants under 18 years of age, a Certificate of Attendance, (DS-1), must be dated within the last 30 days or a High School Diploma or GED is required.
• All documents must be in English and any foreign language documents must be translated to English.

Effective July 1, 2012, the following documentation requirements are in place at DDS resulting from the Federal requirements of the Real ID Act.

US Citizen

• Valid, Unexpired US Passport - For more information, please go to www.travel.state.gov/passport/
• An original or certified copy of a US Birth Certificate/Amended Birth Certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the Applicants state of birth (including US Territories and the District of Columbia). Keepsake birth certificates issued by hospitals are not acceptable.GA Residents, for more information use this link to GA Vital Records www.rover.ga.gov
  • Non-GA residents, for more information use this link to view list of other State's Vital Records contacts www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS 545 - For more information, please go to www.travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/birth/birth_593.html
• Certificate of Naturalization issued by DHS, Form N-550 or N-570 - For more Information, please go to www.dhs.gov/xabout/gc_1186413412271.shtm
• Certificate of Citizenship, Form N-560 or N-561, issued by the DHS - For more information, please go to www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
• SSA Numident Record Applicants date of birth must be prior to January 1, 1940
• Original US Military Discharge Papers Applicants date of birth must be prior to January 1, 1940

Proof of Social Security Number (You must present 1 of the following unless otherwise noted):

• Social Security Card - Original, laminated original or copy; For more information, please go to www.ssa.gov
• W-2 form with Applicant's name & full or partial SSN
• SSA-1099 form with Applicant's name & full or partial SSN
• Non-SSA 1099 form with Applicant's name & full or partial SSN
• Pay stub with Applicant's name & full or partial SSN
• SSN Denial Letter / SSA Refusal Letter
• SSA Print-out containing office stamp and SSA employee signature as well as Applicant's name & SSN
• 1-797C with Applicants name, demographic info & SSN - For Non-Citizens only
• Federal / State Tax Return with Applicants name & SSN (also acceptable for proof of SSN for Dependents)
• Medicare / Medicaid card with Applicants name & SSN
• Social Security Annual Statement. For more information, please go to www.ssa.gov/mystatement/
• Selective Service Notice with Applicants name & SSN

Proof of Residential Address (You must present 2 of the following unless otherwise noted):

• Utility bill issued within the last sixty (60) days for services installed at your residential address (ex. water, sewer, gas, electricity, cable/satellite TV, internet, telephone/cell phone, or garbage collection)
• Financial statement for bank/credit union account, investment account, credit card account, or loan/credit financing issued with

Eligibility

• Applicant must be at least 17 years old.
• Applicants must also pass a Knowledge Exam (if applicable), Road Skills Test and Vision Exam.
• If applicant is under 18 years of age then a parent/guardian or responsible adult is required to sign the application for the driver's license. The participating signatories also have the authority to request the driver's license to be revoked at any time before the applicant's 18th birthday.

Instructions

Please provide instructions on obtaining the  certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

• Full Name
• Date and Place of Birth
• Sex
• County
• Social Security Number
• Mailing address
• Residence address

Need for the Document

Following are procedures on how you can apply for a Class M driver's license in Georgia.