Effective January 1, 2002, a new teen driving law went into effect for the State of Georgia. There seems to be some confusion about drivers who have received their licenses in the last six months. Please be aware that as of January 1, 2002, a driver who received a license after July 1, 2001, cannot have any non-family passengers in the car until that driver has had his/her license for a total of six months. For example, if a teen received his/her license October 1, 2001, that teen cannot drive a motor vehicle with any passenger who is not a member of the driver’s immediate family until April 1, 2002.

A Parental Guide addressing the new teenage driving requirements is available at all licensing centers and at the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety.

Requirements and Guidelines for Class D Drivers:

1. If an approved driver education course is not taken, teens must complete a cumulative total of at least 40 hours of supervised driving experience including at least six hours at night. This must be verified on an affidavit.
2. If a teen successfully completes an approved driver education course in a licensed private or public driver training school, then a cumulative total of at least 20 hours of supervised driving experience including at least six hours at night is required. This must be verified on an affidavit. A certificate of completion from the driver training school must be presented at time of application for a Class D license.
3. Any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle on the public roads, streets, or highways of this state between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.
4. Any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets, or highways of this state when more than three other passengers in the vehicle who are not members of the driver’s immediate family are less than 21 years of age.
5. During the six-month period immediately following the issuance of a Class D license, any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets, or highways of this state when any other passenger in the vehicle is not a member of the driver’s immediate family.
6. The license of any driver under age 18 will be suspended for six months for a point count of four or more points in any consecutive twelve-month period. A second accumulation of four or more points would suspend the license for one year.
7. All applicants under the age of 18 will be required to show they have completed a course on Alcohol and Drug Awareness before they are issued a driver’s license. This course will be taught in the Georgia State School System.
8. All applicants under the age of 18 must provide proof that either he/she is currently enrolled in school, has parent’s permission to withdraw from school, or has received a GED, a high school diploma, or completed high school. Forms for school attendance or withdrawal are available from the local school or Georgia Driver's License Office.