Georgia Permit Test Cost and Retakes: The $10 Fee and Wait Times
How much does the Georgia permit test cost?
The Georgia permit test costs $10. This is the Class CP permit fee, and the Department of Driver Services (DDS) collects it before the test begins. If you fail any part, you get no refund, and you pay the $10 again before every new try. After a first failure, you wait until the next day to retest. After a second or later failure, you wait 7 days.
Where the Georgia permit test cost facts come from
The $10 fee, the refund rule, the payment methods and the license terms come from the DDS fees and terms page. The retest waits come from the DDS tests and exams page. The rules on failed parts, the temporary permit and the upgrade to Class C come from the DDS Drivers Manual. The DDS License Requirements Overview and the learner's permit page give the same fees. The Class D license page gives the Class D age rule and the upgrade in Online Services. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (dds.georgia.gov) before you drive.
What the $10 Georgia permit fee pays for
The $10 is both the test fee and the Class CP permit fee. You can apply for the permit at age 15 or older, and the permit is valid for 2 years. The Knowledge Exam has two tests, Road Rules and Road Signs, and you need at least 15 of 20 correct on each one. If you fail any part, DDS keeps the $10.
Total permit test cost if you need more than one try
| You pass on | Total fees paid | Wait before this try |
|---|---|---|
| Try 1 | $10 | None |
| Try 2 | $20 | Until the next day after the first failure |
| Try 3 | $30 | 7 days after the second failure |
| Try 4 | $40 | 7 days after the third failure |
How long you wait to retake the Georgia permit test
How to study before your next try
Each new try costs another $10, so use the wait to study the part that you failed. Our free Georgia practice questions on the wait after a failed exam and the score you need on each part let you check these rules. DDS also has a free online practice test. Our practice questions are in English only.
How to pay the permit test fee at a Customer Service Center
- Customer Service Centers (CSCs) take cash, credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- The accepted cards are Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
- CSCs do not take checks, money orders or cashier's checks.
- For a retest, the DDS tests page lists only cash or a credit or debit card, so bring one of those.
What each Georgia permit and license step costs
| License | Who it is for | Fee | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class CP learner's permit | Age 15 or older | $10 | 2 years |
| Class D Provisional License | Ages 16 and 17 | $10 | 5 years |
| Class C Driver's License | Age 18 or older | $32 | 8 years |
When you can move to a Class D or Class C license
At 16, after you hold a valid permit for one year and one day, you can apply for a Class D license. Its $10 license fee is on the DDS list of what to bring to the road test. At 18, you can switch from Class D to Class C for $32 if you held the Class D until 18, or for one year and one day, with no conviction for a major traffic violation in the 12 months before you apply. U.S. citizens need no other documents or tests, and you can make the switch in DDS Online Services. The Georgia Class D license rules explain the limits until then.
Road test retake waits in Georgia
Key takeaways
- The Georgia permit test costs $10, paid before the test begins, and the permit is valid for 2 years.
- You get no refund if you fail, and each new try costs $10 again, so 3 tries cost $30.
- Wait until the next day after a first failure and 7 days after each later failure. Retake only the part that you failed.
- CSCs take cash, credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, but not checks or money orders.
- Next step: practice on the free Georgia Class C practice test.
Georgia permit test fees and retakes: common questions
Can I retake the Georgia permit test the same day?
No. After a first failure, you must wait until the next day before you retake the part that you failed. You pay the $10 permit fee again before the new try. If you passed Road Rules and failed only Road Signs, you retake only Road Signs.
How many times can you take the Georgia permit test?
You can try again after each failure. After the second failure and after each later failure, you wait 7 days before you retake the part that you failed. You pay the $10 fee again before every try, so four tries cost $40 in total.
Can I pay for the Georgia permit test with a check?
No. DDS Customer Service Centers do not take checks, money orders or cashier's checks. They take cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. For a retest, the DDS tests page lists only cash or a credit or debit card.
What happens after I pass the Georgia permit test?
If you pass all the tests, DDS gives you a temporary permit, and your permanent permit comes in the mail. The Class CP permit is valid for 2 years. At 16, after you hold it for one year and one day, you can apply for a Class D license.
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