Driving Tests

Moving to Georgia: How to Transfer Your Driver's License in 30 Days

informational·how to guide·Published August 31, 2026

How long do you have to get a Georgia driver's license after you move?

You must apply for a Georgia driver's license within 30 days of becoming a Georgia resident. If your out-of-state license is valid, or expired 2 years or less, you hand it in and pass a vision exam. You take no knowledge test and no road test. If it expired more than 2 years ago, you also pass both tests. A Class C license costs $32 for 8 years.

Where the Georgia license transfer facts come from

The 30-day rule, the test rules, the lost license rules and the documents come from the Department of Driver Services (DDS) page on how to transfer an out-of-state license. The resident tests and the hole-punched license come from the DDS license FAQs. The $32 fee and the 8-year term come from the DDS fees and terms page. The U.S. territory rules, the REAL ID and interim license rules and the teen rules come from other DDS pages and the DDS Drivers Manual. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (dds.georgia.gov) before you drive.

Who counts as a Georgia resident, and when do the 30 days start?

The 30 days start on the day you become a Georgia resident. You are a resident if any one of these is true: you have a permanent home in Georgia, you take a job in Georgia or enroll your children in a public or private school here, or you have been in the state for 30 days or more. The first one that applies to you starts the count.

Which tests do you take to transfer your license to Georgia?

Which tests do you take to transfer your license to Georgia?
Your out-of-state license	What you do at the DDS
Valid, or expired 2 years or less	Hand in the license and pass a vision exam. No knowledge test and no road test.
Expired more than 2 years	Pass the knowledge, road and vision exams. Bring a certified copy of your driving record (MVR) from the state that issued the card.
Lost or stolen, not in your hands	Pass a vision exam. Bring a certified driving record (MVR) from the state that issued the card. DDS pages differ on its date (60 days on the transfer page, 30 days in the Drivers Manual), so bring a record dated within the last 30 days.

What happens to your old license?

You must hand in your out-of-state license. The Customer Service Center (CSC) hole-punches it and gives it back to you with an interim license. The punched card is not valid for driving, so drive on the interim license. Your permanent Georgia card comes by mail within 30 days.

How to transfer your license to Georgia, step by step

1
Fill in the online form
Complete the online License/ID/Permit Form before your visit. It asks for your full Social Security number. Your information stays on file for 60 days, so do not fill it in too early.
2
Gather your documents
Bring proof of identity, two proofs of your Georgia address and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence. See the list below.
3
Go to a Customer Service Center
Bring your out-of-state license, because you must hand it in. Any CSC can transfer an out-of-state license.
4
Take the tests that apply
Take the vision exam. Add the knowledge and road exams only if your license expired more than 2 years ago.
5
Verify, photograph and pay
DDS checks your Social Security number with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Your personal information must match at both agencies. Then DDS takes your photo and you pay the fee.

What documents do you bring to a Georgia CSC?

Identity, U.S. citizens: one document, for example an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.
Identity, non-U.S. citizens: one proof of identity and, if required, one proof of lawful status.
Georgia residency: two documents from separate sources or separate accounts, with your name and current home address. A P.O. box does not prove residency.
Name and language: every document must show your first and last name and be in English.
REAL ID: these are the REAL ID documents. Georgia licenses issued after 2012 are REAL ID compliant and have a gold or black star in the upper right corner.
The full list of Georgia DDS documents shows each proof that DDS accepts.

Age rules for a Georgia license transfer

You must be at least 18, or 17 with a license equal to a Georgia Class C license. The DDS Drivers Manual adds that a 17-year-old's license must have no time, route, purpose or passenger restrictions. Class C is the regular license for adults. Check what you know with our free question on which license class covers a car at 18. Younger drivers follow the teen rules below.

Moving to Georgia with a teen permit or a license under 18

Your teen has a learner's permit from another state

Transfer it to Georgia. The teen must meet all Georgia learner's permit rules and pass a vision exam, but no knowledge test.

Your teen counts the time on the old permit

Georgia requires 1 year and 1 day with a permit before a license, and time on an out-of-state permit counts. Try our free permit hold time question.

Your teen wants a Class D license

The teen also needs Joshua's Law training and ADAP or eADAP. Our guide to Joshua's Law and driver education explains the hours.

Your teen is under 18

Bring proof of school enrollment. School registration, driver education and ADAP are required before an out-of-state license can be transferred. Teen rules in the old state can differ, so call the DDS Customer Contact Center at (678) 413-8400 with questions.

A parent is on active military duty

DDS accepts an out-of-state driver training certificate if the teen moves to Georgia within 9 months of the 16th birthday. Bring the parent's military orders.

Key takeaways

Apply for a Georgia license within 30 days of becoming a resident, at any DDS Customer Service Center.
A valid license, or one expired 2 years or less, needs a vision exam only. A license expired more than 2 years needs the knowledge, road and vision exams and a certified driving record.
Bring proof of identity, two proofs of Georgia residency and your old license, and give your Social Security number on the online form.
Teens keep the time on an out-of-state permit toward 1 year and 1 day, and under 18 they show school enrollment.
Next step: if you need the knowledge exam, or want to review Georgia rules, practice on the free Georgia Class C practice test.

Georgia license transfer: common questions

Can I transfer my out-of-state license to Georgia online?

No. You must visit a DDS Customer Service Center to transfer your license, and any center can do it. You can save time first: fill in the online License/ID/Permit Form before your visit. It asks for your full Social Security number, and your information stays on file for 60 days.

What if I lost my license before I moved?

You still pass a vision exam. You also need a certified driving record (MVR) from the state that issued your license. DDS pages differ on its date (60 days on the transfer page, 30 days in the Drivers Manual), so bring a record dated within the last 30 days. DDS does not accept uncertified copies printed from websites, but the other state agency can fax the record to DDS directly.

Can I fly with my Georgia interim license?

No. The TSA does not accept an interim license, which is a temporary paper license, for air travel. Your permanent Georgia card comes by mail within 30 days. Plan ahead if you must fly soon after your transfer.

How much does it cost to transfer my license to Georgia?

A regular Georgia driver's license, which includes Class C, costs $32 and lasts 8 years. A Class CP learner's permit costs $10 and lasts 2 years. Customer Service Centers take cash, credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Does a license from Puerto Rico or Guam transfer to Georgia?

Yes. A license from Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands or Saipan can waive the knowledge exam and the road test. It must be valid, or expired within the past 2 years. If you do not have the card, bring a certified driver history report from your home territory.