Suspended License in Georgia
Suspended Driver's Licenses in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) must suspend or revoke your driver's license when you commit certain violations.
Suspension by the DDS is not the same as a suspension by the court. Your driver's license may be suspended as part of a criminal sentence handed down by the court.
Once you have served your suspension period and met the requirements specific to your violation, you can apply to have your driver's license reinstated.
Read below to learn more about driver's license suspensions in Georgia.
About Your Suspended License in GA
The DDS is required to suspend your driver's license for:
- Major driving violations.
- Accumulating driver's license points.
- Driving without Georgia car insurance.
- Certain offenses unrelated to driving, such as failure to appear in court or failure to pay child support.
Most suspensions last for a finite period of time based on the reason for the suspension.
However, some suspensions, like those for failing to pay child support, can last as long as the issue goes unresolved.
Mandatory Suspensions for Major Violations
Your driver's license will be suspended if you are convicted of any of these major violations:
- Committing homicide with a vehicle.
- Committing a felony using a vehicle.
- Fleeing a police officer.
- Fraudulently using or applying for a driver's license.
- Hit and run.
- Racing.
- Driving a vehicle with an invalid registration.
- Committing felony forgery of a license or ID.
Suspension for Driver's License Points
When you are convicted of a moving violation, points are assigned to your driver's license. Your driver's license will be suspended if you accumulate 15 points or more within 24 months.
The number of points you receive for a conviction depends on the type of violation you commit. For more information on points, please see our GA DMV Points page.
If your driver's license is suspended for accumulating points, you must complete a defensive driving course approved by the DDS before it can be reinstated. Your driver's license will remain suspended UNTIL you complete an approved defensive driving course.
Point Reduction
Completing an approved defensive driving course will remove up to 7 points from your driving record. You are only eligible for point reduction 1 time every 5 years.
Once you complete the course, you can request a reduction by mailing your defensive driving course certificate of completion to:
Georgia Department of Driver Services
P.O. Box 80447
Conyers, GA 30013
See our “Fees for Suspended License in GA "section below for more information.
Are you worried about your license status? You can find out whether it is suspended or valid by checking your record today. Your GA driving record provides details of your driving behavior in the state, and includes:
- Moving violations.
- Points.
- Suspensions and/or revocations.
Your Georgia driving record can be viewed by courts, employers, and even insurance companies, so it's smart to know what's on your record.
Driving with a Suspended License
If you are convicted of driving while your license is suspended or revoked, your suspension period will be extended.
DUI Suspensions in Georgia
Driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia comes with significant penalties.
Your driver's license will be suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as for refusing to take a chemical test when asked by law enforcement (violating implied consent laws).
The length of suspension is based on the number of DUI offenses committed and their specific circumstances.
You may face additional and/or longer driver's license suspension periods depending on:
- Your age; for example, whether you are under 21 years old.
- Your blood alcohol content (BAC).
- Whether you refused a chemical test.
The GA DDS provides a full list of DUI-related penalties. You may also visit our DUI & DWI in Georgia page for more information.
NOTE: Suspensions imposed by the GA DDS are in addition to any other criminal penalties that may apply.
Suspension Hearings and Appeals
If your driver's license is suspended or revoked by the DDS, you have the right to appeal the suspension.
The appeal is meant to determine if your driver's license was legally suspended.
You must submit a Hearing Requests (Form DDS-1206) in order to appeal a suspension. A DUI hearing request must be received or postmarked within 30 days of the date of being charged.
You are subject to a fee for appeals of certain suspension types:
- DUI suspension: $150.
- Implied consent suspension: $150.
- Limited permit revocation: Varies by offense.
NOTE: The DDS has no jurisdiction over criminal court convictions and penalties. Consult with your attorney for information on handling such matters.
Revoked Georgia Driver's License
A driver's license is revoked when a driver's privileges are completely taken away by the DDS for a specific period of time and/or until specific conditions are met.
The Georgia DDS will revoke your driver's license if:
- You receive a 3rd conviction within 5 years for a violation that carries a mandatory suspension.
- Your driver's license will be revoked for 5 years and you will be declared a “habitual violator."
- You refuse to retake a written test or driving test when the DDS has notified you of the request.
- You are deemed unfit to drive due to a medical condition, disability, or addiction.
Georgia Hardship License
A limited driving permit, also called a hardship license, gives drivers with suspended GA driver's licenses limited driving privileges.
A limited driving permit lets you drive to and from:
- Your job (or to locations you must visit to perform your job duties).
- Your school (must be currently enrolled).
- Medical appointments.
- Alcohol and drug treatment programs.
- Defensive driving or DUI classes.
NOTE: If you are convicted of violating state or local law, or being in violation of your permit restrictions, your license may be suspended for additional time.
Limited driving permits are NOT available to all suspended drivers, and they are issued at the discretion of the DDS.
Call the DDS at (678) 413-8400 for more information and to see if you are eligible for a hardship license.
Limited Driving Permit Fees
Limited permit fees are as follows:
- Limited permit: $32.
- Renewal of limited permit: $10.
- Duplicated permit: $20.
You can pay via:
- Cash.
- Check or money order.
- Debit card.
- Major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover).
Fees for Suspended Licenses in GA
Reinstatement fees are paid to the GA DDS and are based on the reason for suspension. Fees are lower if you pay by mail or online.
Offense | Reinstatement Fee (Paid by Mail) | Reinstatement Fee (Paid in Person) |
DUI (1st offense – over 21 years old) | $200 | $210 |
Failure to pay child support | $25 | $35 |
Failure to show proof of insurance (1st offense) | $200 | $210 |
Failure to show proof of insurance (2nd offense) | $300 | $310 |
Points violation (1st offense) | $200 | $210 |
Points violation (2nd offense) | $300 | $310 |
Points violation (3rd offense) | $400 | $410 |
Failure to appear | $90* | $100 |
Super Speeder | $50* ($200 Super Speeder fee must be paid first) |
*Can be paid online.
NOTE: These fees DO NOT include fines, court fees, driving course fees, or application fees that may also be required for your reinstatement.
Reinstatement fees can be paid:
- By mail.
- Online.
- Only available for failure to appear and Super Speeder.
- In person.
By Mail
To pay your reinstatement fee by mail, send the following:
- Your Official Notice of Suspension.
- If you did not receive a notice, provide your:
- Full name.
- Date of birth.
- Driver's license number.
- Address.
- Social Security number.
- If you did not receive a notice, provide your:
- All relevant documentation, such as a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Certificate.
- Full payment of the fee by:
- Check, money order, or cashier's check made payable to “Georgia Department of Driver Services".
OR
- Credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) by completing and including the Credit Card Payment Authorization Form.
- Check, money order, or cashier's check made payable to “Georgia Department of Driver Services".
Send your payment and documents to:
Department of Driver Services (DDS)
Validation Unit
P.O. Box 80447
Conyers, GA 30013
Online
You can pay your reinstatement fees online ONLY IF your license was suspended for:
- Failure to appear.
- Super Speeder (suspension for driving 75 MPH or more on a road with 2 lanes, or 85 MPH or more on any road).
The online reinstatement can be completed on the DDS Limited Services Fee Payment page. You will need:
- The transaction identifier on the Official Notice of Suspension.
- Your driver's license number.
- Your date of birth.
- A valid credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover).
In Person
When paying your reinstatement fee in person at a DDS customer service center, you'll need to bring:
- Proof of ID, e.g., a valid U.S. passport or original or certified copy of your birth certificate.
- The GA DDS provides a full list of accepted identification.
- Your reinstatement documents, e.g., your Official Notice of Suspension and any other required documents.
Accepted Payment Methods
When paying in person, you can pay via any of the following:
- Cash.
- Debit card.
- Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express).
- Check.
- The check can be business or personal, but must have your name (or the business name) and address pre-printed on it.
NOTE: All locations are closed on Mondays.
CDL Suspensions in Georgia
If you have a commercial driver's license (CDL), you are subject to both:
- The rules and penalties of the state of Georgia.
- Federal regulations and penalties.
If you commit a violation, your driver's license can be suspended AND you can be disqualified from having a CDL.
All states share information about CDL holders, so information about violations and suspensions from other states will be available to the Georgia DDS.
For more information about CDL suspensions, please see our CDL Suspensions in Georgia page.