Documents and information you'll bring to the DDS office
To renew your Georgia driver's license, you need to bring your current license, proof of your Social Security number, and proof of your Georgia residency. The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) requires these three categories of documents before you can complete the renewal process in person.
Your current Georgia driver's license serves as your primary ID. If your license is lost or stolen, you'll need to report it to DDS before you can renew, which adds an extra step. Bring the physical card if you have it.
For proof of Social Security number, bring your Social Security card, a W-2 form, a 1099 form, or a tax return. A birth certificate does not count as proof of your Social Security number on its own. If you don't have any of these documents, DDS can issue you a Social Security verification letter through the Social Security Administration, though this takes additional time.
For proof of Georgia residency, bring one document from this list: a utility bill, a lease or mortgage statement, a bank statement, an insurance policy, a property tax bill, or a government check. The document must show your current name and address and be dated within the last 60 days. A post office change-of-address form does not count.
Key Takeaways
- Bring your current Georgia driver's license, proof of your Social Security number, and proof of your Georgia residency to any DDS office.
- Proof of residency must be dated within the last 60 days and show your current name and address — utility bills and lease agreements work, but a post office form does not.
- You can renew in person at any DDS office, by mail if your license is not expired, or online if you meet specific conditions.
- The in-person renewal takes about 30 minutes at the office, and your new license arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
- If your license has been expired for more than five years, you must renew in person and may need to retake the vision test.
Renewing in person at a DDS office
Walk into any DDS office during business hours with your documents. You do not need an appointment. DDS offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and some locations have extended hours on Thursday evenings. You can find your nearest office and check its hours on the Georgia DDS website.
When you arrive, take a number from the ticket machine and wait to be called. The process itself takes about 15 to 20 minutes once you reach a clerk. The clerk will verify your documents, take a new photo, and collect the renewal fee. Georgia charges $32 for a standard five-year renewal license. You can pay by cash, check, debit card, or credit card.
Your new license will be mailed to the address on your process within 7 to 10 business days. You can continue to drive on your current license until the new one arrives. If you need the license sooner, some DDS offices offer a same-day printing service for an additional $20 fee, but not all locations provide this option — call ahead to confirm.
Renewing by mail if your license is not expired
If your Georgia driver's license is still valid and not yet expired, you can renew by mail without visiting an office. read the DL 44 form from the Georgia DDS website, fill it out completely, and mail it along with your current license and the $32 renewal fee to the address listed on the form.
Mail renewal takes 2 to 3 weeks from the time DDS receives your envelope. There is no way to track the status of a mail renewal once you send it, so plan ahead if you have a specific date when you need the new license. If your license expires before the new one arrives, you will need to renew in person at an office instead.
Do not use mail renewal if your license has been expired for any length of time. Expired licenses cannot be renewed by mail — you must go to a DDS office in person.
Online renewal through the Georgia DDS website
Georgia offers online renewal through its DDS website, but only if you meet all of these conditions: your license is not expired, you have not changed your name or address since your last renewal, you do not need a corrected vision prescription, and your license was not suspended or revoked. If any of these do not explore to you, you must renew in person.
To renew online, log into your account on the Georgia DDS website using your driver's license number and date of birth. You will upload a new photo, review your information, and pay the $32 fee by credit or debit card. Your new license will be mailed within 7 to 10 business days.
Online renewal is the fastest option if you are may be able to access, because you do not have to travel to an office or wait in line. However, if you are unsure whether you meet all the conditions, renewing in person is safer — the clerk can tell you when ready if anything disqualifies you from online renewal.
When you need to renew in person instead of by mail or online
You must renew in person at a DDS office if your license has been expired for more than five years, if you have changed your name or address, if you need a corrected vision prescription, or if your license was suspended or revoked at any point. You also must renew in person if you are a first-time Georgia resident and do not yet have a Georgia license.
If your license expired more than five years ago, DDS treats it as an expired license that requires an in-person renewal. You will need to bring all three document categories (current license, Social Security proof, and residency proof) and you may be asked to retake the vision test. Some offices also require a new written test if the license has been expired for a very long time, though this is less common.
If you have changed your name since your last renewal, bring a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the name change along with your other documents. If you have moved to a new address in Georgia, bring updated residency proof showing your new address.
What happens if your license is lost or stolen
If your Georgia driver's license is lost or stolen, you cannot renew it — you must report it to DDS first and obtain a replacement. Go to any DDS office and tell the clerk your license is lost or stolen. Bring your proof of Social Security number and proof of residency. DDS will issue you a replacement license with a new number, which costs $32, the same as a renewal.
A replacement license takes the same 7 to 10 business days to arrive by mail. If you need to drive before it arrives, ask DDS for a temporary permit, which some offices issue on the spot. Once you have the replacement license in hand, you can renew it using the standard renewal process when it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my Georgia license if I live out of state now?
No. Georgia requires you to be a resident to hold a Georgia driver's license. If you have moved out of state, you must obtain a license from your new state instead. You can surrender your Georgia license by mail or in person at any DDS office.
What if I don't have a Social Security card or any of the other proof documents?
Contact the Social Security Administration to request a verification letter, which DDS will accept as proof of your Social Security number. For residency proof, if you don't have a utility bill or lease, a bank statement or insurance policy dated within the last 60 days will work. If you have none of these, call your local DDS office to ask what other documents they may accept.
Do I need to retake the written driving test when I renew?
No, not for a standard renewal. You only retake the written test if your license has been expired for more than five years or if DDS has specific reason to require it. The vision test is required at renewal, but you can usually pass it at the office during your renewal appointment.
How long is my new Georgia license valid?
A standard Georgia driver's license is valid for five years from the date it is issued. Your new license will expire five years after DDS mails it to you. The expiration date will be printed on the front of your card.
Can someone else pick up my renewed license for me?
No. Your renewed license is mailed directly to the address on your process, so you do not pick it up in person. If you need to change the mailing address before you renew, tell the DDS clerk during your in-person renewal, or update it online before you submit a mail or online renewal.