Updated for 2026

Georgia DDS (Department of Driver Services)

Comprehensive study guide for the 2026 driver's knowledge exam. Everything you need to know about laws, fees, and requirements.

Total Questions

40

Passing Score

30 (Must score 15/20 on Road Rules AND 15/20 on Road Signs)

Standard Fee

$10 (Permit) / $32 (Class C License)

Testing System

touchscreen computer

Critical Failure Factors

The most common and unique reason for failing in Georgia is the 'split-score' requirement: you must pass the Road Signs section AND the Road Rules section independently. Getting a perfect score on signs does not help you if you fail the rules section. Additionally, many fail due to a lack of knowledge regarding the specific passenger restrictions under the Class D Provisional License.

Legal Statutes & Driving Codes

Georgia's driving laws are heavily centered around the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA), which established a strict Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) process. Central to this is 'Joshua's Law' (Senate Bill 226), which mandates that all 16-year-olds applying for a Class D license must complete an approved driver education course (30 hours of classroom or online instruction) AND a total of 40 hours of supervised driving, 6 of which must be at night. Without this course, a teen cannot get a license until age 17. The Class D Provisional License comes with rigid restrictions: driving is strictly prohibited between 12:00 AM and 5:00 AM—no exceptions. Passenger restrictions are also tiered: for the first 6 months, only immediate family members may ride in the car. For the second 6 months, only one passenger under 21 who is not family is allowed. After one year, up to three non-family passengers under 21 are permitted. Georgia also enforces the 'Hands-Free Georgia Act' (HB 673). Unlike some states that allow touching a phone for navigation, in Georgia, it is illegal to physically hold or support a wireless device with any part of your body while driving. Another critical financial law is the 'Super Speeder Law'. If you are convicted of speeding at 75 mph or more on a two-lane road or 85 mph or more on any road, you will be declared a 'Super Speeder'. This triggers an additional $200 state fee on top of the local court fine. Failure to pay this fee results in license suspension. Furthermore, the 'Move Over Law' requires drivers to move over one lane when approaching stationary emergency, utility, or towing vehicles with flashing lights. If traffic is too heavy to move over, you must slow down below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop. Finally, Georgia has a 'Slowpoke Law' (HB 459), which states that slower drivers in the left passing lane must move to the right if a faster car approaches from behind, even if the slower driver is doing the speed limit.

Statistical Realities

The Georgia driving test is structurally unique compared to most other states because it is actually two tests in one. You are administered 20 questions on Road Signs and 20 questions on Road Rules. You must score at least 75% (15 correct) on the Signs section AND at least 75% (15 correct) on the Rules section. If you score 20/20 on Signs but only 14/20 on Rules, you fail the entire exam. This catches many applicants off guard. Before even taking the test, teens under 18 must present a certificate of completion for the ADAP (Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program); this is mandatory and usually taught in high schools, but can be taken online (eADAP). Georgia also has specific legislation regarding school bus safety known as 'Addy's Law'. This law mandates that school bus routes must be designed to minimize the need for children to cross the street to board. For drivers, it reinforces that on a highway divided only by a turn lane, traffic in BOTH directions must stop for a school bus. Only a physical median (concrete or grass) allows oncoming traffic to proceed. Navigating Atlanta's infamous 'Spaghetti Junction' requires knowledge of HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes; however, in Georgia, simply having passengers isn't enough for some lanes—you might need a 'Peach Pass' transponder for the Express Lanes. Another critical safety fact involves hydroplaning; Georgia is prone to sudden, violent thunderstorms, and the manual explicitly warns that tires can lose contact with the road at speeds as low as 35 mph. If this happens, take your foot off the gas and do not brake suddenly. Finally, be aware of the 'Implied Consent' law: by driving in Georgia, you agree to chemical testing of your blood, breath, or urine if suspected of DUI. Refusal results in a minimum one-year license suspension, which is often harsher than the penalty for a first-time DUI conviction itself.