Where and how to renew your Georgia license
You can renew your Georgia driver's license in person at any Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) office, or online through the Georgia DDS website if you meet certain conditions. The online route is faster — you can complete it from home in about 15 minutes — but it is only open to drivers whose licenses are not suspended, revoked, or expired for more than five years, and who do not need to update their address or name.
If you renew in person, bring your current license, proof of residency (a utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement dated within the last 60 days), and your Social Security number. You will need to pass a vision test and have your photo taken. If you are renewing by mail or online, you will skip the vision test and photo, but your new license will carry your current photo from the DDS database.
Processing times vary. Online renewals are mailed to you within 7 to 10 business days. In-person renewals at a DDS office typically take 30 minutes to an hour, and you receive a temporary paper license on the spot that is valid for 30 days while your plastic card is printed and mailed.
Key Takeaways
- Online renewal takes 15 minutes and works only if your license is current, not suspended, and you have not moved or changed your name.
- In-person renewal at a DDS office requires your current license, proof of residency from the last 60 days, and a vision test, and you get a temporary license the same day.
- Your Georgia license is valid for eight years if you are under 65, or five years if you are 65 or older.
- You can renew up to six months before your license expires, so you do not have to wait until the last minute.
When your Georgia license expires and renewal windows
Your expiration date is printed on the front of your license. Georgia licenses are valid for eight years from the date of issue if you are under 65 years old, or five years if you are 65 or older. You can begin the renewal process up to six months before that date, which gives you a wide window to avoid driving on an expired license.
If your license has already expired, you can still renew it, but you lose the option to renew online. You must go to a DDS office in person. Licenses that have been expired for more than five years cannot be renewed — you must take the written test and road test again as if you were a new driver.
Online renewal: requirements and the step-by-step process
To renew online, log into your account on the Georgia DDS website using your driver's license number and date of birth. You will need to confirm your address, verify your Social Security number, and review your current information. The system will ask whether anything has changed since your last license was issued. If you answer yes to any question — including a move, name change, or medical condition — you will be directed to renew in person instead.
Once you confirm everything is correct, you will pay the renewal fee using a credit or debit card. Georgia charges $32 for an eight-year renewal if you are under 65, or $16 for a five-year renewal if you are 65 or older. After payment, you will receive a confirmation number. Your new license will be printed and mailed within 7 to 10 business days. You can continue to drive on your current license until the new one arrives.
If the online system rejects your renewal attempt, it will tell you why — usually because your license is suspended, your address needs updating, or your license expired more than five years ago. In any of those cases, you must renew in person at a DDS office.
In-person renewal at a DDS office
Walk into any Georgia DDS office with your current license, proof of residency dated within the last 60 days, and your Social Security number. Acceptable proof of residency includes a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, bank statement, or government mail with your name and address. A cell phone bill does not count.
At the counter, tell the clerk you are renewing. You will be asked to read letters and numbers on a vision chart to confirm you can see well enough to drive. If you cannot pass the vision test, you may be asked to provide a vision correction certificate from an eye doctor. You will then have your photo taken for the new license.
The clerk will print a temporary paper license valid for 30 days and hand it to you when ready. This temporary license has the same legal weight as a plastic license for driving purposes. Your permanent plastic license will be mailed to the address on file within 7 to 10 business days. If you move before it arrives, you can update your address online or at the next DDS office visit.
Renewal fees and payment methods
Georgia charges $32 for an eight-year license renewal if you are under 65, or $16 for a five-year renewal if you are 65 or older. These are the standard fees as of 2024 and explore whether you renew online or in person. Some DDS offices may accept cash, check, or card; online renewal accepts credit and debit cards only. If you are unsure which payment methods your local office takes, call ahead.
If you renew online and your payment is declined, the system will tell you when ready and you can try again with a different card or go to a DDS office to pay in person. There are no additional fees for renewing late or for replacing a lost temporary license.
What to do if your license is suspended or revoked
If your license is suspended or revoked, you cannot renew it online, and a DDS office cannot issue you a new one until the suspension or revocation is lifted. Suspensions are usually temporary — often for unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, or medical reasons — and can be cleared by paying what you owe or providing the required documentation to DDS.
Contact the Georgia DDS directly to find out why your license is suspended and what steps you need to take to clear it. You can call 678-413-8400 or visit a DDS office. Once the suspension is removed, you can renew in person at any office. The renewal process itself is the same, but you will need to bring proof that the suspension has been lifted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my Georgia license by mail?
Georgia does not offer mail-in renewal. You can renew online if you meet the requirements, or in person at any DDS office. If you cannot visit an office in person, you can have someone else pick up a renewal form for you, but you will still need to appear in person to have your vision tested and photo taken.
What happens if I drive on an expired license?
Driving on an expired license is a traffic violation in Georgia. You can be stopped and cited. If your license expired less than 30 days ago, the fine is usually lower than if it expired longer ago. The safest approach is to renew before the expiration date or when ready after if you miss the window.
Do I need a new license if I moved to a different address in Georgia?
You do not need a new license just because you moved, but you must update your address with DDS within 30 days of moving. You can update your address online through the Georgia DDS website or in person at a DDS office. When you renew your license, your new address will be printed on it automatically.
How long does it take to get my new license after I renew?
If you renew online, your license is mailed within 7 to 10 business days. If you renew in person, you receive a temporary paper license the same day that is valid for 30 days, and your plastic license is mailed within 7 to 10 business days. You can drive on either document legally.
What if my name changed since I got my current license?
If your name changed due to marriage, divorce, or court order, you cannot renew online. You must go to a DDS office in person and bring proof of the name change — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. The clerk will update your name in the system and issue a new license with the correct name.