Where to go and what you need

You can replace your Georgia driver's license at any Department of Driver Services (DDS) office across the state. The fastest option is usually your local county office rather than the main Atlanta location, since wait times are shorter. You will need to bring your Social Security number, proof of residency (a utility bill or lease dated within the last 60 days), and payment — currently $32 for a standard replacement license.

If your license was lost or stolen, you do not need a police report to replace it, though having one can be useful if you need to dispute fraudulent activity later. If your license was damaged, bring what remains of it. DDS will issue a replacement with the same number and expiration date as your original, so you do not lose time on your renewal cycle.

You can also renew or replace your license online through the DDS website if your license is not suspended or revoked and you meet other conditions — mainly that you are not changing your address, name, or vision correction status. The online replacement costs $20 and takes about a week to arrive by mail. This is the cheapest and least time-consuming route if you are may be able to access.

Key Takeaways

  • Visit any Department of Driver Services office in Georgia with your Social Security number, proof of residency dated within 60 days, and $32 cash or card.
  • The online replacement option costs $20 and takes about a week if your license is not suspended and you are not changing your address or name.
  • Your replacement license will have the same number and expiration date as your original, so you do not lose time before your next renewal.
  • County DDS offices usually have shorter wait times than the main Atlanta location, especially early in the week.
  • You do not need a police report to replace a lost license, though one can help if you later need to dispute fraudulent use of your information.

In-person replacement at a DDS office

Walk into any DDS office during business hours with your documents and payment. Most offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though hours vary by location — check the DDS website for your specific office. You will take a number, wait your turn, and hand your documents to a clerk. They will verify your information, take a new photo, and print your replacement license on the spot or mail it to you depending on the office and current processing volume.

Bring your Social Security number written down or memorized. You will also need one document proving where you live — a recent utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement with your current address. The document must be dated within the last 60 days. If you do not have a current proof of residency, you can bring two documents that together show your name and address, such as a voter registration card and a piece of mail from a government agency.

Payment is $32 for a standard replacement. DDS accepts cash, debit card, and credit card. If you are replacing a license that was damaged in a natural disaster, you may not owe the replacement fee — ask the clerk when you arrive.

Online replacement through the DDS website

Go to the Georgia DDS website and select the option to renew or replace your license online. You will answer questions about your current license, confirm your address, and upload a photo or use the camera on your phone to take a new one. The system will tell you when ready whether you are may be able to access to replace online. If you are, you will pay $20 by card and receive a confirmation number.

Your replacement license will be mailed to the address on file within about a week. You can track the status of your order using your confirmation number on the DDS website. You are not may be able to access for online replacement if your license is suspended or revoked, if you need to change your address or name, if you require a vision correction notation, or if your license has been lost or stolen more than once in the past five years — in those cases, you must visit an office in person.

The online option is worth using if you meet the requirements, since it costs $12 less than an in-person replacement and you avoid the wait at an office. The tradeoff is that you will not have a physical license for about a week, so plan ahead if you need to drive or show ID before then.

What happens if your license was stolen

A stolen license does not require a police report to replace, but filing one protects you if someone uses your information fraudulently. If you suspect your license has been used to commit a crime or open accounts in your name, contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or your local police department and ask for a report number. Keep that number for your records.

When you replace your stolen license at a DDS office, tell the clerk it was stolen. They will note that in the system. Your replacement will have a new expiration date if your original was expiring soon, or the same expiration if it had time remaining — ask the clerk which applies to you. You can also request that DDS flag your record to alert you if someone tries to renew your license without your knowledge, though this is not automatic.

If you discover your license was stolen after someone has already used it, contact the Georgia DDS fraud unit and provide your police report number. They can investigate and may be able to reverse fraudulent transactions or renewals.

Replacing a damaged or worn license

If your license is faded, cracked, warped, or otherwise damaged but still readable, you can replace it at any DDS office. Bring what remains of the license along with your proof of residency and payment. The clerk will take it as part of the replacement process. You will receive a new license with the same number and expiration date, so you do not lose any time on your renewal cycle.

Damage from normal wear — fading from sun exposure, minor cracks from sitting in a wallet — is covered under the standard $32 replacement fee. If your license was damaged in a natural disaster declared by the governor, ask the clerk whether the fee is waived. Some DDS offices have temporarily waived replacement fees after hurricanes or severe flooding, though this is not may provide.

Timeline and what to expect

If you replace your license in person at a DDS office, you will usually leave with a temporary paper license the same day and receive your plastic card in the mail within one to two weeks. Some offices print the plastic card on site, in which case you walk out with it when ready — call your local office ahead of time to ask whether they do this. If you replace online, expect your license to arrive within about a week.

During the time you are waiting for your replacement, the temporary paper license is valid for driving and identification. Keep it with you until your plastic card arrives. Once your new license arrives, destroy the old one if you still have it — do not throw it in the trash where someone could find it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a replacement license the same day?

Some DDS offices print replacement licenses on site and give them to you when ready. Others mail them to you within one to two weeks. Call your local DDS office ahead of time to ask whether they do same-day printing. If they do not, you will receive a temporary paper license to use while you wait for the plastic card.

What if I do not have proof of residency?

You can bring two documents that together show your name and current address, such as a voter registration card and a piece of mail from a government agency or utility company. Both documents must show your name, and at least one must show your address. If you have neither, ask the DDS clerk what other documents they will accept.

Do I need to take a new photo for my replacement license?

Yes. DDS will take a new photo when you replace your license in person. If you replace online, you will upload a photo or take one with your phone camera. You cannot use your old photo from your previous license.

Will my replacement license have a different number?

No. Your replacement license will have the same number as your original. It will also have the same expiration date unless your original was expiring very soon, in which case the clerk will tell you whether it has been extended.

What if I lost my license out of state?

You can still replace it at any Georgia DDS office. Bring your Social Security number, proof of Georgia residency (which can be your current address on file with DDS), and payment. If you have moved out of Georgia, you will need to update your address with DDS before you can replace your license.