The State of Georgia considers dangerous, negligent, or incompetent drivers to be a menace to the safety of the general public; therefore, you must not abuse your privilege to drive or you may lose it. As long as you remain a resident of Georgia, your driving record will be on file with the Department of Driver Services.
The 3 ways you can lose your license include;
Cancellation: The Department of Driver Services is authorized to cancel your license if you fail to give the required or correct information needed in your application or if you are otherwise ineligible. You may reapply once you satisfy the requirements.
Revocation: When your license is revoked your driving privileges are terminated and withdrawn until the end of the period of time prescribed by the formal action of the Department. At the expiration of the revocation period, you may apply for a new license once you satisfy the requirements.
Suspension: When your license is suspended, your driving privilege is temporarily withdrawn for a specific period of time. At the expiration of the suspension period, you may apply for a license once you satisfy the requirements.
Mandatory Revocation
Your driver’s license will be revoked in Georgia, if you are convicted of one of the following:
- For any third conviction of a mandatory suspendable offense within 5 years, you will be declared a habitual violator. This is a five-year revocation.
- Refusal to submit to a re-examination of driving skills or knowledge of driving rules after receiving notice giving reasonable grounds for such a request.
- If there is sufficient evidence of incompetence or unfitness to drive, due to incapabilities by reason of disease, mental or physical disability, or by alcohol or drug addiction.
Mandatory Suspension
The Department shall suspend a license for a conviction of any of the following offenses in Georgia or any other state:
- Homicide by vehicle.
- A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used.
- Using a motor vehicle in fleeing or attempting to elude an officer.
- Fraudulent or fictitious use of, or application for a license.
- Hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident.
- Racing.
- If you refuse to take a chemical test for intoxication, then your license will be suspended for 12 months.
- Operating a motor vehicle with a revoked, canceled, or suspended registration in violation of Code Section 40-6-15.
- Conviction for driving without insurance is a 60/90-day suspension.
- If convicted for driving while license is suspended, revoked or canceled, your driver’s license will be further suspended for six months.
- If you fail to appear in court or respond to a citation, your license may be suspended indefinitely.
- Your driver’s license will be suspended if you are convicted of possession, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, sale or transfer of a controlled substance or marijuana.
- The Department is authorized to suspend your license if its records or other evidence shows that you have accumulated 15 points within 24 months under the point system, including violations committed out of state.
LIMITED DRIVING PERMITS
If you are suspended for a first mandatory conviction, a first or second DUI conviction, or a first or second points suspension, you may be eligible to apply for a limited permit. Limited Driving Permits may be obtained for:
1. Going to your place of employment or performing the normal duties of your occupation.
2. Not having a form of transportation to receive prescribed medical attention or obtaining prescribed drugs.
3. Attending classes at a college or other regularly scheduled school in which you are enrolled.
4. Attending a driver education, or assessment and treatment program court ordered.
5. To and from Ignition Interlock Centers.
The Department may specify specific places you may travel to, specific routes of travel, times of travel, specific vehicles or other restrictions the Department may deem necessary. A limited permit will be non-renewable and will become invalid on the expiration date of permit.
Upon the conviction of a second DUI, such person may apply for and be issued an ignition interlock device limited driving permit at the end of 12 months after the suspension of the driver’s license. To be eligible for an interlock permit the licensee must submit proof of completion of DUI alcohol or drug risk reduction program, clinical evaluation, enrollment in treatment or completion of treatment if required by evaluation and installation of an interlock device. At the end of such six-month ignition interlock device limited driving permit, driver may apply for reinstatement of driver’s license upon payment of the proper fee.
There are additional statutes for “Under 21” Drivers. Please visit Georgia.gov for more information.
Provided by Georgia.gov website
GeorgiaTrafficLawyer's Weblog 
Why does the DDS web-site say that your ins. info must be transmitted to them by your ins. company? I thought it went to the tag office.
thanks, Kat
Liked your informative post.
Can a person with 3 DUI’s be allowed to apply for a permit to drive for medical issues & work. I have a friend that completed the DUI Class and paid the reinstatement fee. Her License was issued to her. than several months later she got a ticket for suspended license. Sh
i have a control substance charge back in 2003 when to reinstate driver licence from i dui they reinstated but suspened them for 6 more months cuz of control substance from 2003 what can i do
We’re facing the same thing. License was suspended due to insurance not paying on an auto accident. Other party filed for a summary judgement for financial responsibility and license were suspended. Filed bankruptcy over the cost of the wreck and now that the suspension for that is lifted, Georgia tacks on another 6 months suspension for a controlled substance charge in 2007. $240 for a A&D class, $25 reinstatement fee. Suspended again, another $25 after the barbaric 6 month suspension and then $210 for reinstatement. What morons !
When I reported to have my licensed renewed, I was informed that my licensed had been suspended for failing to show proof of insurance. That information has always been posted in the system. I do not have any remembrance of being stopped or ticketed in Jan 2004. It appears that I have been cited for failure to appear.
Signed confused
I got in an accident long story short I didn’t appear in court when the lady sued me that was bk in 2004 .when. I went to go try get my licence I had to call this number with a code # they sent me papers which is called voluntary courtship and I thought the statue of limitations are up on this but have no idea what to do bc I found out that number I called that sent me wanting me to fill out these papers is her lawyers what do I do I can’t afford 2100.00 payment so don’t the statue of limitations run on this?the papers say I can’t have a lawyer to help me out .
is my license Suspension
If it’s DEKALB or FULTON county, it probably is. THAT’S HOW THOSE BA$TARDS MAKE THEIR ILL GOTTEN GAINS!.
I totally agree with this. Incompetent drivers should not drive. This is a good way to prevent accidents.
it’s not fair that we already paid the ticket and then having to pay an additional ticket i think is highway robbery especially for us out towners passing through. I paid my ticket and then there comes another ticket for $200. I don’t have the money to pay the ticket and now what you will suspend my driver’s liscense even though i paid the ticket on time…what Idiot passed this Law!!! and who supports it. i heard Ga wants to build a Trauma Center!!! at other’s people’s expense.
Georgia is a DUMB state who violates your civil rights whenever they feel like it. I was at a red light going to work and an officer pulled out of the left land and got behind my car and pulled me over. He told me my plates or registration was suspended. I couldn’t figure it out since I transferred my State Farm insurance from MI to GA but they didn’t cancel the Mi account while I was paying the GA account. They mixed it up and charged me $1,000 even when I provided proof. My credit union would have automatically added insurance had they been notified my car was not insured but it was. A racist judge found me guilty and he refused to look at my proof that I had insurance. Now what I want my money back.
I lost my ticket can you please email me my court day please…….a ,mableton ga30126 thats the address on my license thanks
Fulton county actually $U$PENDED my DL, because i forgot to pay a $15.OO seat belt ticket. And because it was $U$PENDED, my mom’s van was towed & i was put in ‘detention’ for some 20+ hours.. Fulton county made HUNDRED$ OF DOLLARS, cause i had to pay BOND, FINES & FEE’s (DL reinstated) I was supposed to pick my elderly mother up the following day , from St. Joesphs hospital, but because i was IN JAIL, & WITHOUT A CAR, i had to rely on friends to A. bail me out, & B. pick her up. AND I DON’T EVEN HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD! Can you say “C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N”??? P.S. , i was stoped because of a broken tail light, not because of bad driving.
P.S., forgot to mention that getting my mom’s van out of storage for 3 days cost a few hundred as well. AND my elderly mom HAD TO BE TAKEN DOWN THERE. SCREW FULTON COUNTY & THE CITY OF ATLANTA.
My boyfriend got caught “giving away xanax” the police couldn’t get him for selling because he didn’t have no cash on him. That happened in 06. We got pulled over a month ago and they are still saying that his drivers licens is still suspended. That’s been 8 years ago! Does anybody know a phone number that he can call to see what’s going on?
I went to the DMV and was told issue and state of New York and that I need you have to issue me and clearance letter New York issue the clearance letter that took care of the problem with george still refuses to issue driving license back to me
Is there an extra charge if your license is suspended because of FTA? I forgot to pay 2 court costs and my license was suspended.
Doreen,
If you would like to have our attorney review your ticket case please call 404-933-1153 and ask for Bill, thank you.