Georgia (GA)

How many practice hours do you need in Georgia?

In Georgia, a learner driver must log 40 hours of supervised driving practice—including 6 at night—before applying for a license.

40
Total practice hours
6
Night hours
15
Permit age
16
License age

Georgia learner permit requirements

  • Minimum permit age: 15
  • Supervised practice required: 40 hours total, 6 at night
  • Permit hold period: 12 months
  • License eligibility age: 16
  • How hours are certified: 40-hour parental certification required under Joshua's Law.

Under Joshua's Law, applicants must complete 40 hours of supervised driving (6 at night) and an approved driver-education course. The permit must be held for one year and one day.

Requirements change and have exceptions. Always confirm the current rules with the Georgia DDS before applying.

Georgia's graduated licensing stages

1
Instructional permit (Class CP) · age 15

Drive with a licensed adult 21+; complete 40 hours of practice (6 at night).

2
Provisional license (Class D) · age 16

Issued after holding the permit 12 months; strict night and graduated passenger limits apply.

3
Full license (Class C) · age 18

Class D restrictions are removed.

Driving restrictions for new Georgia drivers

Night driving

With a Class D provisional license you can't drive between midnight and 6 a.m. — there are no work or school exceptions.

Passengers

For the first 6 months, no non-family passengers; for the next 6 months, one passenger under 21; after 12 months, up to three passengers under 21.

Phone use

Drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone at all; Georgia's hands-free law applies to everyone else.

Log every Georgia practice hour automatically

DriveMint tracks each supervised drive with GPS, separates day and night hours, and generates a DMV-ready report—so you can prove all 40 hours without a paper logbook.

Georgia driving practice FAQs

How many driving hours do you need in Georgia?+

Georgia requires 40 hours of supervised driving practice, including 6 at night, before applying for a license.

What is Joshua's Law in Georgia?+

Joshua's Law requires teens to complete an approved driver-education course and 40 hours of supervised driving (6 at night) before getting a Class D license.

When can I drive friends in Georgia?+

No non-family passengers for the first 6 months, then one passenger under 21 for the next 6 months, then up to three after a full year.

Requirements in other states