Atlanta, March 20, 2026 — Georgia has rolled out a series of updates affecting new and young drivers, from how temporary car tags are issued to what teens must study before they ever get behind the wheel. Here is what every family in Georgia needs to know.
New Rules for Temporary Tags
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, House Bill 551 overhauled how Georgia dealers issue Temporary Operating Permits, commonly known as paper tags. Under the new law, dealers may issue a TOP valid for up to 45 days from the date of purchase. The expiration can be extended once through the buyer's county tag agent, for a maximum of 60 days total.
The Georgia Department of Revenue is now authorized to launch an electronic TOP system — ending the era of paper tags printed and handed out with little oversight. The digital system creates a real-time record for every temporary tag issued in the state, making fraud and abuse far easier to detect.
Dealers caught issuing TOPs for vehicles that were not genuinely sold or properly titled face immediate suspension from the system. The law also cracks down on Georgia residents who register vehicles through out-of-state entities — such as Montana LLCs — to avoid Georgia's Title Ad Valorem Tax.
What's New on the Permit Test
The Georgia Department of Driver Services has updated its knowledge exam question bank to reflect current state law. Test-takers should expect more questions on three areas in particular:
DUI laws: Drivers must know that a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or above constitutes a DUI, and that a conviction results in license suspension. Under Georgia's Implied Consent Law, refusing a chemical test also triggers a suspension.
Intersection safety: New questions emphasize coming to a complete stop and yielding before turning right on red, proper lane positioning for left turns, and verifying that cross-traffic has fully cleared before proceeding on a green light.
Distracted driving: The Hands-Free Georgia Act now appears directly on the exam. All drivers — regardless of age — are prohibited from holding or using a phone while driving. A first offense carries a fine of up to $50 and one license point. A second offense doubles the fine and the points. Drivers may use Bluetooth, speakerphone, or hands-free earpieces.
The knowledge exam consists of 40 questions — 20 on road rules and 20 on road signs. Applicants must score at least 75% on each section to pass.
Joshua's Law: What Teen Drivers Must Complete
Named for 17-year-old Joshua Brown, who died in a 2003 crash, Joshua's Law has required structured driver education for teens since 2007. As of July 2021, all drivers ages 16 and 17 — including 17-year-olds who were previously exempt — must complete the program before receiving a Class D provisional license.
Teens have several options to satisfy the requirement. The most common path is 30 hours of classroom or online instruction through a DDS-certified school, combined with six hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed instructor and 40 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least six hours at night. Families who prefer a home-based approach may complete all 40 hours of supervised driving using the official DDS Parent/Teen Driving Guide, without enrolling in a formal school.
Regardless of method, all teens must hold their learner's permit for at least one year and one day before applying for a provisional license. At the road test, both the teen and a parent or instructor must sign a sworn affidavit confirming that all supervised driving hours were completed.
Class D provisional licenses come with restrictions: no driving between midnight and 5 a.m., and no unrelated passengers for the first six months. After one full year with the provisional license, teens may apply for a standard Class C license at age 18 with all restrictions lifted.
Georgia families can find a full list of DDS-approved driver education schools and the Parent/Teen Driving Guide
