Georgia Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

The number of senior drivers in Georgia is increasing along with the number of older residents in the state. More than 1.5 million drivers in Georgia are seniors, with over two-thirds of them aged 70 or older.

According to the Georgia Office of Highway Safety, seniors (drivers 65 and older) were involved in 12% of all fatal crashes in Georgia in 2022. Although the report shows that older drivers tend to be safer behind the wheel, it also shows they're more vulnerable to injury or death after a car accident.

As the number of older drivers increases, so does the risk of age-related impairments that can affect driving ability. So, while the rules and regulations enforced by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) apply to all drivers, the state imposes some special requirements and restrictions on older drivers.

Several Georgia state rules focus on identifying and addressing unsafe older drivers. Specifically, Georgia:

• requires drivers 60 and older to renew their licenses in person every five years
• requires drivers 64 and older to take a vision test when renewing their licenses, and
• accepts requests from doctors, family members, and others for the DDS to conduct unsafe driver investigations.

Georgia License Renewal Rules for Older Drivers

Most Georgia drivers can renew their licenses online, in person, or by mail up to 150 days before they expire. It takes about 45 days to receive your new license in the mail.

Georgia drivers of all ages must renew their licenses every eight years. But drivers 64 and older face a few additional requirements at renewal time.

Older Drivers Must Pass a Vision Test

Georgia drivers 64 and older must pass a vision test. Older drivers who can't pass the test administered at the DDS will need to be examined by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist, who must complete a Vision Report and submit it to the DDS.

When Do Senior Drivers Have to Take the Written Exam?

Georgia DDS can require you to take the written driver's license exam if there's reason to suspect possible driver impairment.

Do Older Drivers Have to Take a Road Test in Georgia?

The state of Georgia only requires you to pass a driving test if:

• you're getting your first Georgia driver's license (and don't have a valid license from another state)
• you're renewing a license that expired more than two years ago, or
• you have signs of an age-related impairment that could affect your driving ability

Possible License Restrictions for Seniors in Georgia

The DDS can place restrictions or conditions on your driver's license—often after a driving test and discussion with you.

The most common restriction for older drivers is to require corrective glasses or contact lenses (restriction code B). In Georgia, other common restrictions the DDS can impose on older drivers include:

• mechanical aids required (C)
• prosthetic aids required (D)
• driving only during daylight (E)
• additional outside mirrors on a vehicle (F and I)
• no highway/interstate driving (H)
• no passengers allowed in the vehicle (Q)
• wearing bioptic lenses when driving (1)
• wearing a hearing aid when driving (Y: CDL only), and
• driving only vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions (J) or power steering or brakes (S).

How to Request an Unsafe Driver Investigation in Georgia

The Georgia DDS will accept requests to evaluate drivers from many sources, including:

• the driver's relatives
• law enforcement officers
• physicians
• caregivers
• vision specialists, and
• other people with personal knowledge that the driver might be medically or mentally unfit to drive.

Those asking for an evaluation must complete a form, Request for Driver Review. You can fax the completed form to 770-918-6266 or mail it to:

Georgia Department of Driver Services
Medical Revocation Unit
P.O. Box 80447
Conyers, GA 30013

Georgia DDS doesn't accept anonymous reports. But the person filing a request can ask for confidentiality, and the DDS will honor that request "to the fullest extent possible."

The DDS encourages doctors to report drivers diagnosed with conditions that could make driving dangerous or any disability that would prevent a patient from safely operating a motor vehicle.

Georgia Driver Improvement Programs

Drivers can improve their skills by taking an education and training class specifically developed for older drivers; check the local certified driver improvement schools.

In addition, Georgia has a CarFit program, which offers older drivers tips and instruction on fitting their vehicles to adapt to changing needs as they age. A CarFit review is a free check of how well you and your vehicle work together, and it takes about 20 minutes to complete.

How to Get a License Reinstated

For information on how to get back a license that has been suspended or revoked in Georgia, contact one of the DDS Customer Service Centers that deals with license reinstatements.

How to Get Parking Placards or License Plates for a Driver with a Disability

The Georgia Department of Revenue can issue disabled person parking placards and license plates to drivers with impaired mobility if a licensed physician certifies the condition.

The placards and plates are available for those who are:

• severely hearing impaired
• severely restricted by lung disease
• using portable oxygen
• afflicted with a severe cardiac condition
• legally blind
• unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
• severely limited in the ability to walk because of an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition or pregnancy complications, or
• unable to walk without:
  • a brace, cane, crutch, or other assistive device
  • another person
  • a prosthetic device, or
  • a wheelchair.

Disabled person's parking placards and license plates are available to anyone with a permanent disability (expected to last more than 180 days). Temporary parking placards are available to those with temporary disabilities (incapacities that are expected to last less than 180 days).

You don't have to own a car to get a disabled parking permit. You can use your disabled parking placard in any car you ride in. Plus, a family member who's a Georgia resident and who regularly drives you can apply for a disabled parking plate for the car they own or lease.

To apply for a disabled person's parking placard or plate, you or your family member must complete and sign a Disabled Person's Parking Affidavit. You'll also need to have a licensed physician complete Section D and have the doctor's signature notarized—DDS will accept the following as licensed physicians:

• doctors of medicine (MD) and osteopathic medicine (DO)
• podiatrists
• optometrists, and
• chiropractors.

Once your form is complete, take or mail the original application to the local DOR county tag office.

Learn More About Georgia Driving Rules for Seniors

The DDS website has a wealth of information for Georgia drivers, including links to the controlling laws and driver license handbooks in several languages.

Of special interest is the Senior Driver page, which includes information on aging and driver safety, along with links to local resources for older drivers.