Georgia CDL Reinstatement And Hardship License

The State of Georgia considers dangerous and negligent drivers to be a direct and immediate threat to the general public's welfare and safety, and it is in the best interests of Georgia citizens to immediately remove such drivers from the state's highways. As a result, when evidence is obtained that the licensee is a habitually dangerous or negligent driver of a motor vehicle, the Department of Driver Services is authorized to withdraw the license or driving privileges.

Reinstatement Consent

Georgia law requires you to submit to chemical tests of your blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substances administered by the state to determine if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you refuse this testing, your Georgia driver's license or privilege to drive on Georgia highways will be suspended for at least one year. Your refusal to submit a blood or urine test could be used against you in court. If you submit to testing and the results show a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above the legal limit, your Georgia driver's license or privilege to drive on this state's highways may be suspended for at least one year. After completing the required state tests, you are entitled to additional chemical tests of your blood, breath, urine, or other bodily substances at your own expense and qualified personnel.

Georgia Point System

The Department is required by law to suspend an individual's Georgia license for an accumulation of points resulting from certain convictions. Georgia residents are assessed points for out-of-state violations that would be assessed points if committed in Georgia. Georgia licenses will be suspended in the following ways:
  • For anyone who accumulates 15 or more points in less than 24 months;
  • For anyone under the age of 21 who has a 4-point violation conviction;
  • For anyone under 18 who has accumulated four points in the previous twelve months.
Certain convictions result in accumulating points on a person's driving record. The chart below shows these convictions and the number of points assigned to each. The violation's date calculates the 24 months (or 12-month period for persons under 18). When a license is suspended because of a point accumulation, the point total is reset to zero. The suspension of a driver's license for a single 4-point offense for a person aged 18 to 21 is determined by the date of conviction. A nolo contendere plea is considered a conviction to impose suspensions on people under 21.

Reduction Of Points

Once every five years, licensed Georgia residents may request that DDS reduce the number of points assessed against their Georgia driver's license by up to seven points. To be eligible for a point reduction, you must complete a certified 6-hour driver improvement (defensive driving) course and submit the original certificate of completion to the DDS via mail or at one of our Customer Service Centers. If you want to reduce your points by mail, please send the original driver improvement (defensive driving) certificate of completion to: Georgia Department of Driver Services P.O. Box 80447 Conyers, Georgia 30013

Avoidance Of Points

After receiving a citation for a moving violation and before appearing in court, a defendant may complete a certified 6-hour driver improvement (defensive driving) course. When the original certificate of completion is presented to the court, the fine is reduced by 20%, and no points are assessed against the driver. The court may accept this plea once every five years.

Reinstating Georgia CDL

To reinstate your Georgia CDL, you must pay a fee. The fee to reinstate your CDL is determined by the reason for the suspension. Along with a reinstatement fee, you may be required to:
  • Reapply for a CDL and retake the licensing exams.
  • Complete a DUI Alcohol, or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program approved.

Reinstatement Fees

While the DDS does not specify CDL reinstatement fees, your CDL is frequently suspended and your non-commercial driver's license. The reason for your license suspension determines the reinstatement fee. Common non-commercial reinstatement fees include:
OFFENSE REINSTATEMENT FEE (By Mail) REINSTATEMENT FEE (In Person)
DUI (1st offense for 21 years old or older) $200 $210
Failure to pay child support $25 $35
Failure to show proof of insurance (1st offense) $200 $210
Failure to show proof of insurance (2nd offense) $300 $310
Points violation (1st offense) $200 $210
Points violation (2nd offense) $300 $310
Points violation (3rd offense) $400 $410
Other reasons for your license suspension may exist, and your fee may differ from those listed above. You may also be required to pay additional fines and fees due to your commercial license suspension. In addition to the reinstatement fee, you may be required to pay the following:
  • State and federal fines.
  • Court fees.
  • Course fees.
  • Testing fees.
  • Application fees.

Georgia Hardship License

In the event of a DUI suspension, Georgia allows for a restricted driver's license. The hardship license is not guaranteed, and it is granted on a case-by-case basis by the Georgia DMV. An experienced Georgia attorney can assist you in applying for the hardship license and ensuring that all requirements are met. The Georgia hardship license allows you to drive to authorized locations such as work, school, medical appointments, and alcohol rehabilitation programs.

License Plate

Surrendering a license plate affects the offender and other household members who may drive the vehicle. In these cases, a special license plate allows a household member to drive the car even though the tag has been surrendered. To qualify for a hardship license plate in Georgia, you must meet certain requirements. Your family members must be completely reliant on the car for their daily needs and face undue hardship if a special license plate is not issued. You must also show that your family member lives at the same address. The Department of Driver Services will check its driver's license records to see if the addresses are identical. You must file an Affidavit of Need for the Issuance of a Special License Plate after Multiple Convictions for Driving Under the Influence with the Department of Driver Services to apply for the plate. If no one in the house has a valid driver's license, the application will be denied.

Safety Responsibility Law

This law aims to keep reckless drivers off Georgia highways and protect insured motorists from uninsured drivers. If you fail to satisfy a claim for damage caused by a motor vehicle accident and a claim is filed against you under the Safety Responsibility Law, you will be issued an order suspending your license. You can avoid the suspension by doing the following:
  • If you had liability insurance at the accident, have your insurance company file Form SR-21 with the DDS.
  • File a general or conditional release signed by the claimant (the injured party in the crash) with the DDS; or
  • In addition to financial responsibility, Form SR-22A, post-security, covers the damages with the DDS, which may be a cashier's check, certified check, money order, real property bond, or surety bond.