Georgia's Driver Improvement course is a 6-hour defensive driving class approved by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). You can use it for a court order, to take up to 7 points off your license, to reinstate after a points suspension, or to ask your insurer about a discount. Athena DUI Academy teaches the state-approved course in Athens.
DDS treats "Driver Improvement" and "Defensive Driving" as the same thing, so if a judge or DDS letter uses either name, this is the course they mean. It's classroom instruction only, with no behind-the-wheel driving. DDS also says it is not the same as Driver's Education, the separate program 16-year-olds take for a Class D license.
Why people take Driver Improvement
DDS lists five reasons to take the course. Drivers from Athens-Clarke County and the surrounding Northeast Georgia area can take it with us for any of them.
| Reason | What DDS says |
|---|---|
| Court order | A judge may order the course as part of a traffic case. Follow the exact terms of your order. |
| Point reduction | Licensed Georgia residents can ask DDS to remove up to 7 points, once every 5 years. |
| License reinstatement | A points suspension requires the course before you can reinstate. |
| Insurance premium reduction | You may qualify for a lower premium. Check with your insurance company. |
| Personal education | Anyone can take it to brush up on safe driving. |
Georgia's points table
Georgia adds points to your license when you're convicted of certain violations, and DDS suspends a license at 15 points in 24 months, measured from the date each violation occurred. Here is the sample list DDS publishes; a longer schedule covers less common offenses.
| Code section | Offense | Points |
|---|---|---|
| § 40-6-397 | Aggressive driving | 6 |
| § 40-6-163 | Unlawful passing of a school bus | 6 |
| § 40-6-181 | Speeding 34 mph or more over the limit | 6 |
| § 40-6-390 | Reckless driving | 4 |
| § 40-6-45 | Improper passing on a hill or curve | 4 |
| § 40-6-181 | Speeding 24 to 33 mph over | 4 |
| § 40-6-181 | Speeding 19 to 23 mph over | 3 |
| § 40-6-20 | Failure to obey a traffic-control device | 3 |
| § 40-6-2 | Failure to obey a police officer | 3 |
| Various | All other moving violations | 3 |
| § 40-6-181 | Speeding 15 to 18 mph over | 2 |
| § 40-6-253 | Open container of alcohol while driving | 2 |
| § 40-6-248.1 | Failure to secure a load, resulting in an accident | 2 |
| § 40-8-76 | Child safety restraint, second or later offense (first offense: 1) | 2 |
| § 40-6-241.1 | Wireless device (hands-free) violation | 1 |
| § 40-6-241.2 | Texting while driving | 1 |
| § 40-6-54 | Improper use of a designated travel lane, fourth or later offense | 1 |
DDS says you get no points for speeding less than 15 mph over the limit, for "too fast for conditions," or if you are not a Georgia resident.
How point reduction works, step by step
- Check your points. Create a DDS Online Services account or use the DDS 2 GO app to see your license status and current points.
- Confirm you qualify. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-86, licensed Georgia residents may have up to 7 points removed once every 5 years. If you used a reduction in the last five years, DDS won't grant another.
- Take the course at a certified clinic. DDS only accepts certificates from clinics on its certified list, and under Rule 375-3-3-.05 a certificate used for reinstatement must show the course was taken after the violation date.
- Get your original Certificate of Completion. Photocopies won't do. DDS asks for the original.
- Request the reduction. Bring the original certificate to a DDS Customer Service Center, or mail it to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, Georgia 30013.
- Confirm on your record. Log back into Online Services to see the reduction posted.
Because you can only use point reduction once every five years, use it when it keeps you under the 15-point line.
Reinstating after a points suspension
For a first points suspension at age 21 or older, DDS says you're eligible to reinstate as soon as you complete an approved defensive driving course; until you do, the suspension stays in place indefinitely. A limited permit may be available during a first or second points suspension, but DDS says none is available for a third.
| Points suspension (age 21+) | Requirements | Reinstatement fee | Limited permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Complete an approved defensive driving course | $200 by mail, $210 in person | Yes, may be available |
| Second | Course certificate plus payment | $300 by mail, $310 in person | Yes, as soon as the suspension appears on your record |
| Third | Course certificate plus payment | $400 by mail, $410 in person | No |
Mail payments go to DDS Validation Unit, P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, Georgia 30013, with your Official Notice of Suspension and the certificate. In person, DDS accepts cash and cards but not checks, and you'll need proof of identity.
Two uses, one certificate. If you took the course to reinstate and also want points removed, tell the DDS Customer Service Center when you hand in your certificate. DDS says you have to ask for both at that time.
Your record in DDS Online Services shows the step-by-step requirements for your case. If you're dealing with a DUI instead, see how to get your license back after a DUI in Georgia. A DUI needs a different course, DUI school, not Driver Improvement.
What the course costs, and the other fees
DDS sets the price. Its FAQ says that for license reinstatement, points reduction or court purposes, clinics must charge $95. For any other reason, such as an insurance discount or personal education, a clinic may charge up to $95.
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Improvement course for reinstatement, points or court | $95 (DDS-mandated; Athena charges $95) | The clinic |
| Course for insurance or personal education | Up to $95 | The clinic |
| Reinstatement, first points suspension | $200 by mail, $210 in person | DDS |
| Reinstatement, second points suspension | $300 by mail, $310 in person | DDS |
| Reinstatement, third points suspension | $400 by mail, $410 in person | DDS |
| Limited driving permit, if eligible | $32 (up to one year); $10 renewal; $20 replacement | DDS |
| Replacement Certificate of Completion | Up to $5 | The clinic |
| Super Speeder fee, if it applies | $200, then a $50 reinstatement if unpaid after 120 days | DDS |
Call us for Athena's pricing and the next class date.
Can you take Georgia defensive driving online?
Be careful here. DDS says it does not recognize online Driver Improvement courses for driver's license issues, and certificates from online courses are not accepted for any purpose related to your license or driving privileges. DDS also says courses that are not DDS-approved, and it names AARP as an example, can't be used for license issues even though they're well known.
Georgia Rule 375-5-1-.09 separately allows a certified clinic, with DDS's prior approval, to teach through web services such as Zoom, as long as the instruction is synchronous: real-time teaching and interaction in a specific virtual place at a specific time. That is not the same as a self-paced course you click through alone.
Using the course for points, reinstatement or court? Tell us your reason when you call, so we can confirm the right class format before you pay. In-person class at our Athens office is the most direct choice for license and court purposes.
What happens if…
You arrive late or miss part of the class
DDS's FAQ answers this with the case of a student turned away for being five minutes late: yes, the clinic can do that. Late students can expect to be denied entry and may have to start over at full cost, and the same goes for leaving early. Refunds and make-ups are between you and the clinic under your contract.
You take a self-paced online course
The certificate won't count for your license, points or reinstatement, and you'll pay again for a certified class.
You took the class before the ticket
For reinstatement, Rule 375-3-3-.05 says the certificate must show the course was taken and completed after the violation date that caused the suspension. A class from last year won't lift this year's suspension.
You drive while suspended
DDS's Driver's Manual lists driving while suspended as an offense that requires DDS to suspend your privileges again. If a limited permit is available for your suspension, get it before you drive.
Common mistakes
- Sending a photocopy. DDS asks for the original certificate for points reduction.
- Forgetting to ask for both uses. Reinstatement and points reduction must be requested together when you hand in the certificate.
- Using the 5-year reduction on 2 points. You get one reduction every five years, so use it when it matters.
- Assuming a nolo plea erases everything. DDS accepts one nolo contendere plea for a moving violation in any 5-year period without points; a second one gets points even for a different offense.
- Waiting past three years for a replacement. Clinics only keep records for three years. After that you retake the course.
Special situations
Under 21
DDS suspends the license of any driver under 21 convicted of a single 4-point violation, such as reckless driving or speeding 24 mph or more over the limit, and drivers under 18 at 4 points within 12 months. Check your record in Online Services for the steps, and see Georgia DUI under 21 for alcohol offenses.
Super Speeder
Speeding at 75 mph or more on a two-lane road, or 85 mph or more anywhere, triggers a $200 Super Speeder fee from DDS in addition to any points. You have 120 days from the notice to pay, or DDS suspends the license and adds a $50 reinstatement fee.
Out-of-state drivers
DDS does not assess points against non-Georgia residents, but Georgia residents get points for out-of-state violations. If you hold a Georgia license and got a ticket elsewhere, the point reduction and the Georgia course still apply to you.
Timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Violation date | Starts the 24-month clock for the 15-point limit. Any course used for reinstatement must be taken after this date. |
| Conviction | The court reports it to DDS and points are added. |
| 15 points within 24 months | DDS suspends the license. |
| Course day | 6 hours in one classroom session. A first points suspension is eligible for reinstatement immediately after. |
| After the course | Hand in or mail the original certificate; pay the reinstatement fee if suspended. |
If you're in Athens-Clarke County
Athens-Clarke County's Municipal Court handles state misdemeanor traffic violations. It's at 325 East Washington Street, Suite 170, Athens, GA 30601, phone 706-613-3690, and prefers email at municipalcourt@accgov.com for case questions. For DDS business in person, DDS says its Athens center at 1505 US Highway 29 North closed on October 3, 2026, and its new Oconee Customer Service Center at 1627 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, GA 30622 serves the area from October 6, 2026, Tuesday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with reinstatements among its services. DDS centers are closed on Mondays.
Key terms
- Points: penalties DDS adds to your record on conviction of certain violations; DDS's published table runs from 1 to 6 per offense.
- Points reduction: DDS removing up to 7 points once every 5 years after a certified course.
- Points suspension: the suspension DDS imposes at 15 points in 24 months.
- Certificate of Completion: the original document a certified clinic issues; DDS needs the original.
- Nolo contendere: a "no contest" plea; DDS accepts one for a moving violation in five years without assigning points.
- Limited driving permit: a restricted permit DDS may issue during a suspension for work, school, medical care and similar trips; $32 for up to a year.
Questions to ask before you sign up
- The court clerk: Is there a deadline, and does the court want the original certificate?
- Your insurer: Do you offer a discount for a Georgia Driver Improvement course, and for whom in the household?
- The clinic: Is the class in person or live remote with DDS approval, and what is the certification number?
How Athena handles it
Call 706.215.9661, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, or register online, and tell us why you need the course so we can confirm the right class. You'll join the next scheduled class at 110 Athens West Parkway, Ste. C, Athens, GA 30606; classes don't start the same day you register. When your court or probation officer needs a copy of your certificate, we send it at no extra cost, and qualifying students can take class now and pay later through Stripe. We also offer DUI clinical evaluations and anger management classes, our Georgia DUI school guide explains how DUI school differs from this course, and this page covers limited driving permits.