If you're under 21 in Georgia, driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of just 0.02 is a DUI. A first underage DUI suspends your license for 6 months if your BAC was under 0.08, or 12 months if it was 0.08 or higher or you refused testing, and no limited driving permit is available.
To get your license back, you'll need to finish DUI school (the Risk Reduction Program), pay a reinstatement fee to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) and, under a 2025 DDS rule, keep an SR-22 insurance filing for three years. Athens is a college town, so many people reading this are UGA students or their parents. This page covers the license side of an underage DUI. For your criminal case, talk to a DUI attorney.
What is the legal limit for drivers under 21 in Georgia?
Georgia's DUI law, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(k), says a person under 21 may not drive with an alcohol concentration of 0.02 grams or more at any time within three hours after driving, from alcohol consumed before the driving ended. The DDS Driver's Manual puts it bluntly: a person under 21 is "irrefutably" considered under the influence at 0.02.
| Who | Alcohol concentration that is a DUI (or BUI) |
|---|---|
| Driver under 21 | 0.02 or more |
| Driver 21 or older | 0.08 or more |
| Any driver, any age | Alcohol, a drug (prescription or illegal) or another substance that makes you less safe to drive |
| Boat operator under 21 | 0.02 or more (Georgia DNR) |
The 0.02 rule is on top of the regular DUI law, not instead of it. For drugs, boats and underage possession charges, see drug possession, underage alcohol and BUI in Georgia.
How long is your license suspended for a DUI under 21?
DDS counts offenses within a 5-year window, measured from arrest date to arrest date for arrests that led to convictions. Here is what DDS publishes for drivers under 21 on the date of conviction.
| Your situation | Suspension | Limited permit? | Reinstatement fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| First DUI, BAC 0.02 to under 0.08 (or no test was given, or the results were suppressed) | 6 months | No | $210, or $200 online or by mail |
| First DUI, BAC 0.08 or higher, or you refused the state's test | 12 months | No | $210, or $200 online or by mail |
| First DUI, but you already had an under-21 suspension (for example, for reckless driving) | 12 months | No | $210, or $200 online or by mail |
| Second DUI within 5 years | 18 months, with a 120-day hard suspension first | DDS sources differ; see the interlock section below | $310 per the DDS DUI chart |
| Third DUI within 5 years | Declared a habitual violator; license revoked for 5 years | See DDS | $410 per the DDS DUI chart |
Two details catch people off guard. First, DDS uses your age on the date of your conviction, not the arrest date; the court manual tells courts to report an under-21 DUI as a regular DUI if the driver is over 21 at disposition. Second, a plea of nolo contendere doesn't avoid these suspensions. The court manual says a nolo plea "shall be treated as a conviction" for every under-21 suspension.
Refusing the test doesn't help. On a first under-21 DUI, a refusal moves the suspension from 6 months to 12 months. Georgia's implied consent law also brings a separate suspension of at least one year if you refuse the state's chemical test, and DDS says that refusal makes you ineligible for a limited permit if you're convicted of a first DUI.
Timeline of an under-21 DUI suspension
| When | What happens, according to DDS |
|---|---|
| Arrest | You're asked to take the state's chemical test. Refusing brings an implied consent suspension of at least one year, separate from any conviction. |
| Conviction or nolo plea | The court seizes your license, serves you with the Official Notice of Suspension (form DDS-1190) and reports the conviction to DDS within 10 days. Your age on this date decides which rules apply. |
| Effective date | The 6-, 12- or 18-month period starts. No limited permit on a first offense. |
| Day 120 (second offense in 5 years) | The hard suspension ends. Whether an interlock permit is available to an under-21 driver depends on which DDS source you read. |
| Month 6, 12 or 18 | Once the full period has run, you can reinstate with your original Risk Reduction certificate, the fee and any other requirement on your record. |
| Three years from conviction | The SR-22 filing required by DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24 can end. |
Can you get a limited driving permit if you're under 21?
No. The DDS Driver's Manual lists DUI convictions before age 21 among the suspensions where a limited driving permit is not available, and the DDS court manual shows "No" in the limited permit column for every first under-21 DUI. That means no permit to drive to work, class or a job site during the suspension.
A driver 21 or older with a first DUI may be able to get a limited permit and apply to reinstate after 120 days. If you're under 21, plan on rides, transit or a campus bus for the full 6 or 12 months. Our page on the Georgia limited driving permit after a DUI explains who does qualify.
How do you get your license back after an underage DUI?
Georgia law says a license suspended for a DUI under 21 stays suspended until you give DDS proof that you completed a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program and pay the reinstatement fee. Here are the steps, using the requirements DDS publishes.
- Check your record first. Sign in to DDS Online Services for the step-by-step requirements tied to your record, or call DDS at 678-413-8400, Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm. DDS says to allow time for the court to send the conviction before you check.
- Complete a DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program. It costs $360 at every certified school: a $100 assessment (a 130-question screening), a $235 20-hour course and a $25 workbook. DDS won't accept certificates from online DUI courses, and it asks for the original certificate, not a copy.
- Serve the full suspension. Unlike a first DUI at 21 or older, there's no option to apply early at 120 days.
- Get a clinical evaluation if it applies to you. If you have two or more DUI convictions within 10 years, Georgia requires a clinical evaluation, and any treatment it recommends, before reinstatement. The DDS DUI chart marks evaluation and treatment as required for a second offense in the 16-to-20 age group.
- Pay the reinstatement fee. For a first under-21 DUI suspension the DDS court manual lists $210, or $200 online or by mail. For a second suspension the DDS DUI chart lists $310; the court manual's under-21 pages show $300 online or by mail for second suspensions. DDS gives the lower rate online only when you're eligible.
- File the SR-22. DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24 says reinstating a license suspended for a DUI conviction requires an SR-22 certificate from your insurer, kept for three years from the conviction date.
- Submit everything one of three ways. Online through DDS Online Services; by mail to Department of Driver Services, Validation Unit, P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, Georgia 30013, enclosing your Official Notice of Suspension, your Risk Reduction certificate and full payment (no partial payments); or in person at a DDS Customer Service Center with proof of identity. Centers are closed on Mondays.
You don't have to wait until the end of your suspension to take DUI school. Finishing it early means your certificate is ready when you become eligible. See whether you can start DUI classes before your court date, and our full guide to getting your license back after a DUI in Georgia.
What an underage DUI costs on the license side
| Cost | Amount | Paid to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk Reduction Program (assessment, 20-hour course, workbook) | $360 | The DDS-certified school | DDS DUI FAQs |
| Reinstatement fee, first under-21 suspension | $210 in person; $200 online or by mail | DDS | DDS court manual |
| Reinstatement fee, second suspension | $310 in person; $300 online or by mail | DDS | DDS court manual and DUI chart |
| SR-22 filing, kept three years | Set by your insurer | Your insurance company | DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24 |
| Replacement Risk Reduction certificate, if you lose it | Up to $20 | The school | DDS DUI FAQs |
| Ignition interlock permit, if one applies | $25 permit, $5 renewal, $100 to remove restrictions | DDS | DDS fees and terms |
How a DUI under 21 differs from a DUI at 21 or older
| Under 21 | 21 and older | |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol limit | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| First DUI suspension | 6 months (BAC under 0.08) or 12 months (0.08 or higher, refusal, or a prior under-21 suspension) | 12 months, but you can apply to reinstate after 120 days |
| Limited permit on a first DUI | Not available | Possibly |
| DUI school required to reinstate | Yes | Yes |
| First reinstatement fee | $210, or $200 online or by mail | $210 in person, $200 by mail |
| Second DUI within 5 years | 18-month suspension | At least 18 months, with a 120-day hard suspension and then a 12-month interlock permit |
Ignition interlock after a second under-21 DUI: what DDS says
This is the one place where DDS's own publications don't agree. The newer sources say a permit may be possible. The DDS teen driver (ADAP) manual, citing House Bill 407 from 2013, says that for a second DUI within 5 years you have no driving privileges for the first 120 days, and after that "you may be eligible" to have a certified ignition interlock device installed for 12 months. The current Driver's Manual says an 18-month suspension "with ignition interlock permit eligibility after 120 days," and the DDS DUI chart for ages 16 to 20 lists "Interlock Permit after 120 days with court permission."
The older Traffic Court Reference Manual (2021-2022) shows "No" in the limited permit column for a second under-21 DUI, and its section on ignition interlock limited permits lists being 21 or older as a requirement. Treat an interlock permit as something to confirm, not assume: check DDS Online Services, ask DDS, or ask your attorney to raise it at sentencing. Our page on ignition interlock in Georgia covers devices, providers and fees.
Other offenses that suspend a license for drivers under 21
Georgia's Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA) also suspends the license of a driver under 21 for several non-DUI convictions. According to the DDS ADAP manual, the license of any person under 21 convicted of these offenses is suspended for 6 months for a first conviction and 12 months for a second or later one:
- Hit and run or leaving the scene of a crash
- Racing on highways or streets
- Using a motor vehicle to flee or attempt to elude an officer
- Reckless driving
- Aggressive driving
- Underage possession of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle
- Any other offense for which 4 or more points are assessed, which the Driver's Manual says includes unlawful passing of a school bus, improper passing on a hill or curve, and speeding 24 mph or more over the limit
- Four or more points in any 12-month period while under 18
To reinstate after one of these, the DDS court manual lists an original certificate from a DDS-approved defensive driving course, a Risk Reduction certificate if the court ordered one, and a fee of $210 ($200 online or by mail) for a first suspension or $310 ($300 online or by mail) for a second. Athena teaches the state-approved Driver Improvement course in Athens. The only permit exception is a speeding conviction of 24 to 33 mph over, for a driver at least 18, if the judge signs form DDS-665B. One of these suspensions on your record also turns a later 6-month DUI suspension into 12 months.
What happens if…
You drive while your license is suspended
The DDS court manual lists a 6-month suspension for a first driving-while-suspended conviction, with no limited permit and a $210 reinstatement fee ($200 online or by mail). The court sets any fine or jail time.
You miss a DUI school session, arrive late or take it online
DDS says late students can expect to be denied entry, and anyone absent from or leaving a session early may have to start over at full cost. Online DUI courses are not accepted for any license purpose; live classes taught over video by a certified school are different, as explained in whether you can take DUI school online in Georgia. Check how long DUI school takes before you pick a class week.
You already took a class before the arrest, or you lose your certificate
Under DDS Rule 375-3-3-.05, a Risk Reduction or Driver Improvement certificate only counts if the course was taken and completed after the violation date. If you lose your certificate, the school can issue a replacement for up to $20, but DDS rules only require schools to keep records for three years, so keep your own copy.
Common mistakes with an under-21 DUI
- Pleading nolo to "avoid" the suspension. DDS treats a nolo plea as a conviction for every under-21 suspension.
- Assuming a work or school permit is available. It isn't on a first under-21 DUI.
- Waiting to enroll in DUI school. Classes need at least 5 paid contracts to run. Enroll early so the certificate is ready when the suspension ends.
- Sending a photocopy or a partial payment. DDS asks for the original certificate and payment in full.
For parents
DDS handles the license and the court handles the criminal case; only an attorney can advise on the second part. There is no permit and no early reinstatement on a first under-21 DUI, so build a transportation plan for the whole 6 or 12 months. The DDS ADAP manual also notes that the parent, guardian or responsible adult who signed a minor's license application can ask DDS to revoke the permit or license at any time before the minor turns 18; the Driver's Manual says that request is made on a DDS form with a notarized signature and a $10 fee.
Your child must attend the Risk Reduction Program in person or live online with a certified school. Keep the certificate, DDS notices and receipts together, because schools only have to hold records for three years.
Out-of-state students and licenses
Georgia DDS controls your privilege to drive in Georgia, whichever state issued your license. Here is what DDS states on its own pages, and nothing more:
- If your driving privileges are suspended in another state for a DUI, you can't get a Georgia license until every reinstatement requirement there has been met and the suspension is reinstated.
- DDS publishes DUI School Guidelines for Other States, with a page for each state, and says to check it if there's any question whether an out-of-state program will be accepted.
- For a second DUI in 5 years, the DDS court manual says a non-Georgia resident doesn't do the 12-month interlock period and instead serves an 18-month hard suspension.
- Convictions imposed on Georgia residents by courts in other states can also result in suspensions.
What your home state does with a Georgia conviction is its decision. Ask its licensing agency and your attorney.
If you're in Athens-Clarke County
- Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County handles state misdemeanor traffic violations including DUI, plus underage possession of alcohol and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. 325 East Washington Street, Suite 170, Athens, GA 30601; 706-613-3690. Sessions are held Monday through Thursday most weeks.
- State Court of Athens-Clarke County hears misdemeanor cases including DUI and runs a DUI/Drug Court program. 325 East Washington Street, Suite 425; 706-613-3200.
- Athens-Clarke County Probation Services supervises misdemeanor probation. 110 Bray Street, Athens, GA 30601; 706-613-3911.
- DDS customer service: the Athens center at 1505 US Highway 29 North closed on October 3, 2026. From October 6, 2026, the new Oconee center at 1627 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, GA 30622, serves the area, Tuesday through Friday, 8am to 6pm, and its listed services include reinstatements. All DDS centers are closed on Mondays.
Questions to ask, and what to keep
- Your attorney: Does my age on the conviction date change the suspension? What will DDS do with a nolo plea? On a second offense, will you ask the court about interlock permission?
- The clerk or probation officer: Did the court order DUI school, by what deadline, and where should the certificate go?
- DDS (678-413-8400): What are the effective date and exact reinstatement requirements on my record?
- The school: When does the next class start, what is the attendance policy, and will you send the certificate to my court at no charge?
- Keep: the Official Notice of Suspension (DDS-1190), your original Risk Reduction certificate plus a copy, any defensive driving certificate, your SR-22 confirmation, and receipts from the school and DDS, for at least three years.
Key terms
- TADRA: the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act, Georgia's 1997 law on graduated licensing and under-21 suspensions.
- Implied consent: by driving in Georgia you agree to state chemical tests; refusing brings a suspension of at least one year.
- Limited driving permit: a restricted permit for work, school, medical care and similar trips; not available for a DUI conviction before age 21.
- Risk Reduction Program: Georgia's DUI school, a 130-question assessment plus a 20-hour course, $360 at every certified school.
- Nolo contendere: a "no contest" plea; DDS treats it as a conviction for under-21 suspensions.
- Clinical evaluation: a DBHDD-regulated assessment required after two DUI convictions in 10 years.
- SR-22: an insurance certificate DDS requires for three years after a DUI conviction.
Take DUI school at Athena DUI Academy
Athena DUI Academy & Family Enrichment is a Georgia DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program, RRP Cert #10432, at 110 Athens West Parkway, Ste. C, in Athens. The price is the state price, $360, and classes are taught live online or in person at our office.
You can register online or call 706.215.9661, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm. You'll join the next scheduled class (classes don't start the same day you register), and qualifying students can take class now and pay later through Stripe. When needed, we send your certificate to the court, probation officer or clerk at no extra cost. Read our complete guide to Georgia DUI school or our DUI school in Athens page.