If you were 21 or older and this is your first DUI in 5 years, your Georgia license is suspended for 12 months, but you can apply to get it back after 120 days. To reinstate, you need a Certificate of Completion from a DDS-approved DUI Risk Reduction Program, an SR-22 filed by your insurer, and the reinstatement fee: $200 by mail or $210 in person.
That's the most common case. Below is the full manual: every situation, the exact steps and where to send them, the SR-22 rule, the certificate timing rule, the costs, and local details for Athens-Clarke County.
Your situation at a glance
The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) handles reinstatement. The requirements depend on your age, your record and whether you took the state's chemical test. This table combines DDS's FAQs, Driver's Manual and Traffic Court Reference Manual. DUI school is a separate $360 in every case.
| Your situation | Suspension | When you can apply | What DDS needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| First DUI in 5 years, age 21 or older | 12 months | After 120 days | Risk Reduction certificate, SR-22, $200 by mail or $210 in person |
| Second DUI in 5 years | At least 18 months | 120 days with no driving, then 12 months on an interlock permit, then a regular permit | Certificate, clinical evaluation and any treatment, proof of 12 months on the interlock, SR-22, $200 or $210 |
| Second DUI in 10 years but not in 5 | DDS counts DUIs within 5 years, arrest to arrest, so first-conviction rules apply | After 120 days | Certificate, clinical evaluation (DDS requires one after two DUIs in 10 years), SR-22 at the higher second-conviction limits, fee |
| Under 21, alcohol level .02 to under .08 | At least 6 months (12 with certain priors) | End of suspension; no permit | Certificate; check Online Services for your fee |
| Under 21, .08 or more, or test refused | At least 12 months | End of suspension; no permit | Certificate; check Online Services for your fee |
| Refused the state test | 1 year, separate from any conviction | Ages off after 1 year; no regular permit | No reinstatement fee for the refusal itself |
| First drug DUI in 5 years | 180 days | End of suspension | Certificate, $200 by mail or $210 in person |
| Third DUI in 5 years (habitual violator) | 5-year revocation | Probationary license possible after 2 years | Certificate, clinical evaluation, interlock, SR-22, $210 probationary license fee |
Your record may not match a row. DDS says requirements vary with the type of suspension, the conviction and whether you have more than one offense, and fees can change with your conviction date. Your own record in DDS Online Services lists step-by-step requirements. Give the court time to send your conviction before you check.
Step by step: getting your license back after a first DUI
These steps apply to a first DUI in 5 years at age 21 or older. DDS won't reinstate until every step is done.
- Surrender your license at court, or sign the lost license affidavit (DDS Form 250A). DDS uses the surrender date to start your clock.
- Check your record in DDS Online Services, or call 678-413-8400, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Apply for a limited permit if you need to drive. Many first-time DUI drivers 21 and older qualify. It costs $32. See our guide to the Georgia limited driving permit after a DUI.
- Finish a DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program. This is Georgia DUI school: a 130-question assessment plus a 20-hour class, $360 at every certified school. DDS does not accept online DUI course certificates. Our complete guide to Georgia DUI school explains how it works.
- Have your insurer file an SR-22. Rule 375-3-3-.24 requires it for three years from the conviction date. Details below.
- Wait out the 120 days. DDS lists "suspended for 120 days" as a requirement in itself.
- Pay the fee and submit your certificate. $200 by mail, $210 in person, and the lower rate online when DDS says you're eligible.
- Confirm you're reinstated before you drive. DDS reinstates after your payment and every other requirement are processed, including any other outstanding suspension.
When does the 120-day clock start?
The DDS Traffic Court Reference Manual says the count starts from whichever happens first: the disposition date, if you surrendered your license (or signed the affidavit) at court; the surrender date, if you turned it in later but before DDS processed the conviction; or the process date, when DDS records the conviction, if you never surrendered it. The manual also says time served on an administrative suspension after your arrest counts toward the suspension from a conviction for the same incident.
Timeline: from arrest to full reinstatement
| When | What happens (first DUI, 21 or older) |
|---|---|
| Arrest | If you tested over the limit or refused, the officer files a DDS-1205 and an administrative suspension can begin. You have 30 days to request a hearing ($150 fee) or, in some cases, an interlock permit. |
| Conviction | The court seizes your license, serves the DDS-1190 notice and reports the conviction within 10 days. The 12-month suspension starts. |
| Day 1 onward | Limited permit possible, $32, valid up to one year. Finish DUI school any time after the violation date. Ask your insurer for the SR-22. |
| Day 120 | Earliest day you can reinstate, if DDS has your certificate, SR-22 and fee. Your permit ends when you reinstate. |
| Month 12 | The suspension period ends. If you haven't met the requirements, it stays on your record until you do. |
| Year 3 after conviction | SR-22 requirement ends under Rule 375-3-3-.24. |
How to submit your reinstatement: by mail, online or in person
DDS accepts reinstatement payments three ways. Whichever you choose, pay in full. DDS does not accept partial payments.
By mail ($200)
Mail your payment to Department of Driver Services, Validation Unit, P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, Georgia 30013. Enclose the Official Notice of Suspension DDS sent you, or if you never received one, your full name, date of birth, driver's license number, address and Social Security number. Include your Risk Reduction certificate. Pay by check, money order or cashier's check payable to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, or enclose DDS's Credit Card Authorization Form to pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.
Online (discount when eligible)
Sign in to DDS Online Services and pay there. DDS says a discount is available by mail or, when eligible, online. Online Services and the DDS 2 GO app take credit and debit cards only.
In person ($210)
Go to a DDS Customer Service Center with proof of identity (DDS points you to its REAL ID document list), your Official Notice of Suspension and your certificate. Centers take cash, credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, but not checks or money orders. DDS says every center statewide is closed on Monday, Tuesday is the busiest day, and midweek in the middle of the day is the best time to go. Complete DDS's online license form before you arrive.
The SR-22 rule after a DUI conviction
DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24 took effect on September 4, 2025. It says reinstating a license suspended for a conviction under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391 requires an SR-22 filed and maintained for three years from the date of conviction. An SR-22 is a certificate your insurance company files with DDS to show you hold a liability policy with the required limits.
| Conviction | Minimum liability limits on the SR-22 policy |
|---|---|
| First DUI conviction | $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, $50,000 property damage |
| Second or later DUI conviction | $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, $100,000 property damage |
The after-violation-date rule for your certificate
DDS Rule 375-3-3-.05 says a Risk Reduction (or Driver Improvement) certificate is accepted for reinstatement only if it shows the course was taken and completed after the violation date that caused the suspension. A course you took before your arrest does not count.
The Traffic Court Reference Manual adds a second limit: a certificate completed after the violation date is accepted at any time, provided it hasn't already been used to reinstate another suspension. The exception DDS spells out is your own case: the certificate and fee used for the administrative suspension after your arrest may be applied to the suspension from a conviction for the same DUI. If your case is still open, read can you start DUI classes before your court date first.
What reinstatement costs in total
| Cost | Amount | Paid to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk Reduction Program (DUI school) | $360 ($100 assessment, $235 class, $25 workbook) | The school | DDS DUI FAQs |
| Reinstatement fee, first DUI age 21+ | $200 by mail, $210 in person, discount online when eligible | DDS | DDS fees page |
| Reinstatement fee, second DUI in 5 years | $210, or $200 online or by mail | DDS | DDS court manual |
| Limited driving permit | $32, renewal $10, replacement $20 | DDS | DDS fees and terms |
| Ignition interlock permit | $25, renewal $5, $100 to remove the restriction | DDS | DDS fees and terms |
| Interlock installation and monthly monitoring | Up to $75 each | The provider | Rule 375-3-6-.04 |
| Clinical evaluation (two or more DUIs in 10 years) | Varies; $150 at Athena | The evaluator | DDS DUI FAQs |
| SR-22 policy | Set by your insurer | Your insurer | Rule 375-3-3-.24 |
Our page on how much DUI school costs in Georgia goes deeper on the $360.
Special situations
Second DUI within 5 years
The Driver's Manual says your license is suspended for at least 18 months, with no driving at all for the first 120 days. After that "hard suspension," you may drive with an ignition interlock device for 12 months, then a regular limited permit for the rest of the suspension. To fully reinstate, DDS's court manual lists proof the device was maintained for 12 months without incident, proof you completed treatment if your clinical evaluation required it (or a "Requirements Met" certificate if not), and the fee. DDS requires the clinical evaluation after two or more DUI convictions within 10 years. See ignition interlock in Georgia and the clinical evaluation after a second DUI.
Under 21
The Driver's Manual says an alcohol level of .02 or more but under .08 brings at least a 6-month suspension (12 months with a prior conviction for certain offenses). A level of .08 or more, or a refusal, brings at least 12 months. No limited permit of any kind is available, and a permit issued after the arrest is cancelled when you're convicted under 21. Our page on Georgia DUI under 21 explains more.
Refusal of the state test
Refusing the state's chemical test brings a suspension of at least one year, separate from any conviction. DDS's court manual calls it a one-year hard suspension with no permit, and says a DUI conviction from the same arrest won't avoid it. It ages off after a year with no reinstatement fee. Drivers 21 and older with a Georgia license and no other suspensions can request an ignition interlock permit within 30 days of the DDS-1205 notice, but then must keep the device for 12 months even if the DUI charge is dismissed.
Drug DUI
Drug DUI suspensions fall under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-75. DDS's court manual lists a 180-day suspension for a first conviction in 5 years, reinstated with a Risk Reduction certificate and the $210 fee ($200 online or by mail), with a limited permit for offenses on or after July 29, 2020. A second drug DUI in 5 years is a 1-year suspension with no permit; a third is a habitual violator revocation. The Driver's Manual still lists "DUI Drugs" as not permit-eligible, so ask DDS what applies to your offense date.
Third DUI in 5 years: habitual violator
Three DUIs within 5 years means a 5-year revocation that DDS says doesn't age off. After 2 years you may apply for a probationary license, valid up to 3 years, if you've had no moving violation convictions for the prior 2 years, completed a Risk Reduction Program or defensive driving course, filed an SR-22, sworn an affidavit about alcohol and drug use, and shown extreme hardship. With two or more DUIs, the license carries an interlock restriction and you need a clinical evaluation. The fee is $210, or $200 online or by mail.
Commercial license (CDL) and out-of-state drivers
The Driver's Manual lists DUI and test refusal as major violations that disqualify commercial driving privileges for one year, and for life on a second conviction. No limited permit is valid for a commercial vehicle. If you hold an out-of-state license, ask that state what it requires and check DDS's DUI school guidelines for other states before enrolling.
What happens if you drive while your license is suspended
Driving while suspended or revoked (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-121) is its own mandatory suspension. According to the DDS Traffic Court Reference Manual:
- A first conviction within 5 years adds a 6-month suspension, no limited permit, and a $210 reinstatement fee ($200 online or by mail).
- A second or third conviction adds another 6 months, with fees of $310 and $410 ($300 and $400 online or by mail). A fourth within 5 years becomes a felony charge.
- If your suspension came from a drug DUI, the fine is $750 to $5,000, up to 12 months in jail, or both.
- A habitual violator who drives during the revocation, before a probationary license is issued, commits the felony of habitual impaired driving: a fine of at least $1,000, one to five years in prison, or both.
A moving violation conviction while on a limited permit revokes the permit and extends the suspension by 6 months.
Common reasons reinstatement gets held up
- A certificate DDS won't accept. Online DUI course certificates can't be used for anything related to your license. See can you take DUI school online in Georgia.
- A course taken before the arrest. Rule 375-3-3-.05 requires completion after the violation date.
- Another suspension on your record. DDS reinstates only after every outstanding suspension is handled.
- A lost certificate. Your school can replace it for up to $20 within five business days. If the school has closed, call DDS at (678) 413-8745.
Key terms
- Risk Reduction Program. Georgia's DUI school: a 130-question assessment and a 20-hour course, $360 at every DDS-certified program.
- Administrative license suspension (ALS). A DDS suspension that starts from the arrest, based on the officer's DDS-1205 form, separate from the court case.
- Limited driving permit. A $32 DDS permit for approved trips such as work, school and medical care during a suspension.
- Ignition interlock. A breath alcohol analyzer wired to the ignition; the vehicle won't start if your breath alcohol is over the preset limit.
- Clinical evaluation. A substance use evaluation by a DBHDD-registered evaluator, required after two or more DUI convictions within 10 years.
- SR-22. A certificate your insurer files with DDS proving liability coverage at the required limits, kept for three years after a DUI conviction.
If you're in Athens-Clarke County
The Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County, 325 East Washington Street, Suite 170, Athens, GA 30601, 706-613-3690, says it handles all state misdemeanor traffic violations, including DUI. State Court is in Suite 425 of the same building, 706-613-3200, and runs the county's DUI/Drug Court. Athens-Clarke County Probation Services is at 110 Bray Street, 706-613-3911, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For DDS business, the Athens Customer Service Center at 1505 US Highway 29 North offers reinstatements Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon. DDS says this center closed on October 3, 2026. Its replacement, the Oconee Customer Service Center at 1627 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, GA 30622, serves the area from October 6, 2026, Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and also lists reinstatements among its services.
Questions to ask before you reinstate
- Your attorney: What date will DDS use to start my clock? Does my time on the administrative suspension count? Should I finish DUI school now?
- The court clerk: Has my conviction been sent to DDS? Did the court complete a DDS-1126 referral for a limited permit?
- Your probation officer: Does my sentence add conditions beyond what DDS requires, such as a clinical evaluation or a court-ordered suspension?
- Your insurer: Can you file an SR-22 with DDS at the required limits, and what will it cost for three years?
What to bring and what to keep
Bring your Official Notice of Suspension, your original Risk Reduction certificate, proof of identity and your payment. Keep copies of the certificate, your DDS receipt, your SR-22 confirmation and your court paperwork. DDS rules only require schools to keep student records for three years, so your own copy may be the only one later.
How Athena handles it
Athena DUI Academy & Family Enrichment is a DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program, RRP Cert #10432, $360, live online or in person in Athens, and offers clinical evaluations for $150. Register online or call 706.215.9661 to join the next scheduled class. When needed we send your certificate to the court, probation officer or clerk at no extra cost. See our DUI school in Athens.