DUI school in Georgia costs $360. That's the price at every program certified by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS), whether you take it in Athens, Atlanta or Savannah, live online or in person. The state sets the amount, so no certified school can charge you more or less.
The official name for DUI school is the DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program, often shortened to "Risk Reduction" or "RRP." If a judge or DDS has told you to complete it, this is the class they mean.
Where the $360 goes
DDS breaks the price into three parts. You pay for all three, and you need all three to earn your Certificate of Completion.
| Part | Cost | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment component | $100 | A 130-question screening that looks at your alcohol and drug use and how it affects your driving. |
| Intervention component | $235 | The 20-hour class itself, taught over several sessions in a group setting. |
| Workbook | $25 | The course workbook you use during class. |
| Total | $360 | The same at every DDS-certified program in Georgia. |
Why every school charges the same price
Because DDS sets the price, shopping around won't save you money. What does change from school to school is everything else: the class schedule, whether you can attend live online or in person, how easy registration is, and whether you can reach a real person when you have a question about your court order.
What the fee rule says
The price is fixed by law and by DDS Rule 375-5-6-.26. That rule says fees must follow O.C.G.A. 40-5-83(e), that the materials fee set by DDS is not optional, and that no program owner, instructor or employee may offer any component free of charge or charge a reduced or inflated fee. A companion rule, 375-5-6-.25, bars schools from advertising that your license will be reinstated or that free or reduced fees will be given, and requires every ad to show the school's certified name and certification number. So a school that advertises a discount, or doesn't show a certification number, is a warning sign.
When you pay, and what you get
Rule 375-5-6-.26 says fees for the assessment and the class are paid when you sign the contract, and DDS policy adds that you can't complete the assessment until the assessment fee is paid in full. Rule 375-5-6-.16 requires the school to give you a copy of each contract before any service is delivered. Read it: DDS says the contract holds the school's attendance and refund policies.
The rules protect you too. Rule 375-5-6-.23 requires the school to issue your certificate within one business day, and no more than 48 hours, after you finish, and Rule 375-5-6-.26 says a school may not withhold a certificate from a student who completed all requirements because of unpaid course fees.
Watch out for "cheap" online DUI classes. The Georgia DDS says certificates from online DUI, alcohol or drug use risk reduction courses can't be accepted for anything related to your driver's license. If a website offers a self-paced online DUI class for less than $360, it isn't a Georgia-certified Risk Reduction Program. Live virtual classes taught in real time by a certified school are a different thing, and they cost the same $360.
What the $360 does not cover
DUI school is usually one cost among several. Here are the others people most often ask about, so none of them catch you off guard.
| Cost | Who it's paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| License reinstatement fee (first DUI, age 21+) | Georgia DDS | $200 by mail, $210 in person |
| Limited driving permit, if you qualify and want one | Georgia DDS | $32 for up to 1 year; renewal $10; replacement $20 |
| Ignition interlock device limited permit (mainly second DUI) | Georgia DDS | $25; renewal $5; $100 to remove the restriction, on top of reinstatement fees |
| SR-22 insurance filing, kept 3 years from the DUI conviction | Your insurer | Set by the insurer. DDS lists no fee. |
| Replacement DUI school certificate | The school | Up to $20 |
| Clinical evaluation (required after two or more DUIs in 10 years) | A state-approved clinical evaluator | Varies by provider. $150 at Athena |
| Substance use treatment (only if the evaluation recommends it) | A treatment provider | Varies |
| Court fines, surcharges and probation fees | The court or probation office | Set by the court in your case |
A first DUI at age 21 or older brings a 12-month license suspension, but DDS lets you apply to reinstate after 120 days if you've finished DUI school and paid the reinstatement fee. Our guide to getting your license back after a DUI in Georgia walks through each step, and our page on the Georgia limited driving permit after a DUI covers the $32 permit.
If this is your second DUI or more within 10 years, plan for a clinical evaluation as well. We explain how that works in Second DUI in Georgia: the clinical evaluation.
The total cost of a first DUI in Georgia, in official fees
If you're 21 or older and this is your first DUI in five years, here's the minimum you'll pay for DUI school and your license reinstatement fee, plus the optional and insurance items DDS lists. It leaves out court costs and anything else in your sentence, because the court sets those case by case.
| Item | Paying DDS by mail | Paying DDS in person |
|---|---|---|
| DUI school (Risk Reduction Program) | $360 | $360 |
| DDS reinstatement fee | $200 | $210 |
| Required total | $560 | $570 |
| Limited driving permit (optional, if eligible) | + $32 | |
| Replacement certificate (only if you lose it) | + up to $20 | |
| SR-22 filing for 3 years (required) | Price set by your insurer | |
DDS says a discount applies when you pay by mail or, when eligible, online. Mail payments go to the DDS Validation Unit, P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, Georgia 30013, with your Official Notice of Suspension and your DUI school certificate. DDS doesn't accept partial payments. In person, DDS centers take cash and cards but not checks, and every center is closed on Mondays.
The SR-22 is newer. DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24, effective September 2025, says reinstating a license suspended for a DUI conviction requires an SR-22 filed and maintained for three years from the conviction date, with liability limits of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $50,000 property damage for a first conviction. DDS doesn't set the price; your insurer does.
When each cost comes due
| Point in the process | What happens | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Conviction | Your 12-month suspension begins. The court may set a deadline to show proof of DUI school. | Court fines and surcharges, set by the court |
| Days 1 to 120 | Take the assessment and the 20-hour class. Apply for a limited permit if you qualify. | $360 to the school; $32 for a permit, if you want one |
| Day 120 | You can apply to reinstate with your certificate, payment and SR-22. | $200 by mail or $210 in person, plus your insurer's SR-22 charge |
| Three years after conviction | The SR-22 requirement ends. | Nothing further to DDS |
Cost by situation
DDS lists one price for the Risk Reduction Program, $360, whenever you're required to take it. What changes is everything around the class. The table below pulls the other requirements from DDS's DUI chart and Driver's Manual. It's a summary, not a prediction of your case; DDS says to check Online Services for the requirements tied to your own record.
| Situation | Suspension (DDS) | DUI school | Reinstatement fee | Also expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First DUI, age 21+, first in 5 years | 12 months; may reinstate after 120 days | $360 | $200 by mail, $210 in person | SR-22 for 3 years. Limited permit possible ($32) unless you refused the state test. No clinical evaluation required by DDS, though a court may order one. |
| Second DUI within 5 years, age 21+ | At least 18 months, with no driving at all for the first 120 days | $360 | $210 per DDS's DUI chart; check your record | Clinical evaluation and any treatment, ignition interlock for 12 months, interlock permit $25 after 120 days with court permission, SR-22 with higher limits. |
| DUI under 21 | 6 months if BAC under 0.08; 12 months if 0.08 or higher or you refused | $360 | $210 per DDS's DUI chart; a mail discount applies to most categories | No limited driving permit. DDS applies the under-21 rules based on your age on the conviction date, and a nolo plea counts as a conviction. |
| Drug possession conviction | No automatic suspension for offenses on or after July 1, 2015, unless it's a felony in which a vehicle was used | $360 if the court or DDS requires it | Only if a suspension applies | DDS still lists possession of illegal drugs among the offenses the program is for, so a court can order it. |
For the details behind each row, see Georgia DUI under 21, ignition interlock in Georgia, and our guide to drug possession, underage alcohol and BUI. A third DUI in five years makes you a habitual violator with a five-year revocation and a $410 fee on DDS's chart.
Refunds, transfers and missed classes
This is where people lose money, so it's worth knowing the rules before you sign.
Missed or late sessions
DDS says every school has strict attendance policies, and that they're in the contract you sign. Students who arrive late can expect to be denied entry, and being absent or leaving early may mean starting the course over at full cost. Rule 375-5-6-.15 says you must attend the entire 20 hours and no student may be admitted late or dismissed early, but a student with an excused absence (military duty, a medical emergency, a death in the immediate family, or anything else the owner excuses) may finish the missed sessions in another class. DDS says whether you get a refund or a makeup is between you and the school.
Transfers to another school
DDS allows you to transfer your assessment results to another school in three situations: the class you contracted for was cancelled, you moved at least 30 miles from the school, or there's an emergency and DDS approved it in advance. The process is to confirm a seat at the new school, get verbal approval from DDS at 678-413-8745 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays), then complete the Authorization for the Transfer and/or Release of Assessment Results form. The school may charge up to $25 for a transfer due to relocation. DDS's policy guide says a transfer fee may not be charged when the class was cancelled.
When the rules require a refund
Two DDS rules spell out refunds. If a school relocates 10 or more miles, Rule 375-5-6-.18 says students with a valid assessment who haven't finished the class may cancel and receive a full refund or transfer to another school at no charge. If a school permanently closes, Rule 375-5-6-.21 gives the same choice. Outside those cases, refunds follow your contract.
Class size and cancellations
Rule 375-5-6-.15 requires at least five paid contracts for a scheduled class and lets the school cancel, reschedule or go ahead if fewer than five students show up. A cancelled class is one of the situations where a free transfer is allowed.
Assessments expire
DDS policy says the assessment is valid for one year. If you don't enroll in the class within that year, you'll need a new assessment and pay the $100 assessment fee again. A new conviction also requires a new assessment.
Common mistakes that cost money
- Paying for an online DUI course. DDS won't accept the certificate, so you'll pay $360 again for a certified class.
- Taking the class before the violation date. Rule 375-3-3-.05 says a certificate only counts for reinstatement if the course was taken and completed after the violation date. Taking it early to "get ahead" means paying twice.
- Not checking certification. DDS says classes at uncertified schools won't be accepted for licensing, reinstatement or court requirements. Check the school on DDS's certified DUI schools list and look for its certification number in its ads.
- Arriving late. DDS says late students can expect to be turned away, and a missed session may mean restarting at full cost.
- Letting the assessment lapse. Wait more than a year to start class and you pay another $100.
- Losing the certificate. A replacement costs up to $20, and schools only keep records for three years. Keep a copy.
If you're in Athens-Clarke County
A few local details from official pages.
- The DDS Athens Customer Service Center, 1505 US Highway 29 North, Athens, GA 30601, offers reinstatements and is open Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. DDS says the Athens center closed on October 3, 2026, and a new Oconee center at 1627 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, GA 30622 serves the area from October 6, 2026, with hours Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you plan to reinstate in person after early October, use the Oconee address.
- Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court, 325 East Washington Street, Suite 170, 706-613-3690, has jurisdiction over misdemeanor traffic violations including DUI.
- Court costs vary by case. The State Court of Athens-Clarke County sentence form has lines for a fine plus surcharges, items such as a $50 court cost and a $26 DUI assistance fund fee, a $45-per-month probation supervision fee, and a deadline to show proof of DUI school "within ___ days of today/release." Which apply to you is up to the judge.
- ACC Probation Services, 110 Bray Street, 706-613-3911, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., handles misdemeanor probation and collects money owed under a sentence.
Questions to ask before you pay
- The school: What's your DDS certification number? Is the class live online or in person? When does it start and finish? What's the attendance and makeup policy? Will you send my certificate to the court?
- The clerk or your probation officer: Is there a deadline to show proof of DUI school? Where should the certificate go?
- DDS (678-413-8400): What does my record show as my reinstatement requirements and fee? Am I eligible for a limited permit?
- Your insurer: What will an SR-22 filing cost?
Key terms
- Risk Reduction Program (RRP). Georgia's official name for DUI school: an assessment plus a 20-hour class, offered only by DDS-certified programs.
- NEEDS assessment. The 130-question screening DDS has approved as the assessment component. It's valid for one year.
- Intervention component. The 20-hour class, using the DDS-approved Prime for Life curriculum.
- Certificate of Completion. The document the school issues within 48 hours of finishing both components. You need it to reinstate.
- Reinstatement fee. The fee paid to DDS to restore your license: $200 by mail or $210 in person for a first DUI at 21 or older.
- Limited driving permit. A $32 DDS permit that lets an eligible driver drive for limited purposes, such as work and school, during a suspension.
- Ignition interlock device limited permit. A $25 DDS permit tied to an interlock device, required for 12 months after a second DUI in five years.
- Clinical evaluation. A substance use evaluation by a DBHDD-approved evaluator, required for reinstatement after two or more DUIs in 10 years.
- SR-22. A certificate from your insurer proving liability coverage, required for three years after a DUI conviction under Rule 375-3-3-.24.
- Nolo contendere. A "no contest" plea. The DDS Driver's Manual says it counts as a conviction for suspensions that apply to drivers under 21.
How to register at Athena DUI Academy
Athena DUI Academy & Family Enrichment in Athens is a Georgia DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program, RRP Cert #10432. Our price is the state price, $360.
- Register online or call us. You can sign up, pay and fill out your DDS paperwork online, or call 706.215.9661 and we'll help you.
- Choose your class. Join our next scheduled class, live online or in person at our Athens office. Classes don't start the same day you register, so sign up early for the best choice of dates.
- Complete the assessment and the 20-hour course. Most students finish within about a week.
- Get your certificate. You'll need it to reinstate your license. When needed, we send it to your court for you at no extra cost.
Payment happens when you register online, or over the phone if you'd rather talk it through. Qualifying students can take class now and pay later through Stripe; if you think you'll qualify, ask before you pay. Paying the DDS fee by mail, or online if you're eligible, saves $10 on a first DUI at 21 or older. If you also need a clinical evaluation, see our DUI clinical evaluation in Athens page.
Want the full picture first? Start with our complete guide to Georgia DUI school, or see whether you can take DUI school online in Georgia. For details on our classes, visit DUI school in Athens.