Second DUI in Georgia: your license, the interlock permit and the clinical evaluation

A second DUI within 5 years in Georgia brings a license suspension of at least 18 months, and you can't drive at all for the first 120 days. And if you have two or more DUI convictions within 10 years, Georgia requires a clinical evaluation, plus any treatment it recommends, before DDS will give your license back.

That's a lot to take in at once. This page walks through what the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) say happens next, in the order you'll deal with it, with every fee we could source. Your criminal case is a separate matter decided by the court, and a DUI attorney is the right person to advise you on it.

What happens to your license after a second DUI in Georgia?

Georgia uses two look-back windows, and they do different jobs. The 5-year window decides how long your license is suspended. The 10-year window decides whether you need a clinical evaluation. Both are measured from the arrest date of the earlier conviction to the arrest date of the new one.

Your record	License suspension (per DDS)	Clinical evaluation?	Reinstatement fee (DDS court manual)
Second DUI within 5 years	At least 18 months. No driving for the first 120 days, then you may qualify for an ignition interlock permit for 12 months.	Yes	$210, or $200 online or by mail
Second DUI within 10 years, but not within 5	Counted as a first DUI in 5 years. For drivers 21 and over, that's a 12-month suspension, with reinstatement possible after 120 days and a limited permit possible.	Yes	$210, or $200 online or by mail
Third DUI within 5 years	Declared a habitual violator. License revoked for 5 years; a probationary license with interlock may be possible after 2 years.	Yes	$410 per the DDS DUI chart

DDS's fees page says the effective conviction date, multiple convictions and other factors can change your fee, so confirm the amount in DDS Online Services before you pay. If you were under 21 on the date of your second conviction, different suspension periods apply. See our page on Georgia DUI under 21.

Timeline for a second DUI within 5 years

When	What happens, according to DDS and DBHDD
Conviction or nolo plea	The court seizes your license, serves you with form DDS-1190 (Official Notice of Suspension) and reports the conviction to DDS within 10 days.
Days 1 to 120	Hard suspension. No driving privileges of any kind. Use this time for DUI school and the clinical evaluation.
Day 120 onward	You may apply for an ignition interlock limited permit ($25) once you have your DUI school certificate, proof of treatment enrollment or completion (or a Requirements Met Certificate), and proof of installation.
Interlock months 1 to 12	Keep the device in any vehicle you drive. The provider inspects and recalibrates it every 30 days. The permit is valid one year and renews for $5.
After 12 months on the device	The rest of the suspension is on a non-interlock limited permit; removing the interlock restriction costs $100.
Month 18	Full reinstatement, with proof of 12 months on the device without incident, proof of treatment completion or the Requirements Met Certificate, the reinstatement fee and the SR-22 filing.
Three years from conviction	The SR-22 required by DDS Rule 375-3-3-.24 can end.

The 120-day hard suspension

DDS's teen driver manual, citing House Bill 407 from 2013, says that for a second DUI within 5 years "during the first 120 days of the suspension, you will have no driving privileges whatsoever." The court manual says the same: you only become eligible for an interlock permit "after service" of the 120-day hard suspension. There is no work permit, school permit or hardship exception during those 120 days.

Use the time. If you finish DUI school, get evaluated and enroll in any treatment during the hard suspension, you can apply for the interlock permit as soon as day 120 arrives. See starting DUI classes before your court date if your case hasn't been decided yet.

The ignition interlock permit: requirements and the 12 months

After the hard suspension, DDS says you may be eligible for an ignition interlock limited permit and must keep a certified device in any vehicle you drive for 12 months. According to the DDS Traffic Court Reference Manual, to get the permit you need:

• Your original Risk Reduction Program certificate of completion
• Official proof that you enrolled in, or completed, a DBHDD-approved treatment program if your clinical evaluation required it, or permission from the court if your case is in a DUI court program
• Proof that an ignition interlock device was installed by a DDS-approved provider
• A $25 permit fee

The permit is valid for one year and renews for $5. The court manual says the interlock period is 12 months for incidents on or after July 1, 2013 (shorter periods applied to older incidents). Under DDS Rule 375-3-6-.04, a provider center may charge no more than $75 for each installation, de-installation or security deposit, and no more than $75 for each inspection and recalibration, which happens every 30 days. Permitted uses of the interlock permit include the monthly monitoring visits.

The financial hardship exemption

The sentencing court can enter an order exempting you from the ignition interlock requirement because of undue financial hardship. DDS accepts that order in place of proof that the device was maintained, but the court manual says you then "suffer a 12-month hard suspension." In other words, the trade is a year without any driving instead of a year with the device. DDS also notes that a driver who is not a Georgia resident doesn't do the interlock period and instead serves an 18-month hard suspension.

How the permit can be revoked

DDS's court manual says the permit can be revoked for a moving-vehicle conviction, for violating its restrictions, for failing to attend or complete required treatment, or on notice from the provider of tampering, missed monitoring or early removal. Once revoked, you can't apply for reinstatement for 6 months and DDS may add another 6-month suspension. For devices and providers, see ignition interlock in Georgia, and for the permit itself, the Georgia limited driving permit after a DUI.

Who needs a clinical evaluation after a DUI in Georgia?

DDS requires documented proof of a state-approved clinical evaluation from anyone who wants to reinstate a suspension that resulted from two or more DUI convictions within 10 years. The law behind this, O.C.G.A. § 40-5-63.1, also says that if the evaluation recommends treatment, you must complete it before your license is reinstated, and that both are at your own expense except in limited cases set by state law.

A court can also order an evaluation as part of a DUI sentence, including a first DUI. DDS's court manual says that on a first DUI, DDS itself has no authority to require the evaluation for reinstatement, so a court-ordered evaluation on a first offense is treated as a condition of probation. DBHDD, which runs the DUI Intervention Program, puts it simply: DUI offenders are required to attend DUI school, have a clinical evaluation and complete any treatment the evaluator recommends. Your sentencing paperwork tells you what the court ordered in your case.

The clinical evaluation, step by step

A clinical evaluation is the process Georgia uses to diagnose a substance use problem and, if needed, refer you to treatment. It isn't a class or a test you pass or fail. DBHDD's rules in Chapter 82-2-1 set out exactly how it works.

1. Choose an approved evaluator. Rule 82-2-1-.05 says evaluations may only be done by evaluators on DBHDD's Registry of Clinical Evaluators, at locations DBHDD has approved.
2. Sign the contract. Rule 82-2-1-.09 requires a written contract in a DBHDD-approved format, and you must get a copy before services begin. The evaluator keeps the original for six years.
3. Release your DUI school screening. Every evaluation must include a review of the standardized screening you took in the Risk Reduction Program. Under Rule 82-2-1-.08, once you sign an authorization, the school transfers the results to your evaluator within five business days and may charge up to $10 for the transfer.
4. Sit for the clinical interview. Rule 82-2-1-.03 defines this as a face-to-face interview covering your demographics, medical history, the alcohol concentration from your current offense, social and family history, substance use history, work background and mental status.
5. Complete at least one more assessment. The evaluator must use one or more assessment instruments approved by DBHDD, on top of the interview and the DUI school screening.
6. Get the result. The evaluation must be enough to diagnose or rule out a substance-related disorder under current DSM criteria and to recommend an ASAM level of service. The evaluator writes the report within seven days of the interview.
7. If treatment is recommended: the evaluator gives you a list of approved providers for that level of care. The evaluator transfers your results to the provider you choose within seven days of your signed authorization.
8. If no treatment is recommended: because you are a "multiple offender" under Rule 82-2-1-.03, the evaluator sends a complete copy of the evaluation to DBHDD within seven days. DBHDD reviews it within two weeks. If approved, DBHDD issues a Requirements Met Certificate directly to you. If not approved, DBHDD asks the evaluator to add a referral to a specific ASAM level; if the evaluator disagrees, a panel of three professional peers decides.

Our page on the DUI clinical evaluation in Athens covers what to bring on the day.

Treatment levels and how long treatment lasts

Rule 82-2-1-.05 gives evaluators two choices when treatment is needed: short-term treatment for people who need services no higher than ASAM level I, or longer-term treatment for people who need level I or higher. DBHDD sets the range of hours per week and weeks of treatment for each by policy. Rule 82-2-1-.07 then sets the ground rules:

• You must stay in treatment at least as long as the evaluator recommended, at the same number of days and hours per week. A provider can require more, but someone who has complied with the treatment plan can't be required to stay longer than one year.
• Longer-term treatment means at least three hours a week of counseling or other therapy. You may also be required to attend 12-step or other self-help meetings, but that time doesn't count toward the three hours.
• You must use a provider on DBHDD's Registry of Treatment Providers that offers the level of care you were referred to. If no provider in your area offers that level, you can ask DBHDD to approve a different one.
• If more than 60 days pass between your evaluation report and your enrollment, the provider may re-evaluate you.
• Treatment happens only at DBHDD-approved locations, and providers may not collect any fee DBHDD hasn't authorized.

Under Rule 82-2-1-.08, if a multiple offender withdraws from treatment or is dismissed with cause, the provider reports it to DBHDD within five business days. That matters because DDS can revoke an interlock permit for failing to complete treatment.

Certificates: treatment completion and Requirements Met

You'll need one of these two documents to reinstate.

• Certificate of treatment completion. Rule 82-2-1-.11 says these are pre-numbered DBHDD forms, issued by the provider only after you finish treatment. You may be required to pay all treatment fees before you receive it. A replacement for a lost certificate may cost up to $15. Altering or falsifying one is a crime.
• Requirements Met Certificate. This comes directly from DBHDD when your evaluation found no need for treatment and DBHDD approved that finding. DDS's court manual says that if no treatment was recommended, this certificate must be presented in place of a treatment completion certificate.

Where DUI school fits in

The clinical evaluation doesn't replace DUI school. You need both, and DDS requires your Risk Reduction certificate before it issues an interlock permit or reinstates your license. The program costs $360 at every DDS-certified school and includes a 130-question assessment and a 20-hour course. DDS doesn't accept online certificates, and under DDS Rule 375-3-3-.05 the course only counts if it was taken after the violation date, so a certificate from your first DUI won't work. Because your evaluator reviews the screening from DUI school, it's worth enrolling first. Our complete guide to Georgia DUI school explains how the program works.

What a second DUI costs on the license side

Cost	Amount	Paid to	Source
Risk Reduction Program (assessment, course, workbook)	$360	The DDS-certified school	DDS DUI FAQs
Transfer of your DUI school screening to the evaluator	Up to $10	The school	Rule 82-2-1-.08
Clinical evaluation	$150 at Athena	The evaluator	Athena price
Treatment, if recommended	Set by the provider; only DBHDD-authorized fees	The treatment provider	Rule 82-2-1-.07
Ignition interlock limited permit	$25; renewal $5	DDS	DDS fees and terms
Interlock installation, de-installation or deposit	Up to $75 each	The provider center	Rule 375-3-6-.04
Interlock inspection and recalibration, every 30 days	Up to $75 each	The provider center	Rule 375-3-6-.04
Removal of the interlock restriction	$100, in addition to reinstatement fees	DDS	DDS fees and terms
Reinstatement fee, second DUI in 5 years	$210, or $200 online or by mail, per the court manual; confirm in DDS Online Services	DDS	DDS court manual; DDS fees page
SR-22 filing, kept three years	Set by your insurer	Your insurance company	Rule 375-3-3-.24

What happens if…

You skip or drop out of treatment

The provider reports a withdrawal or dismissal to DBHDD within five business days, DDS can revoke your interlock permit for failing to complete treatment, and you can't reinstate without a completion certificate or a Requirements Met Certificate.

You wait too long between the evaluation and treatment

After 60 days the provider may re-evaluate you before enrollment, which can mean more time and cost.

The device reports tampering or you miss a monitoring visit

The provider notifies DDS, DDS revokes the permit, and you can't apply for reinstatement for 6 months. Rule 375-3-6-.04 requires a label on every device warning that tampering is a misdemeanor.

Common mistakes after a second DUI

• Reusing the certificate from your first DUI. It doesn't count. The course must be taken after the new violation date.
• Getting evaluated before finishing DUI school. The evaluator must review your DUI school screening, so do the program first.
• Sending a partial payment or a photocopy to DDS. DDS requires payment in full and the original certificate.

Special situations

Commercial driver's license

The court manual says an interlock permit temporarily downgrades a CDL, with no commercial driving privileges for the length of the suspension.

DUI court program

If your case is in a DUI court program, DDS accepts permission from the court in place of proof of treatment enrollment when you apply for the interlock permit.

If you're in Athens-Clarke County

• State Court of Athens-Clarke County hears misdemeanor DUI cases and runs a DUI/Drug Court program with supervision, treatment and counseling. 325 East Washington Street, Suite 425, Athens, GA 30601; 706-613-3200.
• Municipal Court of Athens-Clarke County handles state misdemeanor traffic violations including DUI. 325 East Washington Street, Suite 170; 706-613-3690.
• Athens-Clarke County Probation Services, 110 Bray Street; 706-613-3911.
• DDS: the Athens center at 1505 US Highway 29 North closed on October 3, 2026. From October 6, 2026, the Oconee center at 1627 McNutt Creek Road, Bogart, GA 30622, is open Tuesday through Friday, 8am to 6pm, and lists reinstatements among its services. DDS's phone line is 678-413-8400, and mail goes to P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013.

Questions to ask, and what to keep

• Your attorney: Do both arrests fall within 5 years, or only 10? Would the court consider a hardship exemption from the interlock, or DUI court?
• The evaluator: Are you on the DBHDD registry? Which providers offer the level you're recommending?
• The treatment provider: How many hours per week, for how many weeks, and what are the DBHDD-authorized fees?
• DDS: What is my effective date, my exact reinstatement fee and my permit eligibility date?
• Keep: form DDS-1190, your original DUI school certificate, your evaluation contract and report, proof of enrollment, your treatment completion or Requirements Met Certificate, interlock installation and monthly monitoring receipts, and your SR-22, for at least three years.

Key terms

• Hard suspension: a period with no driving privileges of any kind, such as the first 120 days after a second DUI in 5 years.
• Ignition interlock device: a DDS-certified breath-testing device installed in your vehicle by an approved provider and checked every 30 days.
• Ignition interlock limited permit: the $25 permit that lets you drive an interlock-equipped vehicle for limited purposes after the hard suspension.
• Clinical evaluation: the DBHDD-designated process used to diagnose substance abuse or dependence and, if indicated, refer you to treatment.
• ASAM level: the level of care recommended under the American Society of Addiction Medicine placement criteria; level I or lower is short-term treatment.
• Requirements Met Certificate: the DBHDD document showing your evaluation found no need for treatment and DBHDD agreed.
• Certificate of treatment completion: the pre-numbered DBHDD form a provider issues when you finish treatment.

How Athena handles it

Athena DUI Academy & Family Enrichment in Athens offers both pieces: the DDS-certified Risk Reduction Program (RRP Cert #10432, $360, taught live online or in person) and DUI clinical evaluations for $150. Any treatment is paid separately to the treatment provider. You can register online or call 706.215.9661, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm, or visit us at 110 Athens West Parkway, Ste. C. You'll join the next scheduled class, qualifying students can take class now and pay later through Stripe, and when needed we send your certificate to the court, probation officer or clerk at no extra cost. When your suspension ends, our guide to getting your license back after a DUI covers the final step, and how much DUI school costs in Georgia has the full price breakdown.