DRIVER'S LICENSES
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A Georgia driver's license is required within 30 days of establishing residency. You must provide your Social Security number, show proof of residency (utility bill, bank statement, rental contract) and bring a birth certificate, certified naturalization records, immigration ID card or valid passport. All driver's license fees must be paid in cash, and exact change may be required. Those with a valid out-of-state driver's license are required to pass a vision test.
Driver's license fee: $15.
Minimum driving age: 16.
Those under 18 must have held an instructional permit for one year before getting a driver's license and must show they have completed a state course on alcohol and drugs. They also must provide proof they are enrolled in school, have parental permission to withdraw or have received a high school diploma or GED. A parent must certify the teen has driven at least 40 hours under their supervision, 20 hours if they've taken an approved driver education course.
Learner's permit fee: $10.
Minimum permit age: 15.
All applicants under 18 must show a certified birth certificate or valid passport and a certificate of school attendance, have a parent or legal guardian present, and pass a vision test and a written test.
VEHICLE TAG INFORMATION
A Georgia vehicle tag is required within 30 days of establishing residency. Tag fees can be paid in cash or by check. Some jurisdictions accept credit cards or debit cards for tag fees, but most do not, so find out before getting in line.
Tag fee: The fee for renewal includes a $20 tag fee and an ad valorem tax (property tax based on value of vehicle). The registration period is based on the birthday of the owner. There is a 30-day renewal period ending at midnight on your birthday. To locate the license tag office in your county, see the government listings in this Ultimate Guide.
To obtain a Georgia vehicle tag, you need the following:
EMISSIONS TESTING
Cars and light trucks of model years 1979 through 2000 -- with some exceptions -- registered in the 13-county metro Atlanta area must pass an emissions test before owners can get new tags.
Emissions test cost: Up to $25 per test.
Emissions test exemptions: The three most recent model years of every tag season are exempt. For the 2003 tag season, this includes all 2001 or newer models. Senior citizens' vehicles can be exempted if three requirements are met: The vehicle is driven less than 5,000 miles annually; the car is at least 10 years old; and the owner is at least 65.
Emissions test locations: Model years 1996-2000 can be tested at any location. Cars from 1979 to 1995 must be tested at stations with signs that read "all vehicles welcome."
13-county testing area: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale.
HOV LANES
Diamond shapes in the far left lanes of some expressways designate high-occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes. They are for vehicles with two or more people as well as motorcycles, emergency vehicles and vehicles using a certified alternative fuel. HOV lanes and exits exist on parts of I-75/85 inside I-285, on I-85 between I-285 and Ga. 316, and on I-20 east of I-75/85.
TOLL ROAD
Ga. 400, which connects with I-85 in north Atlanta, is the only toll road in the metro area. The toll is 50 cents one way. If you use it a lot, you may want to get a Cruise Card, which is mounted to a vehicle's windshield. The cost is $40, billed to a credit card. Once a prepaid account drops to $10, the credit card is billed another $40. Cruise Card applications can be downloaded at www.georgiatolls.com or by calling the state Road and Tollway Authority's administrative office at 404-365-7790.
NEED HELP?
For HERO (Highway Emergency Response Operator) assistance or updated traffic info, call *DOT or 404-635-6800.
To report a drunken driver, call *GSP.
