Joshua's Law in Georgia: Driver's Ed, 40 Hours and the Class CP Permit

Most state driving rules are named after a code section. Georgia's best-known one is named after a teenager. If you're a Georgia parent or teen, you'll hear "Joshua's Law" at the DDS counter, at school and on every driver's ed website, often without anyone explaining what it actually requires. This guide covers the story behind Joshua's Law Georgia, what it asks of teens today, and how it fits with the Class CP permit, the two-part knowledge exam and the provisional license.

What Joshua's Law is and why it exists

In 2003, Joshua Brown, a teenager from Cartersville, was driving in the rain when his truck hydroplaned and hit a tree. He died from his injuries. His parents, Alan and LuGina Brown, believed better training might have changed the outcome, and they pushed the legislature to require formal driver education for young drivers.

The bill passed in 2005, and the driver education requirement took effect on January 1, 2007. It became part of Georgia's broader teen licensing law, the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA), which the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) enforces.

The idea was simple: a parent can teach a lot, but a structured course covers skid control, hazard recognition and wet-road physics that many parents never learned themselves.

Joshua's Law Georgia requirements today

Joshua's Law applies when a 16- or 17-year-old applies for a Class D (provisional) license. Seventeen-year-olds were added for applications on or after July 1, 2021; before that, waiting until 17 was a way around the course. That loophole is closed.

The DDS lets families meet the requirement through four combinations:

In every method, 6 of the 40 supervised hours must be at night. The supervising adult must be at least 21, hold a valid Class C license and sit beside the teen.

A few details families often miss:

• No log is required. Instead, a parent or guardian must come to DDS when the teen applies for the Class D and attest that the training was completed.
• The certificate doesn't expire. Finish driver's ed early and it still counts at the license appointment.
• Only DDS-certified providers count. Check the provider's certification on the official Joshua's Law requirements page before paying.

Teens under 18 must also complete the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program (ADAP) before getting a license. Many students take it in ninth grade at school; an online version is available too.

The Class CP permit at 15

Joshua's Law is about the license, not the permit. A teen can get the Class CP instructional permit at 15 without having finished driver's ed. To apply you'll need:

• Proof of identity, Social Security number and two proofs of Georgia residency
• A Certificate of School Enrollment (for applicants under 18), or proof of graduation
• A parent or guardian's signature
• A passing vision exam and knowledge exam

With a CP permit, the teen may drive only with a licensed adult 21 or older in the front passenger seat, and that adult must be fit and alert to take over.

The two-part knowledge exam

Georgia splits its permit knowledge test into two sections: road signs and road rules. It is commonly reported as 20 questions in each section, with 15 correct (75%) needed to pass each one. Because the sections are scored separately, a strong rules score can't rescue a weak signs score.

The signs section is the one teens underestimate. Shapes and colors matter: a pennant means no passing zone, a pentagon means school zone, and a round yellow sign means railroad crossing ahead. The rules section leans on Georgia-specific content from the driver's manual, including TADRA penalties for young drivers.

Our Georgia permit test page and our free practice tests are built to drill both sections. Aim for consistent scores of 90% or better before you book, so one tricky question doesn't decide your day.

One year and one day: the holding period

Georgia has one of the longest permit holding periods in the country. A teen must hold the CP permit for one year and one day before applying for the Class D license, and must be at least 16.

That means the earliest realistic timeline looks like this:

1. Get the CP permit on or soon after your 15th birthday.
2. Complete driver's ed and ADAP while driving with a parent.
3. Log your 40 hours, including 6 at night.
4. Turn 16, pass the road test, and receive your Class D, as long as a year and a day have passed since the permit was issued.

Teens who wait until 15½ to get their permit can't get the license until 16½. For a comparison with other states, see how long do you have to have your permit.

Class D provisional license limits

The Class D isn't a full license. Georgia's DDS sets these restrictions:

• Curfew: no driving between midnight and 5 a.m., with no exceptions.
• First 6 months: only immediate family members may ride with the driver.
• Months 7 to 12: no more than one passenger under 21 who isn't immediate family.
• After 12 months: no more than three passengers under 21 who aren't immediate family.

Convictions for serious violations, including some speeding offenses and any alcohol offense, can lead to suspension under TADRA, and Georgia's point thresholds for drivers under 18 are lower than for adults. The full rules are in the DDS teen driving laws section of the manual.

At 18, a Class D holder with a clean recent record can move to the full Class C license.

Frequently asked questions

Is Joshua's Law required for a permit in Georgia?

No. Joshua's Law applies to the Class D license for 16- and 17-year-olds, not to the Class CP permit. Teens can get a permit at 15 and complete driver's ed while they practice.

How many questions are on the Georgia permit test?

The exam has two sections, road signs and road rules, commonly reported as 20 questions each with 15 correct needed to pass each section. Confirm the current format with DDS before your visit.

Can you take Joshua's Law online?

Yes. Two of the four DDS methods use a DDS-approved online course for the 30 hours of instruction, paired with either six hours of professional behind-the-wheel training or 40 hours of parent-taught driving.