Georgia defensive driving course rules
In Georgia a 6 hour Driver Improvement course at a certified clinic lets DDS take up to 7 points off; the ticket stays. It applies once every 5 years.
Rules checked
Georgia has no course that dismisses a ticket. After a conviction, a licensed Georgia resident who finishes a 6-hour Driver Improvement course at a DDS-certified clinic can ask DDS to take up to 7 points off, once every 5 years. You bring or mail the original certificate to DDS. DDS does not accept online courses for this, and certified clinics charge a set $95 for a points-reduction class. The course can also count toward an insurance discount, but your insurer decides that.
- What a course does
- Points taken off; the conviction stays
- Speed limit for the course
- Not published
- How often
- Once every 5 years
- Deadline to ask
- Not published
- Speeding points
- 0 to 6 points
- Points count for
- Not published
The Georgia rule
Every field of the rule. The number points to its source at the foot of the page.
- The program
- Driver Improvement (defensive driving) course for points reduction (O.C.G.A. 40-5-86)
- What it does
- Points taken off; the conviction stays
- Set by each court
- No
- Speed limit for the course
- Not published
- Bar at double the posted limit
- Not published
- Open to CDL holders
- Not published
- Open to tickets in a commercial vehicle
- Not published
- Open to learner and provisional licenses
- Not published
- Open to drivers licensed in another state
- No
- How often
- Once every 5 years, the rule does not say what the window counts from
- Lifetime limit
- Not published
- Deadline to ask
- Not published
- Court fee for the course
- Not published
- Course length
- 6 hours
- Course price the rule publishes
- $95For license reinstatement, points reduction, or court purposes, clinics must charge $95.
- Crashes
- Not published
Who qualifies
- Not published for CDL holders. Ask your court.
- Not published for tickets written in a commercial vehicle.
- Only drivers licensed in Georgia qualify.
- Speed limit for the course: not published. Your court decides.
- Once every 5 years, the rule does not say what the window counts from.
Deadline and how to ask
- Ticket writtenDay 0
- Deadline to askBy the date on your citation
The state rule names no day count. The date on your citation or notice applies.
Ask in person or by mail.
Points in Georgia
| Violation, as the state lists it | Type | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding convictions less than 15 miles-per-hour over the posted speed limit (no points) | Speeding | 0points |
| 15 to 18 mph over the speed limit | Speeding | 2points |
| 19 to 23 mph over the speed limit | Speeding | 3points |
| 24 to 33 mph over the speed limit | Speeding | 4points |
| 34 mph or more over the speed limit | Speeding | 6points |
| Failure to Obey Traffic Signal or Light (40-6-21); Stop/Yield Sign Violation (40-6-72) | Red light or stop sign | 3points |
| Improper/Erratic Lane Change/Failure to Maintain Lane (40-6-48); Improper Turning (40-6-120) | Lane change or turn | 3points |
| Following Too Closely (40-6-49) | Following too closely | 3points |
| Failure to Exercise Due Care/Unlawful Use of Wireless Device (40-6-241), 1st offense; 2 points 2nd, 3 points 3rd or subsequent | Phone use or texting | 1point |
| Child or Youth Restraint not properly used (under the age of 8), 1st offense; 2 points 2nd or subsequent. No adult seat belt entry on the schedule | Seat belt | 1point |
| All Other Moving Violations | Other moving violation | 3points |
| Reckless Driving (40-6-390) | Other moving violation | 4points |
| Aggressive Driving (40-6-397) | Other moving violation | 6points |
| Unlawful Passing School Bus (40-6-163) | Other moving violation | 6points |
Source: Points and Points Reduction, Georgia Department of Driver Services (opens in a new tab)
Fees as published
- Course price the rule publishes
- $95State, in its own words: For license reinstatement, points reduction, or court purposes, clinics must charge $95.Defensive Driving Program FAQs, Georgia Department of Driver Services (opens in a new tab)
Insurance
A voluntary course is published here for an insurance discount. Insurers set their own rates; ask yours.
Source: Defensive Driving Program FAQs, Georgia Department of Driver Services (opens in a new tab)
Courses and Georgia
- Aceable lists a course for Georgia. We do not link it. No state approval for this course.
Check a Georgia ticket
The form opens the checker with Georgia filled in. Add the violation and the date from your ticket.
Georgia traffic school questions
Can a defensive driving course take points off in Georgia?
In Georgia a 6 hour Driver Improvement course at a certified clinic lets DDS take up to 7 points off; the ticket stays. It applies once every 5 years. The program: Driver Improvement (defensive driving) course for points reduction (O.C.G.A. 40-5-86).
How often can you take traffic school in Georgia?
Once every 5 years, the rule does not say what the window counts from.
How many points is a speeding ticket in Georgia?
Georgia gives 0 points for 1 to 14 mph over (Speeding convictions less than 15 miles-per-hour over the posted speed limit (no points)); 2 points for 15 to 18 mph over; 3 points for 19 to 23 mph over; 4 points for 24 to 33 mph over; 6 points for 34 mph over or more.
Does a defensive driving course lower car insurance in Georgia?
A voluntary course is published here for an insurance discount. Insurers set their own rates; ask yours.
Sources
Checked against these pages in .
- Points and Points Reduction, Georgia Department of Driver Services (opens in a new tab)
- Defensive Driving Program FAQs, Georgia Department of Driver Services (opens in a new tab)
- Driver Improvement Program, Georgia Department of Driver Services (opens in a new tab)
- Points Schedule, Georgia Department of Driver Services (opens in a new tab)