Visiting Georgia DDS and county tag offices: appointments, what to bring and what to expect

Georgia splits driver licensing (DDS) from vehicles (Department of Revenue and county tag offices). Here is what you can do online, how appointments and road tests work, and which documents, forms and payment to bring.

Guide · Georgia · Appointments · updated October 29, 2026

Georgia has no single "DMV". The Department of Driver Services (DDS) issues driver licenses, permits and ID cards at its Customer Service Centers. Vehicle titles, registrations and license plates come under the Department of Revenue (DOR) Motor Vehicle Division, and you handle them at your county tag office. This guide covers what you can do without going in, how to prepare for a visit, and what to bring.

Who runs the offices

• DDS Customer Service Centers handle licenses, permits, ID cards, knowledge exams and road tests. DDS says you may use any center in the state, but road tests are not offered at every location. Each center's page lists its hours and services.
• DDS kiosks in some centers handle renewals, replacing a lost or stolen card, and driving history reports. DDS also lists remote kiosks in grocery stores.
• County tag offices handle titles, registrations and plates. DOR lists them by county, and in the entries it shows they are run by the county tax commissioner. DOR calls your county tag office "the best resource" for most registration, plate and title questions.
• DOR self-service tag kiosks in participating counties renew registrations and print the registration and decal on the spot.

For the DDS centers near you, see the Georgia DMV office list on this site.

Check whether you need to visit at all

DDS tells customers to "Skip the Trip!" and use DDS Online Services or the DDS 2 GO app. With an online account you can schedule appointments, renew a license or ID, pay fees and check your license status. Many renewals and replacements can be done online if your current card is a REAL ID. See the Georgia driver license and ID card guide and Does the Georgia DDS offer online license renewal?.

For vehicles, DOR's DRIVES e-Services handle tag renewal, vehicle and insurance status lookups, insurance fine payments and address changes on a registration. DOR says online renewal is available in many counties, and your renewal notice says whether yours takes part.

Before a DDS visit: the required online form

DDS says you must submit the online License/ID/Permit Form before visiting a Customer Service Center. Your full Social Security number goes on this form. DDS keeps your information on file for 60 days; after that you submit it again.

Once you arrive, every customer checks in at a kiosk before being served at the counter. DDS says customers with a Georgia Digital License or ID can scan it instead and skip the kiosk line, which it calls the "Fast Lane".

Appointments and road tests

Road tests are by appointment only. DDS says walk-ins are not accepted for automobile, motorcycle or commercial road tests. You book through DDS's online road test system after submitting the License/ID/Permit Form. Commercial road tests are given only at selected centers.

For the knowledge exam, DDS says no appointment is needed. You must be on the testing computer at least 30 minutes before the center closes (45 minutes for CDL tests). DDS also suggests calling its help line on a day other than Tuesday, which it says is its busiest day.

What to bring to DDS

For a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, DDS asks U.S. citizens for:

1. One proof of identity, such as a U.S. birth certificate (original or certified copy), an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship.
2. Proof of any name change, such as a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.
3. Your Social Security number on the online form. Documents such as your Social Security card or a W-2 are needed only if the number fails to verify.
4. Two proofs of Georgia residency from separate sources, showing your name and residential address. Utility bills and bank statements must be dated within the past six months. P.O. boxes do not count.

Non-citizens bring an identity document and a lawful status document from DDS's list. DDS says all documents must be in English, and it does not accept translated documents. Printable checklists for citizens and non-citizens are linked from each license page. For background, see REAL ID explained.

What to bring to a county tag office

You generally need:

• A valid Georgia driver license or ID card
• The MV-1 Title/Tag Application
• Proof of ownership, such as the title
• Insurance, which your insurer must file electronically
• An emissions inspection, in the metro Atlanta counties that require one

The details are in the Georgia vehicle registration and title guide.

Paying

DDS says its Customer Service Centers take cash, credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. The accepted cards are Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Its renewal page adds that centers do not accept checks, money orders or cashier's checks. Online Services and the DDS 2 GO app take only credit or debit cards. DDS says eligible online transactions may get a $5.00 discount.

For vehicles, DOR tells you to check with your county for accepted payment types. Its self-service tag kiosks take credit and debit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa), and cash where available.

At the DDS counter

Depending on what you are applying for, DDS says to be ready to:

• Show your documents.
• Pass a vision exam. DDS says you need at least 20/60 in one eye, with or without glasses, and a 140-degree field of vision.
• Pass the knowledge exam. It has two parts, road rules and road signs, and you need 15 out of 20 on each. DDS offers the non-commercial exam in 26 languages.
• Pass the road skills test, which is given in English only.
• Have your photo taken and pay the fee.

If you renew in person, DDS gives you an interim license while the permanent card is processed. It says to allow up to 45 days for the permanent card to arrive.

Accessibility

DDS says it provides oral knowledge exams for customers with disabilities at in-person appointments, and asks you to contact it about them. Its exam page says customers with reading disabilities can request an oral test at a center, with schedules varying by location. The DDS help line is (678) 413-8400.