Lost Georgia Learner's Permit: Replacement Steps, Cost and Interim Driving

To replace a lost Class CP instruction permit in Georgia, you can apply online or in person. The process requires specific documents and fees, and you receive a temporary permit to drive legally while waiting for the plastic card.

How do you replace a lost or stolen Georgia learner's permit?

You have two options to get a duplicate driving permit. The online method is faster and cheaper.

How do you replace a damaged Georgia learner's permit?

Use the same Georgia DDS replacement process used for a lost or stolen permit. DDS allows lost, stolen, or damaged licenses, IDs, and permits to be replaced online, in DDS 2 GO, or in person when the customer meets the requirements for that method.

Online Replacement

Use the DDS Online Services portal or the DDS 2 GO mobile app.

• Cost: $10.00 (confirm current fee at dds.georgia.gov as discounts may apply to eligible renewal transactions).
• Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen with a lost Real ID permit (has a gold or black star).
• Limit: You can replace a lost license or permit online up to 3 times per year.
• Process: Log in, select 'Replace License/ID,' pay the fee. You get a digital temporary receipt immediately.
• Processing Time: The plastic card arrives by mail within 30 days.

What if Georgia DDS says you are not eligible to replace your permit online?

Use the in-person replacement process at a DDS Customer Service Center. Online replacement has eligibility rules, including Georgia residency, U.S. citizenship, and a qualifying Real ID credential.

Can a non-U.S. citizen replace a Georgia learner's permit online?

No. Georgia DDS requires non-U.S. citizens to visit a Customer Service Center for transactions that issue a license, ID, or permit so lawful-status documents can be reviewed in person.

What if your address changed before you replace a lost Georgia permit?

Update the address as part of the correct DDS transaction rather than ordering a replacement to the old address. DDS says an address change replaces the credential, so a separate lost-card replacement is not needed at the same time.

In-Person Replacement

Visit any DDS Customer Service Center.

• Cost: $10.00 (cash, card, or money order).
• Processing Time: You receive a paper temporary permit at the center; the plastic card mails within 30 days.

What documents does Georgia DDS need to replace a lost permit?

For in-person replacement, you must prove your identity. If your address changed, bring two proofs of residency.

The Georgia learner's permit guide has full eligibility details.

Requirements for Drivers Under 18

• A parent or legal guardian must accompany you to sign the application.
• If school-enrollment proof is required for the under-18 transaction, bring an accepted current school document. The DDS-1 Certificate of School Enrollment is one option; other qualifying school records may also be accepted.

Can you drive legally while waiting for your replacement Georgia permit?

After paying the replacement fee, you immediately receive a temporary permit.

• This paper receipt is a valid legal permit for driving for up to 45 days.
• You must carry it with a supervising adult whenever you drive.
• It serves as your reissued instruction permit until the plastic card arrives.

Replacement Scenarios and Examples

Replacement steps and costs differ depending on whether your permit expired, was stolen, or was never delivered - confirm the correct process with DDS before your visit.

Scenario 1: Replacement When Your Georgia Permit Never Arrives

One Columbus applicant's permit arrived five weeks late to a rural address - the paper interim permit had long expired before the plastic card appeared. An in-person reissue was requested at the DDS center; the permanent replacement card was expected in 10 more days. Rural Georgia mail routes add 2-3 extra weeks to standard permit delivery. If your card hasn't arrived after 30 days, check your status on the DDS portal and visit a center before the paper permit expires.

Scenario 2: In-Person Replacement with a Parent

For an in-person under-18 replacement, bring the identity/residency documents DDS requires for your situation and an accepted current school-enrollment document if required. The DDS-1 is one option, not the only accepted school proof.

Scenario 3: Stolen Permit and Identity Concerns

If a permit is stolen in Augusta, filing a police report is wise. To get a new driver's license number, you must bring that report to the DDS. Otherwise, you receive a reprint of your old number. Without the report, you cannot request the number change.

How to Avoid Problems During a Georgia Permit Replacement

Store a photo of your permit for your records, but do not use the photo as a driving credential. While waiting for the replacement card, carry the valid DDS-issued temporary receipt or interim permit provided for the transaction.

• Check whether the credential is close to expiration. If the transaction should be handled as a renewal rather than a duplicate, follow the dedicated permit-validity and renewal guidance instead of using the replacement process.
• Verify all document names match exactly. A mismatch between a birth certificate and a school record (like a nickname) at the Alpharetta DDS can trigger additional verification, adding 30+ minutes to your visit.
• Arrive at the DDS center with completed documents before noon. Systems can slow in the afternoon, and last-minute printouts from the onsite kiosk often fail, forcing a reschedule. Georgia permit replacement steps are also covered on the Georgia learner's permit guide.