Georgia Class CP to License: Next Steps for Class D or Class C

After you receive a Georgia Class CP permit, the next license path depends on your age: drivers under 18 normally work toward Class D, while drivers age 18 or older apply for Class C.

What are the next steps after getting your Georgia Class CP permit?

Your next step depends on your age when you move from the Class CP permit to a license. Drivers under 18 normally follow the Class D path; drivers age 18 or older apply for Class C.

Next Steps and Legal Requirements

Confirm that your credential is a valid Class CP permit and keep following its supervision rules while practicing.

• Age 16–17: Complete the approved 30-hour driver-education requirement, ADAP requirement, supervised driving, and applicable school-enrollment documentation for the Class D application.
• School proof: DDS-1 is one accepted option, but Georgia also accepts other qualifying school-enrollment documents such as certain transcripts, progress/grade reports, and current school IDs.
• Age 18+: The next license is Class C rather than Class D.

Turning 18 before the road test: the next license path is Class C rather than teen Class D. See the Turning 18 With a Permit guidance for the age-transition details.

Does a Georgia Class CP automatically become a Class D license after one year and one day?

No. One year and one day is only part of Class D eligibility. A teen must also meet the applicable Joshua's Law, supervised-driving, school-status, testing, and other DDS requirements before Class D can be issued.

Complete the Required Supervised Driving Hours

Complete 40 hours of supervised driving, including at least 6 hours at night. DDS does not require a physical driving log.

An optional personal record can help you track progress, but DDS relies on the required certification rather than collecting a logbook.

Complete Your Joshua's Law Training

For drivers ages 16–17, Joshua's Law allows multiple approved training methods. Under Methods 1 and 3, the 6 certified-school behind-the-wheel hours are in addition to the separate 40 supervised hours. Families using the parent-taught route complete the 40 supervised hours through the approved Parent/Teen Driving Guide method.

Detailed training-method and practice-hour rules are covered in the dedicated Behind-the-Wheel Training and Required Practice Hours guides.

Preparing for Your Driving Test

When you meet the eligibility requirements, schedule the road test through Georgia DDS.

1. Confirm eligibility: Teens must meet the Class D holding-period and Joshua's Law requirements; adults follow the Class C path.
2. Bring required documents: Use the current DDS road-test checklist. A physical 40-hour driving log is not required.
3. Use an eligible vehicle: Registration, insurance, and road-test vehicle requirements are covered in the dedicated vehicle guide.
4. License fee after passing: Class D is $10; Class C is $32.

What happens after you pass the Georgia road test?

If you are under 18 and qualify for Class D, the provisional Class D restrictions begin after you pass. The existing article highlights two key early restrictions:

• Curfew: No driving between 12:00 AM and 5:00 AM.
• Passengers: Only immediate family members are allowed during the first 6 months.

If you are 18 or older, you apply for Class C instead of Class D. Full post-test restriction details belong on the dedicated driving-rules pages.