Georgia's Teen Driving Laws: A Parent's Guide to Joshua's Law and TADRA

For a teenager in Georgia, getting a driver's license is a rite of passage. For parents, it marks the beginning of a new chapter of responsibility and concern. To address this, Georgia has a comprehensive set of laws for young drivers known as the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA). At the heart of TADRA is Joshua's Law. [1]

These laws are not designed to be inconvenient; they are a data-driven safety system created to protect new, inexperienced drivers by limiting their exposure to the highest-risk driving scenarios. For these laws to be effective, both teens and parents must understand and enforce them as a team.

The Foundation: Joshua's Law Requirements

Joshua's Law establishes mandatory driver education requirements for all 16 and 17-year-olds who want to get their Class D Provisional License. To be eligible for a license, a teen MUST provide proof of completing:

A state-approved 30-hour driver education course. This can be a traditional classroom course or an approved online course.
A total of 40 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel driving experience.
- Of these 40 hours, at least 6 hours must take place at night. [1, 2, 3]

A parent or legal guardian must sign an affidavit at the DDS certifying that these hours have been completed.

The GDL Stages: From Permit to Full License

The TADRA system guides a teen through three distinct licensing phases.

Phase 1: The Instructional Permit (Class CP)

This is the starting point, where all driving is supervised.

Eligibility: A teen can apply at age 15 after passing vision and knowledge exams.
Supervision Rule: A permit holder must always be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and is seated in the front passenger seat. [1]
Holding Period: A teen must hold this permit for one year and one day before they can take a road test. [2, 3]

Phase 2: The Provisional License (Class D)

After successfully completing the permit phase and Joshua's Law requirements, a teen can take the road test to earn their Class D license. This license comes with critical restrictions.

1. Nighttime Driving Curfew

A Class D license holder CANNOT operate a vehicle between the hours of 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 5:00 a.m. [1, 3]
There are no exceptions to this rule for work, school, or any other reason. It is an absolute curfew.

2. Passenger Restrictions

This is one of the most important and strictly enforced GDL rules. It is broken into two phases.

For the FIRST SIX MONTHS of being licensed:

The teen driver CANNOT have any passengers in the vehicle who are not members of their immediate family. [1, 3]
"Immediate family" includes parents, stepparents, grandparents, siblings, stepsiblings, children, and anyone else who lives in the driver's household. It does not include friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, or cousins who don't live with you.

For the SECOND SIX MONTHS of being licensed (months 7-12):

The teen driver may now have ONE passenger under the age of 21 who is not a member of their immediate family. [1, 3]
The restriction on family members is lifted, so they can still have any number of family members in the car.

After one year: The passenger restriction is increased to no more than three non-family passengers under 21. [1, 3]

Phase 3: The Full Unrestricted License (Class C)

At age 18, a teen can upgrade their Class D license to a full Class C license, provided they have had no major traffic convictions (like DUI, reckless driving, etc.) in the previous 12 months. All GDL restrictions are then lifted.

The Parent's Crucial Role

The TADRA laws provide the legal framework, but a parent's reinforcement is what truly creates a safe driver.

Know the Rules: Be an expert on the curfew and passenger restrictions so you can enforce them correctly.
Lead by Example: Your teen learned their driving habits from watching you. Put your phone away, obey the speed limit, and always wear your seat belt.
Create a Driving Contract: A written parent-teen agreement that outlines the rules and consequences can be a powerful tool for setting expectations beyond what the law requires.

By working together, parents and teens can navigate Georgia's TADRA and Joshua's Law requirements, building a foundation for a lifetime of safe driving.