William C. Head, P.C.
Atlanta DUI Law Firm
How to Check If Your License Is Suspended in GA
By: Criminal Defense Attorney Atlanta William C. Head, Board-Certified DUI Lawyer Atlanta, GA
Check Georgia Driver’s License Status Following an Arrest for DUI in Georgia
For many citizens arrested for DUI in Georgia, the first question is, “How do I get my driver’s license back?” The answer to that question, under Georgia DUI law, is complicated. The correct answer involves multiple Georgia laws on administrative driver’s license suspensions.
But before anything else, you need to know whether your license is already suspended — and how to check its current status with the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
To keep driving privileges, the GA DUI case must be evaluated and acted upon quickly (within 30 DAYS after ARREST), since a FILING DEADLINE is ticking off.
Take the time to review attorney ratings for DUI lawyers near me so that you don’t miss an important deadline.
Whether you took the state’s breath alcohol test Intoxilyzer 9000 and “blew” over the alcohol legal limit or refused to submit to the state’s test after your arrest for DUI in GA, your criminal case (and the related civil administrative license suspension action at the Georgia DDS), need to be handled by the best criminal defense attorneys.
Your GA driver’s license status could be at risk if you don’t act quickly. This is especially true if authorities charge you with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Georgia.
How to Check if Your License is Suspended in GA
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Georgia, you may not receive immediate notice that your license is suspended. But that doesn’t mean your driving privileges are safe.
The Georgia Department of Driver Services (GA DDS) offers three ways to check your license status:
A person can check his or her Georgia driver’s license status by providing either their GA driver’s license number or their full name and date of birth.
How to Check If Your Georgia License Is Suspended Using DDS Online Services
The fastest way to perform a GA driver’s license check is through the GA DDS Online Services Portal.
Here’s how to do it once you reach your DDS Online portal:
- Follow these steps:
- Click “Create Account / Sign In” under the first box labeled “Card Services”
- Once logged in, find the “Driver Services” panel
- Click the link labeled “Suspension / Reinstatement”
- Click “View Report” — this will show:
- Whether your license is currently suspended
- The reason for suspension (if any)
- Fees and steps required for reinstatement
Phone & In-Person GA License Check Methods
If you prefer to check your GA DL status by phone, the Georgia DDS has three main numbers to call, listed below.
Here are the main DDS phone numbers:
- (678) 413-8400 — Metro Atlanta DDS Contact Center
- (678) 413-8500 — DDS Customer Service (alternate)
- (866) 754-3687 — Toll-free outside Metro Atlanta
Once connected, follow the automated prompts to:
- Hear your current license status
- Get information on any active suspensions or reinstatement steps
CAUTION: It may take several weeks for Georgia Driver’s License status to change in the GA DDS online system due to the administrative suspension. Be patient when you start to check your license status in GA.
Visit a Georgia DDS Location In Person
To check your driver’s license status in person at a Georgia Department of Driver Services location, present a valid form of identification (either a GA driver’s license, or a GA State ID card.)
What If My License is Already Suspended?
If you find out your Georgia driver’s license is suspended, you can check your DDS online account for the “Suspension Detail Report.”
- The exact reason for your suspension (DUI, points, failure to appear, etc.)
- The suspension dates
- What you need to do to reinstate your license
Some suspensions can be fixed quickly online. Others — like a DUI refusal — carry a 12-month no-permit penalty.
Need to check your license status for other reasons? See how to check your GA license status for points and unpaid fines on our General License Status Check page.
What Happens to Your Georgia Driver’s License After a DUI Arrest?
When your license is taken, your case is reported to the Georgia Department of Driver Services. You have 30 days to file an appeal or install an Ignition Interlock Device to keep driving. You will lose all driving privileges if you miss the 30-day filing deadline. You will also lose your driving rights if you go to an ALS hearing and lose.
Simply stated, these DUI-DWI laws only apply to driving under the influence arrests and are statutes targeting the administrative suspension or revocation of driving privileges due to an implied consent violation.
Important: If you miss the 30 day deadline to file an appeal, your license will be suspended automatically.
For an administrative license suspension “refusal,” the loss of ALL ability to drive (meaning no work permit is available), is for a full year in Georgia.
Our criminal attorneys suggest to potential clients not to decide on their own. They should not choose between filing a GA DDS appeal or installing the 12-month ignition interlock device through Georgia DDS.
Ignition Interlock vs. DDS Appeal: Understanding Your Options
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Georgia, you may have two options to address your license suspension: either request an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Hearing or Apply for an Ignition Interlock Device Limited Permit (IIDLP) to continue driving under restrictions.
Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Hearing Explained
An ALS hearing involves submitting a DDS appeal request before the 30-day deadline, paying a $150 filing fee, and attending the hearing, where a judge will review the suspension. That Judge will determine if the suspension remains in place or is lifted.
Ignition Interlock Device (IID/IIDLP)- Who Qualifies?
Installing an IID on your vehicle may comply with Georgia DDS Guidelines for restricted driving. The IID must remain installed for the full 12-month period. But, you must be 21 or over, a Georgia license holder, have had no DUIs within 5 years, and have no previous license suspensions or revocations to qualify for this option.
Don’t Guess Whether an IIDLP or DDS GA Appeal Is Best
Checking your Georgia driver’s license status is the first step to possibly getting your driving privileges back. Keep in mind that the arresting officer has time to file the license suspension paperwork after your arrest. YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION!
Don’t assume that you do not need to take action within 30 days to either install an interlock device OR appeal to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (the GA DMV).
One of these options is needed in EVERY case and for all DUI arrests in Georgia. However, only a skilled and experienced DUI attorney will know which option to choose (The Georgia DDS appeal or applying for and installing the ignition interlock within the 30-day limit).
This page lets you know how to get a FREE lawyer consultation with a DUI specialist so that you can KEEP DRIVING. Not all law firms near me will have any highly-rated Georgia DUI attorneys. Why not call a 24-hour DUI lawyer at our law firm today?
Driving on Suspended License GA: Serious Risk, Harsh Penalties
If your Georgia driver’s license is suspended, you can’t legally drive until it’s reinstated. Getting caught driving on a suspended license can lead to severe penalties including fines, jail time, and a longer GA license suspension period. If you’re an out-of-state driver, this suspension will affect your ability to drive in this State.
A Georgia DUI Involves Two Separate Court Cases
Understanding that a Georgia DUI starts TWO different legal actions will compel you to ACT QUICKLY. Being arrested and having authorities take your driver’s license begins the administrative license suspension process. This process is handles by GA DDS and its focus is whether or not your license will be suspended.
The Criminal DUI Court Case
Later, you will also have a SEPARATE court case in criminal court for driving under the influence. This case is handled by the court system and its focus is on whether you are guilty of DUI and what penalties apply.
So, it’s important to get an experienced DUI lawyer near me, because even if your license isn’t suspended, you can still face criminal penalties.
To beat a DUI in Georgia, choose DUI lawyers with ten or more years of trial experience. If you are convicted of drunk driving or DUI drugs, you will lose your driver’s license. This happens because of the conviction.
If I Hire You, Does My DUI Lawyer Monitor My Driver’s License Status in Georgia?
You have a 30-day deadline to file either a Department of Driver Services appeal or seek an interlock permit if you are licensed in Georgia, age 21 or over, and have had no prior DUI convictions within the last five years (measured by dates of arrest).
Staying on top of all driver’s license issues is a critical job for a DUI attorney and his or her staff to perform. Our Atlanta DUI lawyers know all the ways to protect your right to drive and will review your options when our criminal lawyers near me sit down to go over your DUI case.
Why You Need a DUI Lawyer to Protect Your License
A suspended driver’s license in Georgia “problem” does not go away on its own. No one can extend or waive the new 30-day time limit to protect the right to drive.
Therefore, you need to contact an Atlanta DUI lawyer who is a DUI specialist, to protect your right to drive pending the CRIMINAL case resolution for a first-offense DUI in Georgia. All three of our partners are authors of chapters in national drunk driving law books and are regular seminar speakers in Georgia and other states.
William C. “Bubba” Head is known as one of the best lawyers in criminal law and impaired driving.
When you call our DUI law firm, you will be talking with a PARTNER, not a low-level associate. Bubba Head, Larry Kohn, and Cory Yager are all Georgia Super Lawyers and legal book authors. In fact, all three attorneys co-authored the leading book on DUI laws in Georgia for 2024.
Also, are top-rated by multiple sources for lawyer ratings on legal directories.
Even if you need local DUI specialists in other parts of Georgia, call our DUI law firm for a referral to a top-rated criminal defense attorney in Georgia for your criminal DUI court location.
Call 404-567-5515 for a FREE lawyer consultation and case assessment. Ask about our law office’s attorney fees and payment plans.
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