Q: What is the minimum age for getting a driver's license in Georgia?

For category B it is 17 years (Article 55 of the Law on Road Traffic). If you pass the exams at 17, you are granted the right to drive immediately — there is no waiting until 18. Under-18 candidates face extra conditions: written consent of a parent or legal guardian, mandatory driving-school completion, and a ban on working as an employed driver or carrying passengers for pay until 18 (Article 57). Ages for other categories: AM — 16, A1 — 17, A2 — 18, A — 24 (or 21 with 2+ years of A2), B1 — 16, BE — 18, C — 21, D — 24. Sources: official age table , Law on Road Traffic .

Q: Can I exchange foreign driving rights for Georgian ones without taking exams?

Yes. Exam-free exchange applies to licenses issued by any country — there is no closed list of "recognized" states (Articles 48–49 of MIA Order No. 598). You will need: a confirmation from the issuing country that the license was really issued and your driving right has not been revoked — legalized or apostilled, no older than 90 days at submission; a health certificate (Form No. IV-100/ა); proof of at least 185 days of presence in the issuing country during the 12 months preceding the license's issuance (not required for EU-issued licenses, or if you were a citizen of the issuing country at the time of issuance). The fee is 15 GEL, the new license is issued within minutes, and it carries an exchange notation (code 70 plus the number of the old license). Important note on Russian licenses: no official suspension exists (the rules are the same for every country), but in practice, as of 2026, exchanging a Russian license is effectively impossible — chiefly because of the apostilled non-deprivation certificate that must be under 90 days old. The realistic path for Russian citizens is taking the exams through the standard procedure. Source: official foreign-license exchange terms .

Q: How do I register for the theoretical exam?

Online at my.sa.gov.ge , in the agency's mobile app, in person at any service center, or via quick-payment terminals. Payment is made at booking; confirmation arrives by SMS among other channels. The first exam admission costs 55 GEL (40 GEL exam fee + 15 GEL license production). Note: a no-show, or cancellation less than 72 hours before the exam, forfeits 50% of the fee and blocks re-booking for 30 days. Source: category B terms .

Question 1

What is the minimum age for getting a driver's license in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

For category B it is 17 years (Article 55 of the Law on Road Traffic). If you pass the exams at 17, you are granted the right to drive immediately — there is no waiting until 18. Under-18 candidates face extra conditions: written consent of a parent or legal guardian, mandatory driving-school completion, and a ban on working as an employed driver or carrying passengers for pay until 18 (Article 57). Ages for other categories: AM — 16, A1 — 17, A2 — 18, A — 24 (or 21 with 2+ years of A2), B1 — 16, BE — 18, C — 21, D — 24. Sources: official age table, Law on Road Traffic.

Question 2

Can foreigners get a driver's license in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

Yes — foreigners, including Russian citizens, obtain a Georgian license through the standard procedure; there are no citizenship restrictions, and the theory exam is available in 8 languages including Russian and English. Since 27 May 2025 a 185-day lawful-presence requirement applies (see the next question).

Question 3

Can I get a license without a residence permit in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

Foreign citizens and stateless persons are admitted to the exams if they hold a residence permit or a document confirming at least 185 calendar days of lawful presence in Georgia within the preceding 12 months (MIA Order No. 40 of 27 May 2025). The requirement applies to both the theoretical and the practical exam. Employees of accredited diplomatic missions are exempt. Source: Order No. 40 on matsne.gov.ge.

Question 4

Can I exchange foreign driving rights for Georgian ones without taking exams?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Exam-free exchange applies to licenses issued by any country — there is no closed list of "recognized" states (Articles 48–49 of MIA Order No. 598). You will need:

a confirmation from the issuing country that the license was really issued and your driving right has not been revoked — legalized or apostilled, no older than 90 days at submission;
a health certificate (Form No. IV-100/ა);
proof of at least 185 days of presence in the issuing country during the 12 months preceding the license's issuance (not required for EU-issued licenses, or if you were a citizen of the issuing country at the time of issuance).

The fee is 15 GEL, the new license is issued within minutes, and it carries an exchange notation (code 70 plus the number of the old license). Important note on Russian licenses: no official suspension exists (the rules are the same for every country), but in practice, as of 2026, exchanging a Russian license is effectively impossible — chiefly because of the apostilled non-deprivation certificate that must be under 90 days old. The realistic path for Russian citizens is taking the exams through the standard procedure. Source: official foreign-license exchange terms.

Question 5

Can I get categories A and B simultaneously?

Accepted Answer

No — categories A and B require separate theory exams, and holding category B does not exempt you from the A theory test. The only exception: A1/A2 holders upgrading to A take only the practical exam, with no repeat theory (MIA Order No. 72 of 4 December 2021).

Question 6

What documents are needed to apply for a driver's license in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

an application (filed on-site or during online booking);
a passport — or your residence permit if you have one;
a health certificate (Form No. IV-100/ა);
fee payment receipts;
a driving-school certificate — not required for category B from age 18 (self-study is allowed), mandatory under 18;
for foreigners without a residence permit — proof of 185 days of lawful presence within the last 12 months.

Passport translation: as a general rule, foreign-language documents are submitted with a certified Georgian translation, but a document may be accepted without one if its personal data is duplicated in Latin transliteration (Article 3(8) of Order No. 598). Source: Service Agency FAQ.

Question 7

Where can I get a medical certificate (Form 100)?

Accepted Answer

The health certificate, Form No. IV-100/ა, is issued by medical institutions in Georgia. For the Service Agency it remains valid for 400 days from the moment of submission. Source: Service Agency FAQ.

Question 8

How do I start the process of getting a driver's license in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

The sequence is:

prepare your documents (passport or residence permit, health certificate);
book and pass the theory exam — booking is mandatory;
pass the yard test (practical exam stage 1) — within 30 calendar days of passing theory; no booking needed, attempts are free at 7-day intervals;
pass the city exam (stage 2) — within 365 days of passing the yard test; booking is mandatory.

Online booking: theory exam, city exam. The yard test is taken without booking at any Service Agency unit except Tbilisi, daily except Sunday. Source: practical exam overview.

Question 9

Do I need to enroll in a driving school to get a license?

Accepted Answer

From age 18, driving school is not mandatory for categories B, B1 and A1 — the law explicitly allows independent preparation (Article 55(3) of the Law on Road Traffic). For 17-year-old category B candidates driving-school completion is mandatory, as it is for the "higher" categories (C, D and their subcategories).

Question 10

How do I register for the theoretical exam?

Accepted Answer

Online at my.sa.gov.ge, in the agency's mobile app, in person at any service center, or via quick-payment terminals. Payment is made at booking; confirmation arrives by SMS among other channels. The first exam admission costs 55 GEL (40 GEL exam fee + 15 GEL license production). Note: a no-show, or cancellation less than 72 hours before the exam, forfeits 50% of the fee and blocks re-booking for 30 days. Source: category B terms.

Question 11

Can I register for the city driving exam before passing theory and yard tests?

Accepted Answer

No. Admission to stage 2 of the practical exam is only possible after successfully passing the theory exam and stage 1 (the yard test) — Article 38¹ of MIA Order No. 598.

Question 12

What does the theoretical exam include?

Accepted Answer

For category B: 30 questions, 30 minutes, pass mark of at least 25 correct answers (the 5-allowed-mistakes threshold applies to category B only — other categories have their own thresholds). The current question pools: B/B1 — 921 questions, A/A1 — 754, AM — 338 (the pools were trimmed in 2025). For category AM the exam has 20 questions (20 minutes). Before the theory exam there is a mandatory electronic color-perception test: 3 illustrated questions, 10 minutes, no mistakes allowed (otherwise an ophthalmologist's certificate is required). Source: theory exam overview.

Question 13

Is the theoretical exam available in languages other than Georgian?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The exam can be taken in one of 8 languages: Georgian, Abkhazian, Ossetian, English, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian. Source: Service Agency.

Question 14

Where can I prepare for the theoretical exam?

Accepted Answer

Drv.ge offers a free platform with the official questions and answers, corrected translations and explanations — including the ecology question block.

Question 15

What does the yard test include?

Accepted Answer

Stage 1 of the practical exam for category B includes 6 elements: parallel parking, the zigzag ("serpentine"), a turnaround within a limited-width area, reverse parking into a box ("garage"), the figure-eight, and the hill start (gradient of at least 16%). Up to 2 minutes are allowed per element. The candidate starts with 100 points; the stage is passed if accumulated penalty points do not exceed 39. For categories A/A1 the elements are: figure-eight, zigzag, and a turn within a bounded circle. Category AM has no practical exam at all. Sources: practical exam, Order No. 598 (Articles 34, 36, 37).

Question 16

What does the city driving exam include?

Accepted Answer

Stage 2 is real-road driving — at least 25 minutes for category B. Before starting, the candidate answers questions about the vehicle's technical condition (a requirement since 1 September 2023). Scoring uses an error classification: the exam is failed on one heavy error or 12 or more light errors. Contrary to popular belief, there is no official requirement to announce maneuvers out loud; the only "verbal" duty is to state aloud, before moving off, that the seat, mirrors and head restraint need no adjustment if you are not adjusting them. Examiner intervention in driving (verbal or physical) is grounds for disqualification. Source: Order No. 598 (Articles 38⁴–38⁷).

Question 17

Do I need to take the city exam for category A or A1?

Accepted Answer

No. For categories A, A1, A2 and B1 the license is issued after the theory exam and stage 1 (the yard test) — there is no city exam. Source: Service Agency.

Question 18

Can I use my own vehicle for the yard or city test?

Accepted Answer

No. Both stages are taken in examination vehicles equipped with duplicate clutch and brake pedals for the examiner. The exception is candidates with disabilities: they present a suitably adapted vehicle themselves and receive a license restricted to similarly adapted vehicles (Articles 24³ and 33 of Order No. 598).

Question 19

How much does it cost to get a driver's license in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

Theory: first admission — 55 GEL (40 GEL exam + 15 GEL license production); each retake — 40 GEL.
Yard test: free — within 30 days of passing theory, at 7-day intervals; early (accelerated) admission — 30 GEL.
City exam: 90 GEL per scheduled attempt; an unscheduled attempt (at most once per 7 days) — 90 + 160 GEL accelerated-service fee = 250 GEL.
License production: 15 GEL is included in the first payment (standard turnaround about 5 working days); expedited production — 40 GEL for 2 working days or 50 GEL for 1 day.
Lost-license restoration — 35 GEL; foreign-license exchange — 15 GEL; International Driving Permit — 109 GEL.

Exemptions: candidates under 18 get their first theory and yard admission free; socially vulnerable persons (rating score up to 70,000) get 50% off exam fees. Sources: category B fees, Service Agency fees law.

Question 20

What's the difference between the 90 GEL and 250 GEL city exam?

Accepted Answer

90 GEL is a scheduled attempt: the first is available no earlier than 15 calendar days after passing the yard test, subsequent ones at 30-day intervals. 250 GEL (90 GEL exam + 160 GEL accelerated-service fee) is an unscheduled admission without waiting out the scheduled interval, allowed at most once per 7 days. Sources: category B terms, fees law (Article 6).

Question 21

Are there additional costs for retaking exams?

Accepted Answer

Theory: retake no earlier than the 7th calendar day, 40 GEL per attempt.
Yard: free at 7-day intervals within the 30-day window; an early attempt — 30 GEL.
City: scheduled retake after 30 days — 90 GEL; unscheduled once per 7 days — 250 GEL.

Question 22

Where do I pay for exams?

Accepted Answer

Online during booking at my.sa.gov.ge (payment operator: Liberty Bank), in the agency's mobile app, at a service center, or via quick-payment terminals. Mind the 72-hour rule: a no-show or late cancellation forfeits 50% of the fee and blocks re-booking for 30 days. Source: booking rules.

Question 23

How long does it take to get a driver's license in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

The official time frames: the yard test must be passed within 30 days of theory (it can be taken within days), the first scheduled city-exam attempt opens 15 days after the yard test, and the license card is produced in about 5 working days (1–2 days expedited). So with every stage passed on the first try, the process takes from roughly 3–4 weeks. Each failed city exam adds at least 30 days (or 7 days with the 250 GEL unscheduled admission).

Question 24

How often can I retake the theoretical exam if I fail?

Accepted Answer

A new attempt no earlier than the 7th calendar day after the failed one; each retake costs 40 GEL. Source: theory booking rules.

Question 25

How often can I retake the yard test if I fail?

Accepted Answer

Free at 7-day intervals within the 30-day window after passing theory. For 30 GEL (accelerated service) you can retry earlier. If the 30-day window expires, you must retake the theory exam. Source: category B terms.

Question 26

How often can I retake the city exam if I fail?

Accepted Answer

A scheduled retake no earlier than 30 calendar days after the failed attempt (90 GEL). An unscheduled one at most once per 7 days (250 GEL). The yard test does not need to be retaken. Any stage's result can be appealed within 3 working days; exams are video-recorded and you may review the recording of a failed attempt. Source: Service Agency FAQ.

Question 27

How long do passed stages remain valid?

Accepted Answer

A passed theory exam gives 30 calendar days to pass the yard test — otherwise the result lapses.
A passed yard test gives 365 calendar days to pass the city exam — otherwise both stages lapse.
The health certificate is valid for 400 days from submission.
A category B license is valid for 15 years.

Source: Service Agency FAQ.

Question 28

Can I take theory and yard in one city and the city exam in another?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each exam is booked independently at any convenient unit — there is no link to where you passed the previous stage. The yard test is accepted at any unit except Tbilisi; the category B city exam is held in 10 cities: Rustavi, Gori, Telavi, Akhaltsikhe, Sachkhere, Kutaisi, Ozurgeti, Zugdidi, Poti and Batumi. Source: list of agency units.

Question 29

Can I switch from manual to automatic for the city exam after passing the yard on manual?

Accepted Answer

Yes: after passing the yard test on a manual car, you may take the city stage on an automatic — in that case the license is issued restricted to automatic transmission only. You may not take manual and automatic exams on the same day. Source: Service Agency FAQ.

Question 30

Can I get an International Driving Permit (IDP) with foreign licenses in Georgia?

Accepted Answer

No — an IDP in Georgia is issued only on the basis of a Georgian license. It takes a few minutes at any agency branch and costs 109 GEL; it is valid for 1 year (Geneva Convention) or 3 years (Vienna Convention). A foreign driving license itself remains valid in Georgia for 1 year from your last entry into the country. Source: International Driving Permit.

Question 31

How do I get a duplicate license if lost?

Accepted Answer

Visit any Service Agency center: restoration costs 35 GEL, the new license is issued within minutes, and no re-examination is needed. Source: license restoration and replacement.

Question 32

What if I can't find available exam dates?

Accepted Answer

The yard test needs no booking at all — it is taken at any unit except Tbilisi, daily except Sunday. For the city exam, when booking at my.sa.gov.ge you can choose any of the 10 cities — there is no link to where you passed theory. The unscheduled admission (250 GEL, once per 7 days) lets you skip the scheduled 30-day interval.

Question 33

Why do I keep failing the city exam despite driving experience?

Accepted Answer

The exam is scored formally: one heavy error, or 12 or more light errors, is a fail — and repeating same-group light errors beyond the limits escalates to a heavy error (Articles 38⁴–38⁶ of Order No. 598). Experienced drivers are most often let down by ingrained habits that clash with the exam requirements. Worth knowing: exams are video-recorded, and you have the right to review the recording of your failed attempt and appeal the result within 3 working days. Source: Service Agency FAQ.

FAQ

Complete Guide to Getting a Driver's License in Georgia

Candidate Requirements