1-1-.15 Reinstatement and Issuance of a Commercial Driver’s License following a Lifetime Disqualification
(1) Any person who has been disqualified from operating a CMV for life by the State of
Georgia may apply to reinstate their commercial driving privileges after serving at
least 10 years of such disqualification unless he/she was convicted of using a CMV
in the commission of a felony involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing
a controlled substance; or Human Trafficking.
(2) No person with an active suspension, revocation, or any of the above disqualifications
shall be eligible to reinstate their commercial driving privileges under this rule.
(3) In order to be eligible for reinstatement of commercial driving privileges after a lifetime
disqualification, such person must provide acceptable documentation of the following:
(a) A driving record showing no major traffic violation(s) for a period of five years prior
to submitting such application. If the applicant was licensed in another
jurisdiction(s) in the last five years, they are required to submit a certified five year
(or more) copy of their driving record from each jurisdiction. For purposes of this
regulation, the definition of “major traffic violation” in O.C.G.A. § 40 5 142 shall apply;
(b) A driving record with no more than one serious traffic violation during the two-year
period preceding application for reinstatement;
(c) A clinical evaluation conducted after the related violation date reflecting a
determination that no treatment is recommended or proof of completion of
recommended treatment, if either qualifying conviction that contributed to the
lifetime disqualification involved alcohol. For purposes of this regulation, the
definition of “clinical evaluation” in O.C.G.A. § 40-5-1 shall apply;
(d) A certificate of completion from a certified Driver Improvement course issued after
the related violation date if neither disqualifying conviction involved alcohol; and
(e) An application fee of $210.
(4) Issuance of a Georgia CDL Following Reinstatement of Commercial Driving Privileges
(a) Following reinstatement of commercial driving privileges pursuant to paragraph (1),
a person who wishes to obtain a Georgia CDL must perform the following steps:
1. A successful completion of the applicable knowledge exam, after which such
person shall be issued a CLP in such class. The CLP must be held for a
minimum of 14 days prior to being administered the applicable skills test.
2. A successful completion of the applicable skills test for issuance of a CDL.
(b) If a person receives a conviction for a major traffic violation after they have
been reinstated, they will not be eligible for a subsequent reinstatement of their
commercial driving privileges.
(5) Appeals
(a) Appeals of decisions related to the reinstatement and issuance of a CDL will be
handled in accordance with Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 375-1-1-.06.
(b) The appeal must be submitted on the prescribed Department hearing request
form electronically, by mail, or in-person within 10 days of notice of the decision.
(c) Upon receipt of a timely, properly filed appeal, the Department will review and
issue a final decision.
(6) Requests to have lifetime disqualifications from operating a CMV reduced to 10
years and appeals should be sent to the following address:
Georgia Department of Driver Services
Attn: CDL Unit
2206 Eastview Parkway
Conyers, Georgia 30013
Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 40-5-4, 40-16-2, 40-5-142, 40-5-151
History: Original Rule entitled "1-1-.17 Issuance of a Commercial Driver’s License
following a Lifetime Disqualification" adopted. Effective Sept. 12, 2018.
Amended: New title "1-1-.15 Reinstatement and Issuance of a Commercial Driver’s
License following a Lifetime Disqualification"; Effective Nov. 9, 2022.
Amended: Effective Aug. 14, 2024.