Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for Georgia, United States

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Georgia Motorcycle Insurance
3. Georgia Motorcycle Helmet Laws
4. Georgia Motorcycle License Laws
5. Georgia Motorcycle Passenger Laws
6. Georgia Lane Splitting Laws
7. Georgia Motorcycle Safety Features
8. Sources

1. Introduction

If you have a love of motorcycles, you probably live for the moments where you can pull back on the throttle and cruise at high speed on the long highways. Riding a motorcycle can make for a gratifying experience, but can only be enjoyed if you have an intimate understanding of the rules of the road. Not having a concrete idea of what is proper riding behavior, how to operate your motorcycle, nor how to apply vehicle maintenance could lead to trouble. In Georgia, the regulations covering all of these factors will affect how you handle your motorcycle.

This infographic will provide an overview of the essential motorcycle laws and a step-by-step explanation of the licensing process in the state of Georgia.

2. Georgia Motorcycle Insurance

Georgia Motorcycle Insurance

Before you can begin riding a motorcycle, you must first obtain Georgia motorcycle insurance. It is necessary to have since you must be prepared to show you can be financially responsible in case of an accident. No matter how skilled you are at operating a motorcycle, there are going to be collisions you cannot avoid. If you are found at fault for an accident, your insurance must be able to provide compensation to any affected parties. Whenever you take your motorcycle out for a ride, have proof of ownership stored somewhere on your person or vehicle. You must be able to prove you have Georgia motorcycle insurance at traffic stops, accident scenes, and vehicle inspections.

Your Georgia liability insurance coverage must be able to cover the minimum costs for the following accident-related fees:

$25,000 for bodily injury to a person per accident
$50,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident
$25,000 for property damages sustained per accident

If you wish to protect your health and property, you will need to acquire optional forms of motorcycle insurance coverage. As these are not mandatory, only purchase what you can afford and what will be useful under specific circumstance during an accident:

Uninsured coverage
Underinsured coverage
Collision coverage
Comprehensive coverage

3. Georgia Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Georgia Motorcycle Helmet Laws

As Georgia has a universal motorcycle helmet policy, all motorcyclists regardless of age are required to wear protective headgear when they are operating their vehicles in this state.

Thanks in part to the universal motorcycle helmet policy, most motorcyclists have protective headgear which has helped save lives and reduce the frequency of fatal accidents. These statistics in recent years have shown the importance of wearing a motorcycle helmet:

In July 2021, motorcycle helmets have saved the lives of 91 riders operating in Georgia
In 2019, 15% of riders suffering serious injuries and 7% of riders with fatal injuries were not wearing motorcycle helmets
In 2019, 149 or 88% of riders involved with fatal accidents were wearing motorcycle helmets

An approved motorcycle helmet recognized in Georgia must satisfy the safety guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The three types of models that meet the criteria provided above while providing protection and visibility are three-quarter, full-face, and half helmets. Full-face helmets have the best protection, three-quarter helmets have moderate protection, and half helmets have the least protection.

Listed in this table below are the features that your motorcycle helmet is required to have if you wish to operate a motorcycle in Georgia:

Georgia Motorcycle Helmet Laws

4. Georgia Motorcycle License Laws

4.1 Georgia Motorcycle Learner’s Permit

You can begin applying for a Georgia motorcycle learner’s permit if you are at least 16 years old or older.

You will have to pay a fee of $10 to be issued a Georgia motorcycle learner’s permit that is valid for six months.

To be given the permit, you must complete the following tasks and fulfill all of the listed criteria:

If you are under the age of 18, you are required to complete the Joshua’s Law Requirements:
○ Complete 30 hours of online or classroom instruction
○ Complete six hours of behind-the-wheel training at a certified school
○ Or complete 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian
Additional requirements to fulfill if you are under the age of 18 include:
○ Provide Certificate of School Enrollment
○ Have consent and signature from a parent or guardian
Present identification documents
Provide proof of Georgia residency
Provide proof of U.S. citizenship
Provide your Social Security Number
Take a photo
Pass the knowledge exam
Pass the vision exam
Pay the required fees

When you are operating with a Georgia motorcycle learner’s permit, you will have to comply with the following restrictions as you practice:

You cannot carry passengers
You can only operate during daylight hours
You cannot operate on limited access roadways
You must be wearing safety equipment compliant with the law
You must be wearing a DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet

4.2 Georgia Motorcycle License

You are eligible to receive a Georgia motorcycle license if you are at least 17 years old or older.

You will have to pay a fee of $32 to be issued a Georgia motorcycle license that is valid for eight years.

Listed below are the requirements you will need to fulfill to obtain a Georgia motorcycle license. Depending on your age when you approach the final step, the list of criteria may differ between motorcyclists:

Georgia Motorcycle License

*You have two options for how you can acquire a Georgia motorcycle license: either complete a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Course or apply to take the tests at a DDS Customer Service Center (CSC).

*If you complete a Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program Course, you have the option of waiving both the knowledge and skill portions of the Georgia motorcycle license test so long as you apply within the 90 days it is valid.

4.3 Georgia Motorcycle License Test

Georgia Motorcycle License Test

Knowledge Portion:

Consists of the Road Rules Test and the Road Signs Test
The Road Rules Test focuses on driver responsibility, knowledge of laws, and safe driving practices
The Road Signs Test focuses on identifying and knowing the meaning of standard highway signs, signals, and markers
Each test will consist of 20 questions
You must pass with at least 15 correct answers
Questions will be based on content from the Georgia Motorcycle Operator Manual

Road Skills Portion:

Will be conducted in a controlled, off-street area
You must provide proof of insurance and vehicle registration
You must submit your motorcycle for a safety inspection
You will complete four riding evaluations to measure your control of the motorcycle and hazard-response skills
The final two exercises will involve riding at speeds of 15 to 20 miles per hour
You will fail the exam if you accumulate too many violation points, commit an unsafe act, or fail to follow the instructions of the examiner
Requires a passing grade of 75% or higher

If you fail either the knowledge or riding skills portions, you are only allowed to retake the Georgia motorcycle license test only under the following circumstances:

Upon your first failure, you must wait at least one day until you can retry
If you fail two or more time, you must wait at least a week to retry
You will be subject to a 30 day waiting period until you can retry if:
○ You fail the road skills portion due to a traffic accident
○ You received a traffic violation during the road skills portion

5. Georgia Motorcycle Passenger Laws

Georgia Motorcycle Passenger Laws

There is no minimum age requirement for motorcycle passengers in Georgia. When riding with you, your passenger regardless of age is required to wear an approved motorcycle helmet at all times. The passenger’s motorcycle helmet must satisfy the parameters stated in the earlier section.

It is only legal to transport another person on your motorcycle if it is outfitted with a designated passenger seat, footrests, and handholds. You can only carry as many passengers as your motorcycle is designed to handle without affecting its balance and performance.

Your passenger should never be seated in front of the driver’s seat. There must be space between the driver and passenger seats. This will prevent the driver from being crowded and affecting his/her ability to operate the motorcycle. It will also allow the passenger leg room on both sides of the vehicle. The designated passenger seat can only be positioned at the following places on your motorcycle:

At the back of a large driver’s seat
Towards the rear as a separate saddle
Fixed to the side as a sidecar

Because there is no age restriction, there are other criteria to check when determining who can safely ride with you on your motorcycle. A popular rule of thumb is that a passenger must be able to reach and plant their feet against the footrests. Therefore, it is best to not carry young children or elderly individuals if possible. Other qualities to look for in a motorcycle passenger include the following:

Your passenger must be able to reach the footrests
Your passenger must wear an approved motorcycle helmet
Your passenger cannot be carrying any packages
Your passenger must be able to understand and follow your directions

6. Georgia Lane Splitting Laws

Georgia Lane Splitting Laws

It is illegal for motorcyclists to attempt lane splitting in Georgia. Despite being an easy way to bypass traffic, it is discouraged because it involves traveling in the blindspots of cars, trucks, etc. Most accidents involving motorcycles happen because riders attempt maneuvers that other drivers fail to see or avoid until it is too late. Motorcyclists are forbidden from doing the following behavior in Georgia:

Riding on top of the dividing lines between lanes
Riding in between adjacent rows of stopped vehicles
Overtaking a larger vehicle ahead in the same lane

Because motorcycles have better maneuverability and do not take up too much space like larger vehicles, riders can take advantage of rules of the road specific to two-wheeled motor vehicles. Motorcyclists are entitled to the following rights:

You are allowed to make full use of the space within your current lane
You can only share a lane with another motorcycle if:
○Both parties stay apart at least two abreast
○Both parties consent beforehand

7. Georgia Motorcycle Equipment Requirements

Georgia Motorcycle Equipment Requirements

Even though it is not required to conduct motorcycle safety and equipment inspections in Georgia, it is recommended you look over the condition of your vehicle whenever possible. Especially if you rely on it as a primary mode of transportation or have been operating it for a considerable number of years. If you manage to locate any damage to your motorcycle’s primary components while still in the garage, it is preferable to apply repairs there rather than when you are stranded on the side of the road.

Listed below are the equipment your motorcycle must be fitted with to be considered street legal in Georgia. These components are essential to your motorcycle’s maneuverability, visibility, and overall functionality: