How Many Points Is a DUI in Georgia? What It Means for Drivers

Georgia assigns points only for moving violations and at-fault accidents under the Safe Driver Point System. Convictions for speeding, reckless driving, following too closely, improper lane changes, and similar traffic offenses accumulate points that trigger license suspension at 15 points within 24 months for drivers under 21, or 15 points within 24 months for drivers 21 and older. Points remain on your Georgia driving record for two years from the conviction date. A defensive driving course approved by the Department of Driver Services can remove up to seven points once every five years, but only if completed before accumulating 15 points. The course does not remove DUI convictions, administrative suspensions, or SR-22 requirements. DUI convictions appear on your Georgia driving record permanently but affect insurance rates for a finite window. Most carriers surcharge DUI violations for three to five years from the conviction date, with the steepest increases in years one and two. The conviction stays visible to law enforcement and future DUI prosecutors indefinitely, meaning a second DUI within ten years triggers harsher criminal penalties even if the first conviction no longer affects your insurance premium.

Georgia's administrative license suspension begins automatically when you refuse a breath, blood, or urine test, or when you submit to testing and register 0.08% BAC or higher. The arresting officer confiscates your physical license and issues a 1205 form that serves as a temporary driving permit for 45 days if you are eligible. You have 30 days from the arrest date to request an Administrative License Suspension hearing with the Department of Driver Services. Filing this request extends your driving privileges until the hearing officer issues a ruling. If you do not request a hearing within 30 days, the suspension becomes automatic on day 46. First-time refusals result in a 12-month hard suspension with no permit available for the first 12 months. First-time BAC failures result in a 12-month suspension, but a limited driving permit becomes available after 120 days if you enroll in DUI school and install an ignition interlock device. The administrative suspension runs concurrently with any criminal court suspension, but reinstatement requires satisfying both sets of conditions. You must complete the DUI Risk Reduction Program, pay all reinstatement fees, maintain SR-22 insurance for three years from reinstatement, and in most cases install an ignition interlock device for the permit period or the first six months of full license reinstatement under current Georgia DDS rules.

A DUI conviction in Georgia typically increases insurance premiums by 60-90% for the first three years following conviction. The surcharge period varies by carrier — some apply elevated rates for three years, others extend surcharges to five years based on underwriting rules that treat DUI as a high-severity event regardless of point assignment. Most preferred carriers either decline to renew DUI-convicted drivers or move them to non-standard subsidiaries with higher base rates and fewer discount opportunities. State Farm, GEICO, and Progressive maintain non-standard divisions that write post-DUI policies, but monthly premiums in these programs typically range from $180 to $320 for state minimum liability coverage compared to $85 to $140 for clean-record drivers under current Georgia market conditions. Full coverage policies with comprehensive and collision add another $120 to $200 per month for DUI-convicted drivers. SR-22 filing adds $25 to $50 annually in processing fees, but the larger cost driver is the policy premium itself. Georgia requires SR-22 for three years from the date you reinstate your license, not from the conviction date. If reinstatement takes 18 months due to delayed DUI school completion or ignition interlock installation, the SR-22 clock does not start until reinstatement is final. Lapses in coverage during the SR-22 period trigger automatic license re-suspension and restart the three-year filing requirement from the next reinstatement date.

Reinstating your Georgia driver's license after a DUI suspension requires completing four mandatory steps in sequence. First, complete the DUI Risk Reduction Program, a 20-hour state-approved course also called DUI school. The program costs $275 to $360 depending on the provider and must be completed at a facility certified by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Completion certificates remain valid for five years, so you can finish the course during your suspension period. Second, pay the $210 restoration fee to Georgia DDS plus a $25 license reissuance fee. If your suspension included an administrative license suspension for test refusal or BAC failure, an additional $200 administrative reinstatement fee applies. Third, obtain SR-22 insurance from a licensed Georgia carrier and maintain it for three years without lapses. The carrier files the SR-22 certificate electronically with Georgia DDS, and you must keep the policy active for the full three-year period or face automatic re-suspension. Fourth, install an ignition interlock device if required by the court or by Georgia DDS rules for limited permit eligibility. First-time offenders seeking a limited permit after 120 days must install an interlock device and maintain it for the remainder of the suspension period. The device requires monthly calibration visits at $70 to $100 per month, and removal is allowed only after full license reinstatement and confirmation from DDS that the interlock period has been satisfied.

Request an Administrative License Suspension hearing within 30 days of your arrest date. File the hearing request online through the Georgia Department of Driver Services or by mail using the information provided on your 1205 temporary permit form. This request extends your driving privileges until the hearing officer issues a decision, which can take 60 to 90 days. Missing the 30-day deadline results in automatic suspension on day 46 with no opportunity to challenge the administrative action. Enroll in a DUI Risk Reduction Program as soon as possible. Completing DUI school early satisfies one of the four reinstatement requirements and demonstrates compliance if you apply for a limited driving permit after 120 days. Contact your current insurance carrier to disclose the arrest and confirm whether they will continue coverage or non-renew your policy at the next renewal date. Most carriers non-renew after a DUI conviction, but some provide a 60-day window to find replacement coverage before cancellation. Shop for SR-22 insurance quotes from non-standard carriers before your current policy expires. State Farm's non-standard division, Progressive's high-risk program, and regional carriers like National General and Acceptance Insurance write post-DUI policies in Georgia. Obtain quotes from at least three carriers because pricing varies widely — one carrier may quote $240 per month while another quotes $180 for identical state minimum liability coverage. Do not let your coverage lapse during the SR-22 period, even if premiums are high, because a lapse triggers automatic license re-suspension and restarts the three-year SR-22 clock from zero.