{"id":7594,"date":"2022-09-07T15:13:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T15:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veloxinsurance.com\/?p=7594"},"modified":"2023-11-07T16:23:08","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T16:23:08","slug":"what-ga-teen-drivers-need-to-know-about-joshuas-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veloxinsurance.com\/blog\/what-ga-teen-drivers-need-to-know-about-joshuas-law\/","title":{"rendered":"What Georgia Teen Drivers Need to Know about Joshua\u2019s Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you have a new teen driver, there\u2019s a lot to think about. There\u2019s the issue of finding auto insurance<\/a> for teens in Georgia, of course, but there are also other things to think about, such as setting new curfews and making sure your teen properly maintains their car<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then there\u2019s Joshua\u2019s Law, which every Georgia teen driver (and their parents) should know and understand before getting on the road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly is Joshua\u2019s Law and how does it apply to your teen driver?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Joshua\u2019s Law in Georgia? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Named after Joshua Brown, a 17-year-old from Georgia, who was killed in a single-car accident, Joshua\u2019s Law sets specific requirements for teens under 18 to get their first driver\u2019s license.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgia teens with a learner\u2019s permit must complete an approved driver\u2019s ed knowledge course as well as log a minimum number of hours of supervised driving time and driving instruction, including night driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Does Joshua\u2019s Law Come From? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2003, Joshua died in a car accident while driving in the rain. After hydroplaning over a puddle, Joshua lost control of his car, crashed into a tree and was hospitalized for nine days before dying from his injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua\u2019s parents believed he could have better controlled his car if he had had more driving experience. At the time, Joshua had a driver\u2019s license but had never taken any driver\u2019s ed classes because they weren\u2019t required in Georgia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the accident, Joshua\u2019s father became a tireless advocate for reforming Georgia\u2019s driving laws for teens. By 2005, the state legislature passed a law to ensure that Georgia teen drivers would be better prepared for the road. This law, which took effect in 2007, became known as Joshua\u2019s Law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Does Joshua\u2019s GA Law Apply To? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Joshua\u2019s Law applies to all Georgia teen drivers under 18. While the original law applied only to 16-year-olds, the requirements were extended to apply to 17-year-olds as of July 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requirements of Georgia Joshua\u2019s Law <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Joshua\u2019s Law sets a roadmap for inexperienced teen drivers<\/a> to safely and gradually transition from their learner\u2019s permit to a full driver\u2019s license. Once a teen driver has their Georgia learner\u2019s permit, there are four ways to fulfill the requirements of Joshua\u2019s Law: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Method 1<\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. 30 hours of certified classroom instruction <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training at a certified driving school <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian (6 of the 40 hours must be night driving) <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Method 2<\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. 30 hours of certified classroom instruction <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              1. 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training taught by a parent or guardian <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                  \n
                1. Method 3<\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  1. 30 hours of certified online instruction <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    1. 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training at a certified driving school <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      1. 40 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian (6 of the 40 hours must be night driving) <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                          \n
                        1. Method 4<\/strong> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                            \n
                          1. 30 hours of certified online instruction <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            1. 40 hours of behind-the-wheel training taught by a parent or guardian <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                              Once a teen has completed one of the four methods and has had their permit for at least a year and a day, they can apply for a Georgia Class D license. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              What is a Class D License in Georgia? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                              Georgia teen drivers who have complied with Joshua\u2019s Law and who have had their permit for more than a year can apply for a Class D license, which is also known as an intermediate license. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              A Class D license allows teens to drive unsupervised but only under the following restrictions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n