What "Place" Means on a Georgia Driver License

Place on your Georgia driver license refers to the county where you obtained or renewed your license. It appears as a two-digit code on the front of your card, next to your license number. This code identifies which Georgia county's Driver Services office processed your transaction — not necessarily where you live, but where you completed the paperwork.

The place code matters because it tells the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) which office holds your original process file and records. If you need to request a duplicate license, change your address, or resolve a discrepancy, knowing your place code helps DDS staff locate your file faster. The code also appears on your driving record when law enforcement or insurance companies request it.

Georgia has 159 counties, and each one that operates a Driver Services office has its own two-digit code. You can find a complete list of county codes on the DDS website or by calling your local Driver Services office. The code does not change unless you renew your license at a different county office.

Key Takeaways

  • Place is a two-digit county code showing which Georgia county office issued or last renewed your license.
  • Your place code appears on the front of your license and on your driving record.
  • You can renew your license at any Driver Services office in Georgia, which may change your place code to that county.
  • The place code does not affect your driving privileges or where you are legally allowed to drive.
  • If you move to a different county, you do not have to renew your license at that county's office unless you want to update your address.

How Your Place Code Is Assigned

Your place code is assigned the moment you complete your license transaction at a Driver Services office. When you walk in to get a new license, renew, or make changes, the staff member processes your paperwork at that specific office location. The office's county code becomes your place code on your new license.

If you renew your license by mail or online, your place code stays the same as your current license — you do not get a new county code. Only in-person transactions at a Driver Services office can change your place code. This means if you obtained your license in Fulton County years ago and have renewed by mail since then, your place code will still show Fulton County even if you now live in DeKalb County.

Moving to a different county does not automatically change your place code. You keep the original code until you renew your license in person at a different county's office. Many people keep the same place code for years because they renew by mail or online.

Finding Your County Code

Georgia Driver Services publishes a complete list of all 159 county codes on its official website. The list is organized alphabetically by county name and shows the corresponding two-digit code. You can also call your local Driver Services office and ask them for your county's code, or look at your current license — the code appears in the upper right area of the front side.

If you are planning to renew your license in person and want to know the code for your county before you go, the DDS website is the fastest way. The list also helps if you need to contact a specific county office by phone and want to confirm you have the right location.

Changing Your Place Code

You can change your place code by renewing your license in person at a Driver Services office in a different county. For example, if you move from Atlanta (Fulton County) to Savannah (Chatham County) and want your license to reflect the new county, you would renew in person at the Chatham County Driver Services office. Your new license will show Chatham County as the place code.

You are not required to change your place code when you move. If you prefer to keep your current code, you can renew by mail or online, and your place code will remain unchanged. There is no penalty or legal issue with having a place code that does not match your current county of residence.

If you move within the same county, your place code does not change regardless of how you renew. Moving from one part of Fulton County to another part of Fulton County keeps your place code as Fulton County.

Place Code vs. Address on Your License

Your place code and your address are two separate pieces of information. Your address is where you live right now and appears on the front of your license. Your place code is the county where you obtained or last renewed your license in person. They often match, but they do not have to.

If you move to a new county and update your address by mail or online, your address changes but your place code stays the same. If you move and renew in person at the new county's office, both your address and place code update. The address is what matters for legal purposes — your place code is mainly an administrative tracking tool for DDS.

What to Do If Your Place Code Is Wrong

If your license shows an incorrect place code — for example, you renewed in person at a specific county office but the code does not match — contact that county's Driver Services office directly. Bring your license and explain the discrepancy. Staff can review your transaction record and issue a corrected license if an error occurred during processing.

Errors are rare but can happen if the office's system malfunctioned or if paperwork was misfiled. Most corrections can be handled at the same office where you renewed, and you may receive a replacement license on the spot or by mail within one to two weeks, depending on the office's procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my place code affect where I can drive?

No. Your place code is purely administrative and has no effect on your driving privileges or where you are allowed to drive in Georgia or anywhere else. It is straightforward a record of which county office processed your license.

Can I renew my license at a different county's office than the one on my current license?

Yes. You can renew your license at any Driver Services office in Georgia, regardless of which county issued your current license. If you renew in person at a different county, your place code will change to that new county.

If I move to a new county, do I have to update my place code?

No. You only have to update your address, which you can do by mail, online, or in person. Your place code will only change if you renew your license in person at a different county's office. Many people keep the same place code for years.

What if I lost my license and need to know my place code?

Call your local Driver Services office or the county where you last renewed in person. They can look up your record and tell you your place code. You can also check your driving record through the DDS website if you have your license number or other identifying information.

Does the place code on my license match the county where I live?

Not necessarily. It matches only if you renewed your license in person at your current county's office. If you moved to a new county and renewed by mail or online, your place code will still show your previous county.