Georgia reinstatement fees after a failure to appear charge

If your Georgia driver's license was suspended because of an FTA (failure to appear) in traffic court, you will owe two separate fees to get it back: a $210 reinstatement fee to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, and a $100 failure to appear fee to the court that issued the suspension. You cannot reinstate your license until both fees are paid and the court has notified DDS that the case is resolved.

The $210 reinstatement fee is non-refundable and covers the administrative cost of restoring your driving privileges. The $100 FTA fee goes directly to the court system. Some courts allow you to pay both fees in one transaction; others require separate payments. You must confirm with the specific court that suspended your license whether they will accept payment by phone, online, or mail, or whether you need to appear in person.

After both fees are paid and the court sends confirmation to DDS, reinstatement typically takes 1 to 3 business days. During that time, your license remains suspended and you cannot legally drive. Some courts process the paperwork faster than others, so contact the court clerk's office to ask their typical timeline after payment.

Key Takeaways

  • You must pay $210 to Georgia DDS and $100 to the court that suspended your license; both payments are required before reinstatement can happen.
  • The court must notify DDS in writing that your FTA case is resolved before your license status changes in the system.
  • Payment methods vary by court—call the clerk's office to learn whether you can pay by phone, mail, or online, or whether you must appear in person.
  • Reinstatement takes 1 to 3 business days after both fees are paid and the court sends confirmation to DDS.
  • If you cannot pay both fees when ready, ask the court whether a payment plan is available; some courts offer them for FTA-related fines.

How to locate the correct court and confirm the FTA charge

Before you pay anything, verify that an FTA suspension is actually on your record and identify which court issued it. Go to the Georgia DDS website and use the license status check tool, or call 678-413-8400 to confirm your suspension reason and the court name. Write down the court name, county, and the case number if you have it.

Once you have the court information, contact that court's clerk's office directly. Ask them to confirm the FTA charge, the total amount owed (the $100 FTA fee plus any traffic fines or court costs), and their payment methods. Courts in different Georgia counties have different procedures, so this step saves you from paying the wrong amount or sending money to the wrong place. The clerk can also tell you whether the case is still open or whether it has been resolved.

If you cannot find your court information or do not remember which court suspended your license, call the Georgia DDS at 678-413-8400 and provide your driver's license number. They will tell you which court issued the suspension and provide contact information for that court's clerk's office.

Payment methods and where to send money

The $210 reinstatement fee must be paid to Georgia DDS. You can pay online through the DDS website using a credit or debit card, by mail with a check or money order, or in person at a DDS office. If you pay online, the fee is processed when ready and you will receive a confirmation number. If you pay by mail, allow 5 to 7 business days for processing.

The $100 FTA fee must be paid to the court that suspended your license. Call the court's clerk's office and ask whether they accept online payment, phone payment, mail payment, or in-person payment. Some Georgia courts use third-party payment processors that charge a small convenience fee (usually $2 to $5) for online or phone payments. Ask about this before you pay, so you know the total amount.

Do not send money to DDS and the court at the same time without confirming the court's mailing address and payment procedures. Misdirected payments can delay your reinstatement by weeks. Keep receipts or confirmation numbers for both payments so you can follow up if your license status does not change within 3 business days.

What happens after you pay both fees

After you pay the $100 FTA fee to the court, the court clerk's office is responsible for notifying Georgia DDS that your case is resolved. This notification is usually sent electronically, but it can take 1 to 3 business days. During this time, your license remains suspended even though you have paid.

Once DDS receives the court's notification and confirms that the $210 reinstatement fee has been processed, your license status will change from suspended to valid. You will not receive a new physical license card in the mail; your existing license becomes valid again. You can check your status online at the DDS website or by calling 678-413-8400.

If your license status has not changed to valid within 3 business days of paying both fees, contact the court's clerk's office first to confirm they sent the notification to DDS. If the court says they sent it, then contact DDS at 678-413-8400 with your confirmation numbers from both payments. DDS can investigate why the status change has not been processed.

Common mistakes that delay reinstatement

The most common mistake is paying only the $210 DDS fee and forgetting the $100 court fee. Your license will not reinstate until both are paid and the court notifies DDS. Some people assume the DDS fee covers everything, but it does not. Always confirm with the court that both fees have been received before you expect your license to be valid again.

Another mistake is sending payment to the wrong address or paying the wrong amount. If the court has additional fines or court costs beyond the $100 FTA fee, you must pay those too before the case is considered resolved. Call the court's clerk's office and ask for the exact total amount owed, not just the FTA fee.

A third mistake is not keeping proof of payment. If you pay by check or money order, make a copy before you mail it. If you pay online or by phone, save the confirmation number and the date. If there is a delay in your reinstatement, you will need this proof to show DDS and the court that you have already paid.

If you cannot pay the full amount right away

Some Georgia courts offer payment plans for FTA fines and court costs. Call the court's clerk's office and ask whether a payment plan is available. If the court approves a payment plan, you will make partial payments over time, and the court will notify DDS once the final payment is received. Your license will not reinstate until the full amount is paid and the court sends confirmation to DDS.

If the court does not offer a payment plan, ask whether they will accept a partial payment now and the remainder later. Some courts will work with you if you show good faith by making a payment when ready. Document any agreement you make with the court in writing or get the clerk's name and the date you spoke with them, so you have a record if there is a dispute later.

If you are facing financial hardship, some courts have programs to reduce or waive fines. Ask the clerk's office whether a fine reduction request or hardship waiver is available. You may need to provide proof of income or unemployment. This is a separate process from payment plans and requires a formal request, usually submitted in writing or at a court hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive while my reinstatement is being processed?

No. Your license remains suspended until DDS receives notification from the court and processes the reinstatement. Driving with a suspended license is illegal and can result in additional charges. Wait until your status shows valid on the DDS website or until you receive written confirmation from DDS before you drive.

What if I paid the fees but the court never sent the notification to DDS?

Contact the court's clerk's office with your payment confirmation and ask them to send the notification when ready. If they say they already sent it, ask for the date it was sent and request that they resend it. Then contact DDS at 678-413-8400 and provide your payment confirmations so they can investigate the delay.

Do I need to go to court in person to reinstate my license after an FTA?

Not usually. If you pay the FTA fee and any court costs, the court will consider the case resolved without requiring you to appear. However, some courts may require you to appear if there are additional charges or if the case involves a criminal matter. Call the court's clerk's office to ask whether an appearance is required.

Will my insurance rates go up because of the FTA suspension?

The suspension itself does not affect insurance rates, but the underlying traffic violation that caused the FTA may. Your insurance company will see the original traffic charge on your driving record. Reinstatement of your license does not remove the violation from your record.

How long does it take to get a new license card after reinstatement?

You do not need a new card. Your existing license becomes valid again once reinstatement is processed. If your license has expired or will expire soon, you will need to renew it separately through DDS, which is a different process and fee.