Georgia veterans, who served on active duty or active duty in a reserve component, including the National Guard, during wartime or any conflict when personnel were committed by the President, are probably eligible to receive a free Georgia driver’s license.

“More than 85 percent of the some 773,000 veterans living in Georgia served during wartime and the vast majority of them are eligible to receive a free driver’s license,” says Georgia Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Pete Wheeler.

A driver’s license or state ID card is issued free to veterans who were Georgia residents when they entered active duty status and are Georgia residents at the time of application or who have been residents of Georgia for at least two years immediately preceding the date of application for the license.

“You did not have to be assigned to a unit that directly participated in the war or conflict to be eligible for the free license, but you must have been discharged or separated under honorable conditions,” Commissioner Wheeler points out. “A veteran could have served during Desert Storm in a stateside assignment and still be eligible for the free license.”

A veteran must first present a copy of his or her DD 214 (Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty) to personnel at one of the Department of Veterans Service field offices for review. Personnel in the office will review the DD 214 and issue a Certificate of Eligibility (DPS516) to qualified veterans.

The veteran then must take the DD 214 and the certificate of eligibility to any of Georgia’s Department of Driver Services’ offices for any required test and issuance of the free license.

Commissioner Wheeler reminds veterans who qualify that a 2010 Georgia law now makes newly issued and reissued veteran’s driver’s license valid for only eight years.

State legislative changes during the 2010 General Assembly mandate first-time issuances and renewals of Georgia driver’s licenses, permits, and IDs be issued for a term of either five or eight years.

The license or permit of any veteran who currently holds a valid license or ID which expires at age 65 will remain valid. Once a veteran reaches age 65, they must renew their driver’s license (at no cost) every five years. Successful completion of the vision test is required at each renewal after age 65.

Any member or former member of the National Guard or reserve forces who has 20 or more years of creditable service is also eligible for a free license.

“To obtain the license, the individual needs only to provide a copy of the 20-year retirement letter or other official documents establishing their eligibility to personnel at the local driver services office,” Commissioner Wheeler comments. “The required documents can be obtained from the State National Guard Office or from the custodian of personnel records of the reserve forces.”

“An unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran may also qualify for a free driver’s license if the veteran had qualified and was in receipt of the fee-exempted driver’s license at the time of death,” notes Commissioner Wheeler.

The free driver’s license may also be issued to a resident of Georgia who is the spouse of a veteran who would be qualified to receive a veteran’s license but who is disabled to the extent that he or she cannot operate a motor vehicle.

Commissioner Wheeler encourages veterans and surviving spouses who believe they might be eligible for a free driver’s license to visit one of the Department’s veteran service offices. Office locations and phone numbers are listed in the Department Directory under the Field Offices.