Section 40-5-23. Classes of licenses

   (a) The department upon issuing a driver's license shall indicate thereon the type or general class of vehicles that the licensee may drive.

(b) Subject to this chapter, the commissioner shall establish by rules and regulations such qualifications, including but not limited to, training, experience, or educational prerequisites, as he or she believes are necessary for the safe operation of the various types, sizes, or combinations of vehicles and shall appropriately examine each applicant to determine his or her qualification according to the type or general class of license applied for.

(c) The noncommercial classes of motor vehicles for which operators may be licensed shall be as follows:
      Class C -- Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 26,000 pounds, any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 10,000 pounds, any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 10,000 pounds, provided that the combination of vehicles has a gross combined vehicle weight rating not in excess of 26,000 pounds, and any self-propelled or towed vehicle that is equipped to serve as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel purposes and is used solely as a family or personal conveyance; except that any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 26,000 pounds may be operated under such class of license if such combination of vehicles are controlled and operated by a farmer, used to transport agricultural products, livestock, farm machinery, or farm supplies to or from a farm, and are not used in the operations of a common or contract carrier;
      Class D -- Provisional license applicable to noncommercial Class C vehicles for which an applicant desires a driver's license but is not presently licensed to drive;
      Class E -- Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds, and all vehicles included within Class F and Class C;
      Class F -- Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating not in excess of 10,000 pounds, and all vehicles included within Class C;
      Class M -- Motorcycles, motor driven cycles, and three-wheeled motorcycles;
      Class P -- Instruction permit applicable to all types of vehicles for which an applicant desires a driver's license but is not presently licensed to drive.

Any applicant for a Class E or Class F license must possess a valid Georgia driver's license for Class C vehicles. A license issued pursuant to this Code section shall not be a commercial driver's license.

Code 1933, § 68B-204, enacted by Ga. L. 1975, p. 1008, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 1329, § 1A; Ga. L. 1989, p. 519, § 7; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 4; Ga. L. 1997, p. 760, § 11; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 5-7; Ga. L. 2005, p. 854, § 1/SB 273; Ga. L. 2006, p. 504, § 1/HB 1392; Ga. L. 2007, p. 47, § 40/SB 103; Ga. L. 2010, p. 932, § 5/HB 396.