DMVZoneBlogGeorgia drivers cannot hold or support a phone with any part of the body. Fines are up to $50 and 1 point the first time, $100 and 2 points the second, and $150 and 3 points after that. First offenders can get the ticket dismissed.
Under Georgia's Hands-Free law, you cannot hold or support a phone with any part of your body while driving, or text, watch video or record video. Voice calls through a headset, voice-to-text and GPS are allowed. Fines are up to $50 and 1 point for a first conviction, $100 and 2 points for a second, and $150 and 3 points after that.
The law has been in place since 2018. "Support" is the key word: a phone wedged between your shoulder and ear, or resting on your lap while you type, still counts as holding it.
| Action | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Talk on a headset, earpiece or smartwatch | Yes |
| Use GPS navigation | Yes |
| Send a text by voice-to-text | Yes |
| Hold the phone for a call | No |
| Read or write a text, email or social post | No |
| Watch or record video | No, except a running dash cam |
| Tap the phone to change songs in a streaming app | No, set it up before you drive |
| Use the phone while legally parked | Yes |
If it is your first hands-free ticket, you can show the court a hands-free device, or a receipt for one, and swear you have not used this option before. The court can then dismiss the charge.
Start your playlist or podcast before you put the car in gear. Touching the streaming app while driving is a violation, even with the phone in a mount.
Is it legal to use GPS navigation on your phone while driving in Georgia?
Answer: A. GPS navigation is allowed under the Hands-Free law.
What is the most you can be fined for a second hands-free conviction?
Answer: B. A second conviction is up to $100 and 2 points.
You are stopped at a red light. Can you hold your phone?
Answer: B. Only a lawfully parked vehicle is exempt. A red light is not parked.
Fines and points step up based on convictions within 24 months.
Yes. Voice-to-text is allowed.
Yes. They may use only a single button to start or end calls and cannot reach for a phone if it takes them out of their seat belt.
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official Georgia DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.
Since July 1, 2024, passing a stopped Georgia school bus carries a minimum $1,000 fine and 6 points under Addy's Law, and drivers under 21 lose their license. Move Over violations are up to $500 and 3 points.
In Georgia, speeding under 15 mph over adds no points, while aggressive driving and passing a school bus add 6. Reach 15 points in 24 months and DDS suspends your license. Drivers under 21 face much stricter rules.
Get convicted of 85 mph or more anywhere in Georgia, or 75 mph or more on a two-lane road, and DDS bills you a $200 Super Speeder fee on top of the court fine. Miss the 120-day deadline and your license is suspended.