According to Georgia Motor Vehicles and Traffic Law § 40-5-39, a company cannot operate a motor vehicle for hire in this state without a for-hire license endorsement or a private background check. Under the same law, drivers must have liability insurance coverage in the amounts the law requires for the class of vehicle they operate.
This law applies to limousine drivers, rideshare networks, and taxi services.
To receive a for-hire endorsement, the driver must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a valid and unlimited Georgia license
- Be free of any felony convictions, or convictions for crimes of “moral turpitude” or a pattern of misdemeanors that evidence of a “pattern of disregard” for the law
- Submit to fingerprinting for a background check with the Georgia Crime Information Center
- Be a U.S. citizen, or provide federal documentation verified by Homeland Security as valid evidence of a lawful presence
Once obtained, the endorsement is good for the same time as the individual’s driver’s license and is subject to a review of criminal history to verify eligibility.
Rideshare platforms provide a private background check. If it meets the state’s requirements, it alone allows drivers to operate for-hire vehicles without the above endorsement.
