Campus Transportation
GT Parking & Transportation is the department responsible for all transportation within the Georgia Tech campus. The Stinger Bus and the Stingerette are the primary transportation services used on campus. After-hours transportation services and a weekend grocery shopping route to Atlanta Station are also offered. Visit GT Parking and Transportation Services for complete details.
Off-Campus Transportation
Marta
Georgia Tech's campus is accessible by Atlanta's public transportation system, MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority). MARTA offers rail and bus service throughout metropolitan Atlanta. The trains stop throughout the city, with two stops convenient to the Georgia Tech campus: North Avenue Station and Midtown Station. MARTA offers convenient and inexpensive transit between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and the Georgia Tech campus. Click here for more info.
The Breeze Card is used for payment on all MARTA trains and buses. The Breeze Card itself costs $2 (it is reusable and rechargeable) and then you need to add on the additional fare (a standard one-way fare on a bus or a train costs $2.50).
Georgia Tech students and employees can purchase discounted monthly MARTA passes, in addition to other regional transportation passes, at the Parking and Transportation Customer Service Center. More information about regional transit is available on the PTS site.
Bicycling
Georgia Tech has been recognized as a Bike Friendly University, and many students use bicycles to get around campus and Atlanta. More information about biking safety and services is available on the PTS site.
Students can utilize Relay Bikeshare to rent bikes. Another option is to purchase a bike through Starter Bikes, a collaborative project that provides refurbished used bikes at a low cost to students and community members.
Atlanta also has several bike shops where you can buy a new or used bike or get a bike repaired. Visit the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition's website for information about local bike shops, commuting by bike, bike-related news and initiatives, and more.
Parking on Campus
All Georgia Tech students, including freshmen, are eligible to purchase parking permits beginning in August of each academic year at the Parking and Transportation office. All student parking permits will be charged to the student's Bursar account and must be paid through the Bursar's Office.
If you are driving to Georgia Tech for a brief period of time, there are also several visitor lots where you can park for an hourly fee.
Obtaining a GA Driver's License
To apply for a Georgia driver’s license, you must apply in person to the Department of Driver Services (DDS). All drivers from other nations (including Canada and U.S. Territories) must pass Georgia’s written, road, and vision tests in order to be issued a Georgia driver's license.
For general requirements and the most convenient location for written and driving exams, please visit the Department of Driver Services website. For specific information and requirements for non-US citizens, please visit the DDS webpage for non-U.S. citizens.
Note: You are not required to have a social security number (SSN) to obtain a GA state driver’s license or identification card. If you do not have a SSN and would like to get a license or identification card, you should obtain a Form SSA-L676 (Social Security Card Denial Notice) from the Social Security Administration. Bring your passport, printout of your I-94 electronic record or I-94 card and I-20 or DS-2019 to the Social Security Administration and request a denial notice. The issuance of this form does not prevent you from being granting a SSN in the future. It simply states that you are currently not eligible for one.
When you apply for a Georgia driver's license, your information will need to be confirmed in government databases. Follow these 4 steps to make the process smoother and save time:
- Wait 10 days after you arrive in the United States: You may want to apply for a driver’s license or SSN right away, but be patient. The 10-day wait allows time for all the government databases to update with your arrival information.
- Make sure your record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is up-to-date and in Active status.
- Check your forms: Check all your forms to make sure your information is correct. This is data integrity which is very important because having different information on different forms may cause delays.
- Wait two days after your ISSS activates your record in SEVIS.
Buying a Car
Buying a car is a serious financial matter. You are advised to be careful when purchasing any car, especially a used car. While most car dealers are reputable, some try to deceive customers by selling defective cars. You may want to find a friend who knows a lot about automobiles or read a magazine like Consumer Reports to help you decide which model of car will be best for you. It is wise to test-drive the car and to have a mechanic inspect it before you buy. This is to ensure that there are no major defects. For a small fee you can also purchase a vehicle history report from carfax.com by providing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from the car.
Once you have negotiated a buying price, make sure that you receive the title certificate for the car and that the seller has signed over the car’s ownership to you. If you are buying a used car, when you pay the money and sign the papers, the vehicle is yours. You do not have the right to return the vehicle and ask for your money back if you find something wrong.
Owning and operating a car is no simple matter. Besides the cost of buying the car, there are other costs involved:
Automobile insurance (required by State of Georgia Law)
Gasoline, regular motor oil changes, and other car maintenance and repair costs
Annual emissions inspections, registration, and taxes
Parking fees on campus and in some apartment complexes
You should seriously consider the costs associated with owning a car before deciding to buy one.
Car Rental and Rideshare
There are options for people who need access to a car occasionally, but not on a daily basis:
Zipcar provides 24 hours a day/7 days a week access to Zipcars parked on campus to borrow for short-term use. Once you join, you can reserve a car online, let yourself in with your Zipcard, and drive. Hourly and daily rates are available and include gas and insurance. Please refer to the website for more information.
There are many rental car companies in Atlanta, including Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. You can find a complete listing of companies, locations, and pricing by doing an internet search.
Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft also have a significant presence in Atlanta.
Explore carpool and rideshare options at the PTS site.