Category: Virginia

Photo: cliff1066, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Virginia DMV gives 3, 4 or 6 demerit points for traffic convictions, depending on how serious the offense is. Points stay valid for two years from the offense date. Clean years earn safe driving points that cancel them out. Build up too many and DMV orders a driver improvement clinic, then probation, then suspension. Drivers under 18 face much stricter rules. Here is how the system works.

Key facts (Code of Virginia Article 19, as of November 2026)

• Point values: 6, 4 or 3 per conviction, never more than 6 for one conviction.
• Points are valid for 2 years from the date of the offense.
• 1 safe driving point per clean calendar year, up to a maximum of 5.
• 18 and over: clinic at 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months.
• Suspension risk: 18 points in 12 months or 24 points in 24 months.
• Under 18: any demerit-point conviction means a mandatory clinic.

How many points for each offense in Virginia?

Points	Examples set by law
6	Driving while intoxicated, under-21 driving after illegally drinking alcohol, reckless driving, speeding 20 mph or more over the limit, racing
4	Failure to yield right-of-way, speeding 10 to 19 mph over, following too closely, failure to stop when entering a highway, aggressive driving
3	Improper driving, speeding 1 to 9 mph over, improper passing, failure to obey a highway sign

DMV assigns values for other offenses within this scale. If you are convicted of two or more offenses from one occasion, you get points for the most serious one only. Note that driving 20 mph or more over the limit, or above 85 mph anywhere, is itself reckless driving in Virginia.

Safe driving points

• Every calendar year with no suspension, revocation or traffic conviction on your record earns 1 safe driving point.
• You can hold up to 5.
• They offset demerit points, starting with your oldest valid conviction.
• If a later conviction turns up for an offense in a year you were credited, that safe point is cancelled.

Driver improvement clinics

When DMV orders a clinic

Driver	Trigger
Under 18 (license or permit)	Any conviction, for an offense committed under 18, that carries demerit points (or certain other listed violations)
18 and 19	Any conviction for an offense that carries demerit points (or certain other listed violations)
18 and over	12 points in 12 consecutive months, or 18 points in 24 consecutive months

You must finish an ordered clinic within 90 days of the notice, which DMV sends by certified mail. A court can also send you to a clinic.

What a clinic does for you

• Completing a clinic subtracts 5 demerit points, or awards safe driving points if you have fewer than 5 demerit points.
• Teens directed to a clinic under the under-18 rules get no safe driving points for it. A parent or guardian may attend and receive the reduction on their own record.
• You can attend voluntarily for either safe driving points or an insurance premium reduction, not both, once every two years.

Probation, control period and suspension

1. Probation: 6 months, starting when DMV directs you to a clinic.
2. Offense during probation: license suspended for 90 days (6-point offense), 60 days (4-point) or 45 days (3-point), followed by another 6 months’ probation. A restricted license can be requested for the first such suspension.
3. Driver control period: 18 months after probation ends. Any points offense during it restarts probation and control.
4. Excessive points: 18 points in 12 months or 24 in 24 months leads to either a 90-day suspension plus a clinic, or 9 months in the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program plus a clinic. You have 30 days to choose, or the suspension applies.

Extra rules for Virginia drivers under 18

Conviction (offense committed under 18)	Result
First	Mandatory driver improvement clinic
Second	90-day suspension. The juvenile court may allow a restricted license for travel to work or college.
Third	Revocation for 1 year or until 18, whichever is longer

Multiple convictions from the same incident count once. Provisional license rules are covered in Virginia provisional license rules for teen drivers.

Virginia’s hands-free law

Holding a handheld phone while driving a moving vehicle is illegal. Fines are $125 for a first offense and $250 for a second or later offense, or for any offense in a highway work zone. For a first offense, a court may order a driver improvement clinic instead of a conviction. Exceptions include being lawfully parked or stopped and reporting an emergency. See hands-free and texting laws.

Common questions

How long do points stay on a Virginia license?

Demerit points are valid for 2 years from the offense date. They stay valid longer if they were the basis for a suspension, probation or similar action still running.

Can I take a clinic to remove points?

Yes. A voluntary clinic subtracts 5 points, once every two years, unless you choose the insurance discount instead.

How many points before Virginia suspends your license?

18 points in 12 months or 24 in 24 months triggers suspension or the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program. Points offenses during probation also bring suspensions.

I am 17 and got a speeding ticket. What happens?

On conviction you must attend a driver improvement clinic. A second conviction means a 90-day suspension.

Do out-of-state tickets count?

Yes. DMV assigns points to convictions from other US states and Canada for offenses that would be reportable in Virginia.

Does sleeping in a car on the shoulder give points?

No. The law bars points for a conviction that came from stopping on the shoulder to sleep or rest, if the court makes that finding.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. Compare systems in US points systems and license suspensions, and see Virginia rules for new adult drivers.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-492: Uniform Demerit Point System” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-493: Demerit points valid for two years” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-494: Safe driving point credit” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-498 to 46.2-501 and 46.2-506” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334.01 and 46.2-334.02” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-818.2: Use of handheld personal communications devices” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-862: Exceeding speed limit” (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Photo: Ɱ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you are 18 or older and have never held a driver’s license, Virginia’s rules depend on your age and on the date. Until December 31, 2026, you need either a driver training course or a learner’s permit held for 60 days before your first DMV road test. From January 1, 2027, applicants aged 18 to 20 need both driver education and a 90-day permit. This guide sets out each route.

Key facts (Code of Virginia 46.2-324.1, as of November 2026)

• Until December 31, 2026, age 18 and over: driver training course OR 60-day permit before the first DMV road test.
• From January 1, 2027, age 18 to 20: driver training course AND permit held at least 90 days.
• From January 1, 2027, age 21 and over: unchanged, course OR 60-day permit.
• Adults have no 45-hour log, no 9-month permit hold and no provisional license restrictions.
• Permit fee: $3. License fee: $2.40 per year of validity.

Virginia adult license rules: now and from 2027

Your age	Until December 31, 2026	From January 1, 2027
18 to 20	Driver training course, or permit held 60 days before first DMV road test	Driver training course and permit held at least 90 days
21 and over	Driver training course, or permit held 60 days before first DMV road test	No change

These rules apply if you have never held a license from Virginia, another US state or territory, or a foreign country. They also apply if you are moving up to a vehicle type you have never been licensed for.

Step by step for a new adult driver in Virginia

1. Get a learner’s permit. Pass the two-part knowledge exam and vision screening. See the Virginia permit test guide.
2. Practice with a supervisor. A licensed driver 21 or older, a parent or legal guardian, or a sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling 18 or older must sit beside you.
3. Choose your route. Hold the permit 60 days (90 days plus driver ed for ages 18 to 20 from 2027), or complete a driver training course at a DMV-licensed school or an approved course.
4. Take the road skills test. A driver training school may give it as part of the course, or you can choose to test at DMV. At DMV you need a driver ed certificate or the signed behind-the-wheel maneuvers checklist. See the Virginia road skills test guide.
5. Get your license. Adults do not go through the juvenile licensing ceremony.

The 2027 temporary license for 18 to 20 year olds

From January 1, 2027, if you are 18 to 20 and have completed an approved driver’s education course, your learner’s permit with that documentation acts as a temporary license. You may then drive without a supervisor until your permanent license is issued, provided all other requirements are met.

Retake rules for adults

• Knowledge exam: after 3 failures, complete either the classroom part of driver instruction or a course based on the Virginia Driver’s Manual (classroom or online, from a licensed provider), then retest.
• Road test: wait 2 days after a failure. After 3 failures at DMV, complete the in-vehicle part of driver instruction first.

Rules that still apply after 18

• Drivers aged 18 and 19 must attend a driver improvement clinic after any conviction for an offense that carries demerit points. See Virginia DMV points.
• Under 21, the zero tolerance alcohol rules apply.
• Handheld phone use while driving is illegal for every driver.

Common questions

Do I need a learner’s permit if I am over 18 in Virginia?

Yes, unless you complete an approved driver training course instead. The permit-or-course choice ends for 18 to 20 year olds on January 1, 2027, when both are required.

Does the 60 days count from the day I get my permit?

The law says you must have held the permit for at least 60 days before your first DMV road test.

I turn 18 in 2026. Which rules apply?

The current version of the law applies to licenses issued until December 31, 2026. If you will not be licensed by then and are under 21, plan for driver education and a 90-day permit. Confirm your case with DMV.

Do adults need the 45-hour log?

No. The 45-hour certification applies only to applicants under 18.

I have a license from another country. Do I start from scratch?

Not necessarily. These rules apply to people who have never held a license anywhere. See driving in the US on a foreign license and ask DMV which tests you need.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. Related: Virginia driver education requirements.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-324.1: Requirements for initial licensure of certain applicants” (versions effective until and from January 1, 2027) (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-325: Examination of applicants” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-332: Fees” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334.02: Licenses issued to persons less than twenty years old” (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Photo: Skip Plitt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Virginia, a first driver’s license for someone under 18 is not handed over at DMV. It is sent to your local juvenile and domestic relations district court, and a judge gives it to you at a formal licensing ceremony. Until then, you drive on a temporary license. This explainer covers how the ceremony works, who must attend and when it can be skipped.

Key facts (Code of Virginia 46.2-336, as of November 2026)

• DMV sends original licenses for under 18s to the juvenile and domestic relations court where you live.
• A judge or substitute judge issues the license at a formal ceremony about the responsibility of driving.
• If you are under 18 at the ceremony, a parent, guardian, spouse or person acting as a parent must come with you.
• Courts may waive the ceremony or hold it differently. Then DMV mails the license to you.
• Teens who already hold a valid license from another state are not part of this process.

Before the ceremony: your temporary license

Once you pass driver education, including the road skills assessment, and are at least 16 years and 3 months old, your learner’s permit plus the signed driver ed completion documentation counts as a temporary driver’s license. You can drive without a supervisor, subject to the provisional license rules.

• The temporary license is valid only until you receive your permanent license.
• The Board of Education regulation calls it a 180-day temporary license, so watch for your court notice well within that time.
• Carry both the permit and the completion paperwork whenever you drive.

What happens at the Virginia licensing ceremony

1. Notice: the court contacts you with the date and time.
2. Attend with an adult: if you are still under 18, a parent, guardian, spouse or other person acting as a parent must come.
3. The ceremony: the judge explains the responsibility that comes with driving. The local Commonwealth’s attorney may ask to take part and speak about enforcement, prosecutions and penalties.
4. Your license: the judge hands you your license.

When the ceremony can be skipped or changed

Situation	What happens
The chief judge of your court district has waived the ceremony	DMV mails or delivers the license directly to you
The chief judge orders an alternative format	The ceremony is held in that manner
You are a student at a school outside Virginia	The judge may mail or deliver the license for good cause
You hold a valid license from another state	The ceremony rules do not apply

Practice varies between districts, so check with your local juvenile and domestic relations court.

Common questions

Do my parents have to come to the licensing ceremony?

Yes, if you are under 18 on the day. A parent, guardian, spouse or other person acting as a parent must accompany you.

What if I turn 18 before the ceremony?

The accompanying-adult rule applies only if you are under 18 when the ceremony is held.

Can I drive while waiting for the ceremony?

Yes, on your temporary license (permit plus driver ed completion documentation), as long as all other requirements are met.

Why does Virginia have a court ceremony?

The law requires the judge to stress the responsibility that comes with the privilege of driving, with parents present.

What if I miss my ceremony date?

Contact the court on your notice straight away to rearrange. Your temporary license does not last forever.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. Related: the road skills test and driver ed waiver and the 45-hour log and driver ed.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-336: Manner of issuing original driver’s licenses to minors” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334: Conditions and requirements for licensure of persons under 18” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “8VAC20-340-10: Driver education program” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Parents in the Driver’s Seat” (DMV 16, 2014 edition) (dmv.virginia.gov)

Photo: Smash the Iron Cage, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Before a Virginia teen under 18 can get a license, a parent or guardian must certify at least 45 hours of supervised driving, 15 of them after sunset, and the teen must complete a state-approved driver education course. This checklist covers both requirements, the 90-minute parent/student session and the rules for home-schooled and out-of-state students.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• 45 hours of supervised driving on the learner’s permit, at least 15 after sunset.
• Certified by a parent, foster parent or legal guardian on a DMV form (married or emancipated teens are exempt).
• Driver ed: at least 36 classroom periods and 14 in-car periods, each at least 50 minutes.
• Plus a 90-minute parent/student component in the classroom part.
• At least 50 miles of driving during the in-car phase.

Virginia 45-hour driving log checklist

1. Get your learner’s permit (see the Virginia permit test guide).
2. Drive with a qualified supervisor: a licensed driver 21 or older, your parent or legal guardian, or a sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling 18 or older.
3. Log every session: date, start and end time, whether it was after sunset, and what you practiced.
4. Reach at least 45 total hours with at least 15 after sunset.
5. Have your parent, foster parent or legal guardian complete DMV’s certification form. It includes their driver’s license or DMV ID number.

The form states that the certification is part of the license application, and anyone who certifies a false statement may be prosecuted. Do not round up the hours.

A practical way to spread the 45 hours

You must hold the permit for at least 9 months if you are under 18. That works out to a little over 1 hour of driving per week. A balanced plan covers:

• Empty parking lots: starting, stopping, steering, parking between lines.
• Quiet residential streets: stop signs, four-way stops, turns.
• Busier roads and roundabouts.
• Highway merging: freeway driving for new drivers.
• Night, rain and heavy traffic, within your 15 after-sunset hours.

Compare with other states in supervised driving hours by state.

Virginia driver education requirements

Part	Minimum
Classroom	36 periods of at least 50 minutes
Parent/student component	90 minutes, part of the classroom phase
In-car	14 periods of at least 50 minutes, driving and observation
Driving distance	At least 50 miles in the in-car phase
Final	Standardized end-of-course road skills assessment

In-car instruction is limited to 2 periods in any 24 hours, and at least one of them must be actual driving. Classroom content must include alcohol and drugs, aggressive and distracted driving, speeding, motorcycle awareness and what to do at a traffic stop.

Where you can take it

• Your public or private high school, if it offers driver ed (school boards decide).
• A driver training school licensed by Virginia DMV.
• A Board of Education approved correspondence course for the classroom part, followed by behind-the-wheel training.

The 90-minute parent/student session

It covers parental responsibilities, juvenile driving restrictions, the dangers of drinking and underage alcohol use, distracted driving and speeding. In Planning District 8, it must be in person and a parent or guardian must attend. Elsewhere it may be in person or online, and parent attendance is encouraged but not required. Students 18 or older, emancipated minors and unaccompanied minors not in a parent’s custody are exempt.

Home-schooled students

A home-schooling parent can teach behind-the-wheel using a Board-approved course. The student must then pass the DMV driver’s license examination. DMV will not issue the license if, at the time of instruction, the parent had 6 or more demerit points in the previous 12 months, a DWI conviction in the previous 11 years, or any manslaughter conviction.

Moving to Virginia mid-course

Transfer applicants need documentation of at least 30 hours of classroom and 6 hours of in-car instruction from a government-approved program in their former state, territory or Canadian province for a permanent license. Bring the certificate showing the hours.

Common questions

Do I need to send my driving log to DMV?

The law requires a parent’s certification on DMV’s form. Keep your own log as backup and ask your driver ed provider when they need the form.

Do driver ed hours count toward the 45?

The law counts hours driven while holding a learner’s permit, certified by the parent. Ask DMV or your driver ed school whether in-car class time may be included.

Can my grandparent supervise practice?

Yes, if they are a licensed driver 21 or older. Only a parent, foster parent or legal guardian can sign the 45-hour certification.

Is driver ed required if I am 18?

Not until January 1, 2027. From then, applicants aged 18 to 20 need driver education and a 90-day permit hold. See Virginia license rules for new adult drivers.

Can I take the classroom part online?

The Board of Education approves correspondence courses for the classroom part, and DMV licenses computer-based providers. Check that a provider is approved before paying.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. Next: the road skills test and driver ed waiver.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits; fees; certification required” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334: Conditions and requirements for licensure of persons under 18” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 22.1-205: Driver education programs” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “8VAC20-340-10: Driver education program” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-324.1 (effective January 1, 2027)” (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Every Virginia driver’s license issued to someone under 18 is a provisional license. It limits how many passengers under 21 you can carry and bans driving between midnight and 4 a.m., with set exceptions. All of these restrictions end on your 18th birthday. Here are the exact rules for teens and parents.

Key facts (Code of Virginia 46.2-334.01, as of November 2026)

• First year: no more than 1 passenger under 21.
• After the first year: up to 3 passengers under 21, but only in three situations.
• Family and household members do not count toward the limit.
• Curfew: no driving midnight to 4 a.m., with exceptions.
• Police cannot stop you just for a provisional license violation.
• Restrictions end at 18.

Virginia provisional license passenger limits

Time since license issued	Passengers under 21 (not family)
First year	1
After the first year, until 18	1, or up to 3 when driving to or from a school-sponsored activity, when a licensed driver 21 or older is in the seat beside you, or in an emergency

Who counts as family or household

• Your spouse, children, stepchildren, brothers, sisters, half-brothers, half-sisters and first cousins, and anyone you have a child with, whether or not they live with you.
• Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law who live in your home.
• Anyone who lives with you as a partner, and their children who live in your home.

Passengers 21 and older never count toward the limit.

Virginia provisional license curfew: midnight to 4 a.m.

You may not drive between midnight and 4:00 a.m. unless you are:

1. Driving to or from your job.
2. Driving to or from an adult-supervised activity sponsored by a school or a civic, religious or public organization.
3. Accompanied by a parent, a person acting as a parent, or a spouse 18 or older, sitting beside you and legally allowed to drive.
4. Responding to an emergency, including volunteer firefighter or emergency medical calls.

Phone rules for Virginia teen drivers

It is illegal for any Virginia driver to hold a handheld phone while driving a moving vehicle. Exceptions include being lawfully parked or stopped and reporting an emergency. Fines are $125 for a first offense and $250 for a second or later offense or any offense in a highway work zone. The provisional license section of the Code does not set a separate teen-only phone rule, but check DMV’s current teen guidance, which may go further. More on hands-free and texting laws.

Penalties for breaking provisional license rules

• Breaking the passenger or curfew rule is a traffic infraction.
• For a second or later violation, a court may suspend your driving privilege for up to 6 months, on top of other penalties.
• Officers may not stop a vehicle solely for a provisional license violation, and evidence from such a stop cannot be used.

Traffic convictions while under 18

Conviction for an offense committed under 18	Result
First demerit-point offense (or certain other listed violations)	Must attend a driver improvement clinic. No safe driving points for it.
Second	License suspended 90 days. You may ask the juvenile court for a restricted license for work or college travel.
Third	License revoked for 1 year or until 18, whichever is longer

Full points rules: Virginia DMV demerit points and driver improvement.

Parents can cancel a teen’s license

A custodial parent or guardian can ask DMV in writing to cancel a minor’s license. It then cannot be reissued for 6 months or until the teen turns 18, whichever is sooner. With joint legal custody, both custodians must sign, or one can petition the juvenile court.

Common questions

Can I drive my younger brother and sister to school?

Yes. Siblings are family members, so they do not count toward the passenger limit.

Can I drive home from work at 1 a.m.?

Yes. Driving to or from your job is an exception to the curfew.

Can I drive three friends to a football game?

Only after you have held the license for a year, and only if it is a school-sponsored activity, or a licensed driver 21 or older sits beside you.

Do the rules apply if I am 18 with a new license?

No. The provisional restrictions apply only to licenses issued to drivers under 18 and end on the 18th birthday.

Does a curfew violation give me points?

It is a traffic infraction. A second or later violation can lead to a court suspension of up to 6 months.

Do permit holders have the same limits?

Permit holders also have a one-passenger-under-21 limit and cannot drive midnight to 4 a.m. at all. See the Virginia learner’s permit guide.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. Compare other states in US graduated driver licensing compared.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334.01: Licenses issued to persons less than 18 years old subject to certain restrictions” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334: Conditions and requirements for licensure of persons under 18” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-818.2: Use of handheld personal communications devices” (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Most Virginia teens never take the road test at a DMV office: the road skills test is built into driver education, and completing an approved course lets DMV waive the driving part of its own exam. If you do test at DMV, you need a driver ed certificate or a signed maneuvers checklist, plus a road-legal, inspected car. This guide covers both routes, vehicle rules and retakes.

Key facts (Code of Virginia, as of November 2026)

• Driver ed graduates: DMV may waive the driving and parking parts of its exam.
• Testing at DMV: bring a driver ed certificate or a behind-the-wheel maneuvers checklist signed by a licensed driver.
• Vehicle: must meet Virginia safety equipment rules and have a valid inspection sticker. No autocycles.
• Parking is tested only in a space between horizontal markers, not between flags or poles.
• Failed: wait 2 days. Failed 3 times at DMV: complete in-vehicle driver training before a fourth try.

How the driver ed waiver works in Virginia

If DMV is satisfied that you showed the same skill by completing a Department of Education driver education course or a course at a licensed driver training school, it may waive the parts of its exam where you drive and park. In practice:

1. Your in-car instructor gives a standardized end-of-course road skills assessment.
2. Pass it, and the school reports your completion to DMV.
3. If you are at least 16 years and 3 months old, your permit plus the signed completion paperwork acts as a temporary license (the state regulation calls it a 180-day temporary license) until your plastic license is issued.

Course requirements and the 45-hour log are in Virginia’s 45-hour log and driver education.

Taking the Virginia road skills test at DMV

Before the test: certificate or checklist

The examiner needs one of these:

• Proof you completed a state-approved driver education class, or
• DMV’s behind-the-wheel maneuvers checklist. A licensed driver signs to certify you practiced every maneuver on it. You sign to certify you followed all learner’s permit rules while driving.

The checklist lists the maneuvers you may be asked to do, so practice every item on it, not just the ones you find easy.

Vehicle requirements

• You provide the vehicle.
• It must meet the safety and equipment requirements of Virginia law, such as working lights, brakes, signals and mirrors.
• It must have a valid Virginia safety inspection sticker.
• An autocycle cannot be used.
• Bring current registration and make sure the car is insured. Check DMV for any other documents needed on the day.

Parking on the test

By law, DMV can only ask you to park in an adequate space between horizontal markers, not between flags or sticks set up to look like parked cars.

What happens if you fail the Virginia road test?

Attempt	Rule
After any failure at DMV	Wait 2 days before the next attempt
After the 3rd failure at DMV	Complete the in-vehicle part of driver instruction at a licensed driver training school or approved course, then retest at DMV

The course must be completed after the third failure. Drivers placed under medical review by DMV follow separate rules.

How to prepare

• Practice in the car you will test in, so lights, wipers and controls are second nature.
• Check lights, signals, brake lights and horn the day before.
• Rehearse full stops, signaling early, mirror and blind-spot checks and smooth parking between lines.
• Read common reasons people fail the US driving test.

Common questions

Do I have to take a road test at DMV if I did driver ed?

Usually not. Completing approved driver ed, including its road skills assessment, lets DMV waive its own driving test. Home-schooled students taught in-car by their own parent must pass the DMV driver’s license examination instead.

Does Virginia test parallel parking?

The law limits DMV to parking in a space marked by horizontal lines, not between cones or flags. Check your checklist for the exact maneuvers. See US road tests by state.

Can I use a rental or borrowed car?

The law sets equipment and inspection requirements, not ownership. Ask DMV about rental agreements before you book.

How soon can I retest?

Two days after a failed DMV road test.

I am 18 or older. Is the road test different?

The test itself is the same, but your path to it differs. See Virginia license rules for new adult drivers.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. After you pass, read the provisional license rules.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-325: Examination of applicants; waiver of Department’s examination; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334: Conditions and requirements for licensure of persons under 18” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “8VAC20-340-10: Driver education program” (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Photo: TallTreesPhilip, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Virginia permit test is a two-part DMV knowledge exam: road signs first, where you must get every question right, then general knowledge, where you need at least 80 percent. Pass it and the vision screening and, if you are over 15 years and 6 months, you can get a learner’s permit. This guide covers the exam format, retake rules, the $3 permit fee and what the permit lets you do.

Key facts (as of November 2026)

• Minimum age: over 15 years and 6 months.
• Part one: 10 traffic sign questions, all must be correct before you can move to part two.
• Part two: multiple-choice general knowledge, at least 80 percent correct. DMV describes this as 30 questions with 24 needed to pass; confirm on the day.
• Under 18 and failed: wait at least 15 days to retest.
• Failed 3 times: you must complete a course before a fourth attempt.
• Learner’s permit fee: $3.

How many questions are on the Virginia permit test?

Part	What it tests	To pass
Part one	10 traffic sign questions	All 10 correct
Part two	General knowledge: traffic laws and safe driving (multiple choice)	At least 80 percent (24 of 30 as DMV describes it)

The exam is taken on a computer and the questions come from the Virginia Driver’s Manual. By law, distracted driving must be part of the knowledge exam, so expect questions on phones and other distractions.

What you need to apply for a Virginia learner’s permit

• Be a Virginia resident over 15 years and 6 months.
• Pass the knowledge exam and the vision screening.
• Meet the vision standard: at least 20/40 in one or both eyes and 110 degrees of horizontal vision, with or without glasses or contacts.
• If you are of compulsory school age, show good academic standing, or have a parent or guardian sign DMV’s written authorization form.
• Pay the $3 permit fee (no fee for homeless youth).
• Bring identity and residency documents. See the REAL ID first license checklist and confirm the current document list with Virginia DMV.

If you take driver education through a school or licensed driver training school, your permit application also serves as your driver’s license application.

Virginia permit test retake rules

• Under 18: wait at least 15 days after a failed attempt.
• Three failures: no fourth attempt until you complete, after the third failure, the classroom part of driver education at a licensed driver training school or an approved course.
• 18 or older, or under 18 and already finished driver ed classroom: you may instead take a course based on the Virginia Driver’s Manual, in a classroom or online, from a licensed provider.

After the course, you retake the exam at DMV.

What a Virginia learner’s permit lets you do

Who can supervise you

• Any licensed driver 21 or older, or
• Your parent or legal guardian, or
• A brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother or stepsister 18 or older.

The supervisor must sit in the seat beside you, be alert and able to help, and be legally allowed to drive at that time. Keep the permit with you whenever you drive.

Passenger and night limits on the permit

• No more than one passenger under 21, except family or household members and during an approved driver education course.
• No driving between midnight and 4 a.m.

How long the permit lasts

A car learner’s permit stays valid until you are issued a driver’s license or no longer qualify for it. Under 18, you must hold it for at least 9 months (or until you turn 18) before getting a license. Breaking the permit rules is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

How to study for the Virginia knowledge exam

1. Read the Virginia Driver’s Manual end to end, especially signs, signals and right-of-way.
2. Learn sign shapes and colors until you can name each one on sight. Part one allows no mistakes. Use US road signs by shape and color.
3. Review lines and signals: pavement markings and traffic signals.
4. Know the distracted driving rules: hands-free and texting laws.
5. Take DMV’s free sample knowledge exam until you score well above 80 percent.

Common questions

Can I skip part two if I fail the sign questions?

No. You must answer all 10 sign questions correctly before part two opens.

Is the Virginia permit test in other languages?

DMV’s manual says the exam is offered in many languages, as audio and in American Sign Language, so translators cannot be used for offered languages. Check the current options with DMV.

Does my Virginia permit expire?

A car permit does not have a fixed expiry. It lasts until you get a license or stop qualifying. Motorcycle learner’s permits last 12 months.

Can my 18-year-old brother supervise me?

Yes. Siblings, half-siblings and step-siblings can supervise from age 18. Anyone else who is not your parent or guardian must be 21 or older.

Can I drive friends around on my permit?

Only one passenger under 21, unless they are family or household members.

I have a license from another state. Do I take the exam?

Usually not: the manual says the knowledge exam is for applicants without a valid license from another US state, Canada and certain countries. Ask DMV which tests apply to you, and see moving to a new state.

Next steps: the 45-hour log and driver ed and the road skills test. Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Virginia. Compare states in permit tests by state.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits; fees; certification required” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335.1: Knowledge test; waiting period prior to reexamination” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335.2: Learner’s permits; minimum holding period” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-325: Examination of applicants” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-311: Minimum standards of visual acuity and field of vision” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-818.2: Use of handheld personal communications devices” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Virginia Driver’s Manual, Section 1: Testing” (DMV 39, earlier edition) (dmv.virginia.gov)

Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To get a driver’s license in Virginia as a teen, you get a learner’s permit after 15 years and 6 months, hold it for at least 9 months, log 45 hours of practice, finish driver education and become eligible for a provisional license at 16 years and 3 months. Adults 18 and over follow a shorter route, which changes on January 1, 2027. This guide maps every stage for teens, parents and new adult drivers, with links to a detailed post on each step.

Key facts (Code of Virginia, as of November 2026)

• Learner’s permit: over 15 years and 6 months, after passing the knowledge and vision exams. Permit fee: $3.
• Under 18: hold the permit for 9 months (or until you turn 18, if sooner).
• Under 18: 45 hours of supervised driving, 15 of them after sunset, certified by a parent or guardian.
• Under 18: a state-approved driver education course is required.
• Earliest license: 16 years and 3 months. It is a provisional license until your 18th birthday.
• License fee: $2.40 per year of the license’s validity.

The Virginia licensing path at a glance

Stage	Who	Main rules
Learner’s permit	Over 15 years and 6 months	Supervisor beside you; at most 1 passenger under 21 (family excepted); no driving midnight to 4 a.m.
Driver education	Required under 18	36 classroom periods, 14 in-car periods, plus a 90-minute parent/student component
Temporary license	Driver ed graduates 16 years and 3 months or older	Permit plus signed completion paperwork lets you drive alone until your plastic license arrives
Provisional license	Under 18	Passenger limits and a midnight to 4 a.m. curfew, both ending at 18
Full license	18 and over	Provisional restrictions end; points rules for under 20s still apply

Step 1: Get your Virginia learner’s permit

You must be a Virginia resident over 15 years and 6 months and pass the two-part knowledge exam and a vision screening. Applicants of compulsory school age must show good academic standing, or a parent or guardian must give written authorization on a DMV form. If you fail the knowledge exam and are under 18, you must wait at least 15 days to retest.

Full exam details, the supervisor rules and what to bring: Virginia DMV knowledge exam and learner’s permit.

Step 2: Practice for 45 hours and finish driver ed

Under 18, you need at least 45 hours behind the wheel on your permit, 15 after sunset, certified by a parent, foster parent or legal guardian on a DMV form. You also need a state-approved driver education course. See the Virginia 45-hour driving log and driver education checklist.

Step 3: Pass the road skills test

For most teens the road skills test is part of driver education, given by the school. If you test at DMV, you must bring a driver ed certificate or a signed behind-the-wheel maneuvers checklist, and a vehicle with a valid inspection sticker. Retake rules and the driver ed waiver are in the Virginia road skills test guide.

Step 4: Receive your license at a court ceremony

Original licenses for drivers under 18 are sent to the juvenile and domestic relations court where you live, and a judge issues them at a formal ceremony, with a parent or guardian present. Some court districts waive the ceremony and DMV mails the license instead. See the Virginia licensing ceremony explained.

Step 5: Follow the provisional license rules until 18

In your first year, you may carry only one passenger under 21 (family excepted). After that, up to three under 21 in set situations. No driving from midnight to 4 a.m. except for work, supervised school or civic activities, with a parent beside you, or emergencies. Details: Virginia provisional license rules for teen drivers.

Getting a Virginia license at 18 or older

Until December 31, 2026, a first-time applicant 18 or older needs either a driver training course or a learner’s permit held for at least 60 days before the first DMV road test. From January 1, 2027, applicants aged 18 to 20 need both driver education and a permit held for at least 90 days. Full breakdown: Virginia license rules for new adult drivers.

What the Virginia Driver’s Manual covers

The knowledge exam is drawn from the Virginia Driver’s Manual. Study each area below, using the linked guides for the topics shared across US states.

Testing and licensing

The two-part knowledge exam, road skills test, vision screening and license types. Virginia’s vision standard for an unrestricted license is at least 20/40 in one or both eyes and 110 degrees of horizontal vision. A daylight-only license may be issued with at least 20/70 and 70 degrees.

Signals, signs and pavement markings

Traffic lights and lane-use signals, sign colors and shapes, work zones and painted curbs. See US traffic signals, US road signs by shape and color and US pavement markings.

Safe driving

Speed, stopping, right-of-way, roundabouts, passing, space cushions, sharing the road, hazardous weather and crashes. In Virginia, driving 20 mph or more over the limit, or above 85 mph anywhere, is reckless driving. Useful guides: speed limits and the basic speed law, roundabouts, four-way stops, sharing the road, school bus stops, move over laws, snow, fog and rain and what to do after a crash.

Virginia rules of the road: numbers to know

These come from the Code of Virginia, which the manual follows.

• Speed: 55 mph is the general maximum, including interstates, unless signs set 70 mph on interstates and some divided highways (60 mph on certain listed US routes). In a posted school crossing zone the limit is 25 mph while the signs or lights are active. Radar detectors are illegal.
• Signals: a steady red arrow means stop and stay stopped unless a sign allows the turn. Right on a steady red circle is allowed after a full stop unless a sign bans it. Signal at least 100 feet before turning or stopping where the speed limit is over 35 mph, and at least 50 feet elsewhere.
• School buses: stop for a stopped school bus loading or unloading, from any direction, and stay stopped until everyone is clear and the bus moves. You need not stop only if the bus is on the other roadway of a highway divided by a physical barrier or unpaved area. Passing a stopped bus is reckless driving.
• Emergency vehicles: when one approaches with siren and lights, pull to the nearest edge of the road, clear of intersections, and stop until it passes. Never follow a fire truck or ambulance on a call closer than 500 feet, or park within 500 feet of a fire truck stopped at an alarm.
• Move over: for a stationary vehicle with flashing blue, red or amber lights, change to a lane not next to it on a road with four or more lanes. If that is unsafe, slow down with due caution. Breaking this rule is reckless driving.
• Military convoys and funeral processions: give way to US forces or National Guard units on official duty, and never cut into or join an escorted funeral procession. Intentionally disrupting one is an infraction with 4 demerit points.
• Bicycles, mopeds and horses: pass at a reasonable speed and at least 3 feet to the left, and change lanes if your lane is too narrow to do that.
• Headlights: from sunset to sunrise, whenever you cannot see 500 feet, and whenever your wipers are on for rain, snow, sleet or fog. Dim to low beams within 500 feet of an oncoming car and within 200 feet of a car you are following.
• Parking: not in front of a driveway, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or fire station entrance, or within 20 feet of the curb lines at an intersection.
• Seat belts: the driver and every passenger 18 or older must wear one. The driver must secure every passenger under 18, in any seat. Children up to age 8 ride in a child restraint in the back seat, rear-facing until at least age 2 or the seat maker’s forward-facing minimum weight.
• Crashes: if anyone is hurt or killed or attended property is damaged, stop and give your details to police and the other people involved. If you damage an unattended car or property and cannot find the owner, leave a note and report it in writing to police within 24 hours.
• Under 21: driving with a BAC of 0.02% or more after drinking is a separate offense (Code 18.2-266.1). The adult DUI limit is 0.08%.
• Moving house: tell DMV your new address within 30 days (Code 46.2-324). When you apply, DMV also offers voter registration and organ, eye and tissue donor registration.

The manual also covers dark (out-of-service) signals, which you treat as an all-way stop, plus hand position, following distance, truck no-zones, light rail in Norfolk, low speed vehicles and deer. Read the current edition on DMV’s website before your exam.

Driver responsibility, alcohol and drugs

Holding a handheld phone while driving a moving vehicle is illegal for every Virginia driver ($125 first offense, $250 after that or in a work zone), and distracted driving must be covered on the knowledge exam. Read hands-free and texting laws, zero tolerance for drivers under 21, implied consent and DUI, drugged driving and seat belt and car seat laws. Points and the Driver Improvement Program: Virginia DMV demerit points and driver improvement.

Vehicle registration and insurance

For policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, Virginia’s minimum liability cover is $50,000 for injury or death of one person, $100,000 for two or more people and $25,000 for property damage. Driving an uninsured vehicle is a Class 3 misdemeanor and leads to license suspension, with a $600 noncompliance fee to reinstate. See car insurance for new drivers.

Common questions

How old do you have to be to get a permit in Virginia?

Over 15 years and 6 months.

Can you get a Virginia license at 16?

Not before 16 years and 3 months, and only after holding your permit for 9 months, logging 45 hours and completing driver education.

Does the 9-month permit hold apply if I am 18?

No. The 9-month minimum applies to applicants under 18. Adults follow the 60-day or driver training rule, which changes for 18 to 20 year olds on January 1, 2027.

When do the teen restrictions end?

The passenger and curfew restrictions end on your 18th birthday. Drivers under 20 can still be ordered to a driver improvement clinic after any demerit-point conviction.

Can a parent cancel a teen’s license in Virginia?

Yes. A custodial parent or guardian can ask DMV in writing to cancel a minor’s license. It cannot be reissued for six months or until the teen turns 18, whichever comes first.

I moved to Virginia with a teen license from another state. What now?

If you are 16 years and 3 months to under 18 and hold a valid license from another US state or Canada with no driving convictions, DMV can issue a 6-month temporary license. For a permanent license you need proof of at least 30 hours of classroom and 6 hours of in-car instruction. See transferring your license to another state.

Compare Virginia with other states in US graduated driver licensing compared, permit tests by state and learning to drive in the USA. Before your first DMV visit, check the REAL ID checklist.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334: Conditions and requirements for licensure of persons under 18” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-334.01: Licenses issued to persons less than 18 years old subject to certain restrictions” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335: Learner’s permits; fees; certification required” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-335.1 and 46.2-335.2: Knowledge test waiting period; minimum holding period” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-324.1: Requirements for initial licensure of certain applicants” (both versions) (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-325, 46.2-332 and 46.2-336” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-311, 46.2-818.2, 46.2-862, 46.2-472 and 46.2-707” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “8VAC20-340-10: Driver education program” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia 46.2-324, 46.2-827, 46.2-828.1, 46.2-829, 46.2-835, 46.2-839, 46.2-849, 46.2-859, 46.2-861.1, 46.2-870, 46.2-873, 46.2-894, 46.2-896, 46.2-921, 46.2-1030, 46.2-1034, 46.2-1079, 46.2-1094, 46.2-1095, 46.2-1239 and 18.2-266.1” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Virginia Driver’s Manual” (DMV 39, earlier edition, used for section structure only) (dmv.virginia.gov)

Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Virginia lets you drive with bioptic telescopic lenses under Code of Virginia § 46.2-312. You need at least 20/200 in one or both eyes through your regular (carrier) lenses with a 70-degree horizontal field, and at least 20/70 through the bioptic, without field expanders. An ophthalmologist or optometrist sends a report to the DMV for review by the Medical Advisory Board. The license is daylight only (half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before sunset) at first; after one year you can qualify for night driving with 20/40 through the bioptic and a night skills test.

This page explains Virginia’s licensing rule. Whether a bioptic suits your vision is a question for a low vision optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Virginia bioptic requirements

Requirement	§ 46.2-312
Acuity without the bioptic (carrier lenses)	At least 20/200 in one or both eyes
Horizontal field	At least 70 degrees, with or without carrier lenses. With vision in one eye only: at least 40 degrees temporal and 30 degrees nasal
Acuity through the bioptic	At least 20/70 in one or both eyes, without field expanders
Eye report	From an ophthalmologist or optometrist on a DMV form, evaluated by the Medical Advisory Board
Everything else	You must meet all other Virginia licensing requirements

Can you get a learner’s permit with a bioptic?

Yes. Under subsection B, bioptic applicants can get a learner’s permit under § 46.2-335 if they meet the requirements above, except the part of the examination that involves actually driving a vehicle. You take the road test after practising on the permit. The general permit steps are in Virginia DMV knowledge exam and learner’s permit.

Restrictions on a Virginia bioptic license

• Daylight only: from half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before sunset.
• No endorsements: bioptic drivers are not eligible for the endorsements in § 46.2-328.

Teen drivers also follow Virginia’s provisional license limits; see Virginia provisional license rules for teen drivers.

Night driving after one year

You can be licensed for night driving if you:

1. have at least 20/40 in one or both eyes through the bioptic, without field expanders
2. have held the daylight bioptic license for at least one year
3. pass a skills test taken at night

Step by step

1. See a low vision eye doctor and get your bioptic prescribed.
2. Have the ophthalmologist or optometrist complete the DMV’s eye report form.
3. The Medical Advisory Board reviews it.
4. If approved, take the knowledge test for your learner’s permit.
5. Practise and complete driver education as any Virginia learner does; see Virginia 45 hour driving log and driver education.
6. Take the road skills test; see Virginia road skills test.

Before you start, check Virginia DMV’s current bioptic forms, any training it recommends, and the fees.

How Virginia compares

Virginia’s 20/70 telescope line is less strict than Tennessee’s 20/60, and it sets a separate field rule for drivers with sight in one eye. Compare in Bioptic driving laws by state, North Carolina bioptic driving rules and Driver’s license vision rules in the South. The full Virginia process is in Learning to drive in Virginia.

Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free US letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen only, not an eye test, and it cannot assess bioptic vision.

Back to the hub: Driving with a medical condition or disability in the US.

Sources

• Commonwealth of Virginia, Code of Virginia § 46.2-312 (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Photo: Bdl2001, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Virginia driver privilege card lets Virginia residents who can’t prove legal presence in the US drive legally, with the same driving privileges as a regular license. To qualify you must have reported Virginia income, or been claimed as a dependent, on a Virginia tax return filed in the past 12 months. This guide covers eligibility, the documents DMV asks for, the tests (no waivers), the $50 fee and what the card can’t be used for, as of November 2026.

Key facts

• Legal basis: Code of Virginia section 46.2-328.3, last amended in 2026.
• Tax rule: income and deductions from Virginia sources, or dependent status, on a Virginia individual income tax return filed in the preceding 12 months.
• Insurance rule: you must not be in violation of Virginia’s vehicle insurance requirements.
• No proof of legal presence is required.
• No test waivers: applicants can’t be excused from any part of the driver exam, so first-time applicants take the DMV road skills test.
• Fee: $50 for an original card and $50 to reissue or renew it. No fee for homeless youth.
• Looks like a standard license on the front, but it is not a REAL ID.

Who is eligible for a Virginia driver privilege card?

Under section 46.2-328.3, DMV may issue a driver privilege card or permit to someone who doesn’t meet the legal presence requirements for a regular license if DMV finds that the applicant:

1. reported income and deductions from Virginia sources, or was claimed as a dependent, on a Virginia individual income tax return filed with the Commonwealth in the preceding 12 months, and
2. is not in violation of Virginia’s insurance requirements.

DMV’s own application guidance (form DMV 309) adds that applicants are non-US citizens who live in Virginia, must not have a current suspension or revocation in any state, and must be at least 16 years and 3 months old for a driver privilege card. The law also provides a driver privilege permit, which works like a learner’s permit.

Documents to bring

DMV says all documents must be originals and are subject to verification. Its guidance lists:

What you prove	How many
Identity	Two proofs from DMV’s list of acceptable documents
Virginia residency	Two proofs
Social Security number or ITIN	One
Virginia tax filing	Documentation of a Virginia return filed in the past 12 months showing Virginia-source income, or that you were claimed as a dependent

The exact accepted documents are on DMV’s driver privilege card pages and its acceptable documents list. Check them before your visit, as the list can change.

Teens

Under-18 applicants go through Virginia’s normal teen route: learner’s permit, driver education and the provisional license limits, because the card carries the same rules as a regular license. See Virginia provisional license rules.

Tests for a Virginia driver privilege card

Section 46.2-328.3 says applicants are not eligible for a waiver of any part of the driver examination in section 46.2-325. In practice:

• Vision screening
• Knowledge exam: see the Virginia DMV knowledge exam guide.
• Road skills test at DMV: DMV says privilege card applicants must complete a road skills test administered by DMV. The driver education road test waiver that many Virginia teens use doesn’t apply. See the Virginia road skills test and driver ed waiver.

Because the no-waiver rule covers every part of the exam, expect to take all the tests even if you have driven elsewhere. Confirm with DMV if you hold a license from another state.

Cost and how long it lasts

• $50 for an original driver privilege card or permit (as of November 2026).
• $50 to reissue or renew. You don’t have to re-prove the tax and insurance conditions for a reissued, renewed or duplicate card.
• No fee for homeless youth as defined in Virginia law.
• Validity: the same period as a regular license (Virginia licenses run for no more than eight years) or learner’s permit.
• Renewal: DMV says cards issued before July 1, 2026 must be renewed in person, with a new photo and vision screening if applicable. If your card expires before you renew, you must apply again as an original applicant.

What the driver privilege card can and can’t be used for

• Can: drive legally in Virginia with the same privileges and rules as a regular license or permit, including points, suspensions and teen restrictions.
• Can’t: be used as a REAL ID to board domestic flights or enter secure federal facilities. Use a passport.
• Check before leaving Virginia: some states, such as Florida, treat licenses issued without proof of lawful presence as invalid.
• Separate ID option: DMV also offers an identification privilege card for non-drivers.

How Virginia protects your information

Section 46.2-328.3 makes information collected only for the privilege card privileged. DMV may not release your proof documents, the record of which documents you used, or your application, except to you, a parent of a minor, a guardian, your authorized representative, or under a court order. The amount you paid is also privileged. The law does let DMV release other privilege card information to federal, state or local government bodies, law enforcement, prosecutors and courts when they need it for official functions and supply your name and identifying details.

Common questions

Can I get a Virginia driver privilege card without filing taxes?

Not for an original card. You must have reported Virginia-source income, or been claimed as a dependent, on a Virginia return filed in the preceding 12 months. That proof isn’t needed again for renewals.

Does the card look different from a regular license?

The law says the front must be identical in appearance to a Virginia license that is not a REAL ID.

Can a driver privilege card holder skip the road test after driver ed?

No. Privilege card applicants can’t get any exam waiver, so they take the road skills test at DMV.

I have lawful status but no SSN. Is this the right card?

The card is for people who don’t meet the legal presence requirements for a regular license. If you can prove lawful presence, ask DMV about a standard or REAL ID license first. Students on visas: see getting a US license on a student visa.

What if my card expired before I renewed it?

DMV says you are no longer eligible to renew and must apply for an original driver privilege card, which means meeting the tax and other original requirements again.

Is the card valid in other states?

Virginia can’t decide that. Most states recognize valid out-of-state licenses, but some, including Florida, reject cards issued without proof of lawful presence. Overview: driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status.

Back to the full route: learning to drive in Virginia.

Sources

• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia section 46.2-328.3: Driver privilege cards and permits” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia General Assembly, “Code of Virginia section 46.2-330: Expiration and renewal of licenses” (law.lis.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver Privilege Card” and “Renew Your Driver Privilege Card” (dmv.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driver Privilege Card application information (DMV 309)” and “FAQs for Schools Training Driver Privilege Card Applicants” (dmv.virginia.gov)
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Acceptable Documents (DMV 39)” (dmv.virginia.gov)
• Florida Legislature, “Florida Statutes s. 322.033, Invalid out-of-state driver licenses” (leg.state.fl.us)