Getting your Virginia learner permit

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check whether you are old enough to apply.
• You can list what to bring and what the permit costs.
• You can explain the school standing or parent authorization rule for students.
• You can name who may supervise you and where they must sit.
• You can describe the passenger and night limits on a permit.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be a Virginia resident over 15 years and 6 months old.
• The learner's permit fee is $3, and there is no fee for homeless youth.
• You must pass the knowledge exam and a vision screening.
• Students of compulsory school age need good academic standing or written authorization from a parent or guardian on a DMV form.
• A supervisor must be a licensed driver 21 or older, a parent or guardian, or a sibling, half-sibling or step-sibling aged 18 or older.
• Permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under 21 (family and household members excepted) and may not drive between midnight and 4 a.m.
• Breaking the permit rules is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Before you go to DMV

Married or court-emancipated minors do not need the school or parent authorization.

• Proof of identity, Virginia residency and your Social Security number. DMV publishes the accepted documents, so check the current list before your visit.
• If you want a REAL ID-compliant card later, ask which extra documents DMV needs.
• For students: proof of good academic standing, or a parent or guardian's signed authorization on the DMV form.
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need them to see clearly, for the vision screening.
• The $3 permit fee.

Who can sit beside you

Your supervisor must be alert, able to help, sitting in the front passenger seat, and legally allowed to drive at that time. They can be a licensed driver aged 21 or older, your parent or legal guardian, or a brother, sister, half-sibling or step-sibling who is 18 or older and licensed.

A friend who is 19 cannot supervise you, even with a full license. Carry your permit every time you drive.

Permit rules at a glance

• No more than one passenger under 21, unless they are family or household members or you are in an approved driver education lesson.
• No driving between midnight and 4 a.m.
• A car learner's permit stays valid until you get a license or no longer qualify. Motorcycle permits last 12 months.
• If you are under 18, you must hold it at least nine months before getting a license.

Other routes

Virginia also issues a driver privilege card to some residents who cannot show legal presence. It has its own document rules and fees, covered in the site's guide to the Virginia driver privilege card. Adults applying for a first license should also read the guide to Virginia license rules for new adult drivers.

Common mistakes

• Arriving without the full set of identity and residency documents. Check DMV's current list first.
• Forgetting the school standing proof or parent authorization form if you are still of school age.
• Practicing with an 18-year-old friend. Only siblings may supervise at 18; anyone else must be 21 or older.
• Giving several classmates a ride. The one-passenger-under-21 limit already applies on a permit.

Test yourself: Getting your Virginia learner permit

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Virginia Permit Test and Learner’s Permit
• Virginia Driver Privilege Card
• Virginia Driver’s License Over 18