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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
- Get a learner’s permit. Pass the two-part knowledge exam and vision screening. See the Virginia permit test guide.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)