Virginia ties your licensing path to age and, from January 1, 2027, to a new set of adult permit-holding rules. Teens finish a state-approved driver education program and a long permit period. Adults currently have a shorter option, which is about to change.
Pick the situation that matches yours
The permit age is 15 years and 6 months, with no exceptions made by the DMV.
Your steps
- Complete the Application for a Virginia Driver's License (Form DL 1P) and have a parent or legal guardian sign it.
- Bring original documents: one proof of identity, one of legal presence, two of Virginia residency, and Social Security proof if issued.
- Pay the $3 learner's permit fee at the DMV customer service center.
- Take the vision screening and the two-part knowledge exam.
- Drive only with a supervisor at least 21 (or 18 if they are your guardian or sibling) beside you, and carry no more than one passenger under 18.
- Sign up for driver education, because the classroom portion is open at 15½ without a permit while the behind-the-wheel part needs one.
What to bring
- Form DL 1P signed by a parent or guardian
- One proof of identity and one proof of legal presence
- Two proofs of Virginia residency
- Proof of Social Security number, if issued
- Original documents, with your full legal name
Adult rules shift on January 1, 2027, so the length of your permit period depends on when you apply.
Your steps
- Apply for a learner's permit using the same documents and tests as a teen, without the parent signature.
- Through December 31, 2026, either finish a state-approved driver education program or hold the permit for 60 days.
- From January 1, 2027, drivers 21 and older hold the permit for 60 days or finish an approved program.
- From January 1, 2027, drivers 18 to 20 must hold the permit for 90 days and also complete an approved driver education program.
- Pass the knowledge exam and, if you skipped driver education, the DMV road skills test.
- Ask the driving school to send your completion certificate to DMV, since DMV will not accept it from you directly starting in 2027.
What to bring
- One proof of identity and one proof of legal presence
- Two proofs of Virginia residency
- Proof of Social Security number, if issued
- Driver education completion certificate, if applicable
Under 18, the permit stage is the longest part of the process, and juvenile restrictions apply afterward.
Your steps
- Hold your permit for at least nine months and complete a state-approved driver education program.
- Have a parent or guardian certify on the completion certificate that you drove at least 45 hours, with 15 of them after sunset.
- Take the road skills test through your driver education program; the DMV offers appointments or walk-ins, and you must supply a vehicle with a valid inspection sticker, plates, registration and working safety equipment.
- If you fail once or twice, wait two days to retest; after three failures a driver education component is required before a fourth attempt.
- Once you are 16 years and 3 months old with the signed Driver Training Certificate, you may drive without a licensed supervisor.
- As a driver under 18, avoid driving between midnight and 4 a.m. and watch passenger limits, because violations can suspend your license.
What to bring
- Learner's permit
- Proof of a state-approved driver education class, or an In-Car Maneuvers Observation Record (CSMA-19)
- A vehicle with a valid safety inspection sticker, plates and registration
New residents have 60 days, and the paperwork step may be enough if the license is current.
Your steps
- Get a Virginia license within 60 days of moving here (30 days for a commercial license).
- Bring your current out-of-state license along with original documents showing identity, legal presence, and two proofs of Virginia residency.
- Provide Social Security proof if one was issued, and name-change paperwork if your names differ.
- If your out-of-state license expired no more than one year ago, you only complete the document and fee step with no training or tests.
- Pay the $32 fee for a standard eight-year license.
- Check whether you qualify to keep your home-state license, as active-duty military and their families, and non-working full-time students, may do.
What to bring
- Your current out-of-state license
- One proof of identity and one proof of legal presence
- Two proofs of Virginia residency
- Proof of Social Security number, if issued
- Proof of name change, if names differ
Documents, costs and tips
Identity and residency documents
- Identity: one proof, in original form.
- Legal presence: one proof, in original form.
- Residency: two proofs of Virginia residency.
- Social Security number: proof if one was issued, though DMV can verify it electronically if you know the number.
- Names must match exactly with no nicknames or abbreviations, and photocopies and temporary documents are not accepted.
Fees we could confirm
- Learner's permit: $3
- Standard eight-year driver's license: $32
Virginia tips
- Do the classroom part early: it is open at 15½ and does not require a permit.
- Ask your driving school when it will submit your certificate, because starting in 2027 only the school can send it to DMV.
- Arrive for walk-in road tests by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays or 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
- If you use an interpreter on the road test, the person must be 18 or older with an unexpired U.S. license, and the back seat must have a safety belt.
Common questions
What is the minimum age for a Virginia learner's permit?
15 years and 6 months, with no exceptions.
How long must a teen hold the permit?
Nine months, plus finishing driver education and logging 45 hours with 15 after sunset.
How many passengers can a permit holder carry?
No more than one passenger under 18.
Do the adult rules change soon?
Yes. On January 1, 2027, drivers 18 to 20 must hold a permit 90 days and finish an approved program, while drivers 21 and older hold it 60 days or finish the program.
Check the official Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pages (https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/) before you go, since fees, forms and rules change.