Getting a Virginia Driver's License

A Virginia Class D driver's license is the standard non-commercial credential. It runs on an 8-year cycle, one of the longer renewal periods in the country. Adults applying for the first time take a knowledge test and a road skills test; transfers from another state are usually able to skip the road skills exam if they hold an unexpired out-of-state license.

Eligibility

To apply for an unrestricted Virginia license you must be at least 18 years old, or 17 with a clean one-year provisional record after holding a Virginia provisional license. Adult applicants who have never been licensed must first get a Virginia learner's permit and hold it for 60 days before taking the road test. Adults transferring an out-of-state license normally surrender it at the customer service center and walk out with a Virginia credential the same day.

Documents required

Virginia uses a two proofs of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency, and one proof of Social Security number framework. Bring originals — copies and digital images are not accepted. Common documents:

• Identity and legal presence: U.S. passport, certified U.S. birth certificate, permanent resident card, or unexpired employment authorization document.
• Social Security number: Social Security card, W-2, SSA-1099, or a recent pay stub showing the full SSN.
• Virginia residency: utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, bank statement, voter registration card, or DD 214 — two from different sources, both showing the same Virginia address dated within 60 days.
• A completed DL 1P application.

Applicants who want a federally compliant REAL ID license (marked with a star) must satisfy the same checklist; the everyday Virginia license is also available without the star but cannot be used to board a domestic flight after the federal enforcement date.

Fees

The Virginia driver's license issuance fee is $32 for an 8-year credential ($4 per year), plus a one-time $10 surcharge for a REAL ID. Knowledge and skills test fees are bundled into the issuance cost. A second or subsequent road test attempt may be charged separately at some offices.

Knowledge test

The Virginia knowledge exam combines a 10-question road sign segment and a 25-question general knowledge segment. You must pass both segments, missing no more than 2 of 10 on signs and no more than 5 of 25 on general knowledge. Topics emphasized in Virginia: hands-free phone use under §46.2-818.2, "move over" requirements for emergency and disabled vehicles, school bus passing rules including the dual-direction rule on undivided highways, and reckless driving thresholds.

Road skills test

Virginia's behind-the-wheel exam runs about 15-20 minutes on streets near the customer service center. Examiners score:

• Pre-drive vehicle inspection (lights, brakes, tires, signals, mirrors).
• Smooth lane changes with proper signaling and head checks.
• Right and left turns from the correct lane to the correct lane.
• Backing up in a straight line for 50 feet without crossing the center.
• Stopping smoothly at marked stops and yielding at unmarked intersections.
• Speed control and following distance in traffic.

The most common reasons applicants fail in Virginia: rolling stops at stop signs, drifting between lanes, and failing to scan or check mirrors before lane changes.

Out-of-state transfers

Drivers moving to Virginia must convert their out-of-state license within 60 days of establishing residency. If the out-of-state license is unexpired, the customer service center generally waives both the knowledge and road tests. If the license has been expired more than one year, both tests are required. License holders surrendering a CDL keep their CDL endorsement only if they pass Virginia's CDL knowledge tests within 30 days.

License delivery

You'll receive a temporary paper license at the customer service center that's valid for 30 days. The permanent card is mailed in 7-10 business days. If the card hasn't arrived in 15 business days, contact the DMV to confirm the address on file matches the postal carrier's database — about one in 30 mailings is delayed by a small address mismatch. Lost cards can be replaced online for $20; see also the Virginia license renewal guide.