West Virginia Level 2 Intermediate License

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

The Level 2 Intermediate License is the second stage of West Virginia's Graduated Driver License program. It lets a 16-year-old drive solo for the first time, but with passenger and nighttime restrictions that lift only after 12 months of clean driving and graduation to Level 3 at age 17.

Eligibility

To upgrade from a Level 1 Instruction Permit to a Level 2 Intermediate License, the applicant must:

Be at least 16 years old.
Have held a Level 1 permit for at least 180 days (6 months).
Have completed an approved West Virginia driver education program (under-18 applicants).
Have completed at least 50 hours of parent-certified supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.
Have a parent or legal guardian sign the application certifying the supervised hours.
Pass the West Virginia road test.
Have no traffic-violation convictions during the Level 1 permit period (a clean Level 1 record).

Passenger restriction

For the first 6 months after the Level 2 license is issued, the licensee may not transport any passenger under age 20 who is not an immediate family member, unless a licensed driver age 21 or older is in the front passenger seat.

For the second 6-month period (months 7-12), the licensee may transport up to three passengers under age 20 who are not immediate family members.

Nighttime curfew

A Level 2 Intermediate licensee may not drive between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless:

Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Driving to or from work, with documentation from the employer.
Driving to or from a school-sponsored event, with documentation from the school.
Driving for an emergency response with parental permission.

The curfew lifts when the licensee graduates to Level 3 at age 17 with a clean record.

Cell phone and electronics

West Virginia prohibits all use of handheld electronic devices behind the wheel for any driver, but the rule is enforced more strictly for Level 2 licensees: any use, including a hands-free call, is a violation. Texting while driving is a primary offense for any West Virginia driver.

Seat belts and passengers

Every occupant of a Level 2 licensee's vehicle must wear a seat belt or an age-appropriate child restraint. The Level 2 licensee is responsible for confirming compliance before the vehicle moves. A seat-belt violation under a Level 2 license is a moving violation that resets the clean-record clock toward Level 3.

Graduation to Level 3

The Level 2 license automatically becomes a Level 3 Full License when:

The licensee turns 17 years old.
The licensee has held the Level 2 license for at least 12 months.
The licensee has had no moving-violation convictions during the Level 2 period.
The licensee has completed any required driver-improvement program if a violation occurred.

If the licensee has had a moving violation during the Level 2 period, the 12-month clean-record clock restarts from the most recent conviction. The Level 3 graduation is automatic — no new application or test is required, although the licensee should visit a regional WV DMV office to update the card if the photo is significantly out of date.

Level 2 fees and the road test

The Level 2 license application is processed at any WV DMV regional office. The applicant must bring the parent-certified driving log, proof of driver education completion, and the standard REAL ID document checklist (see driver license for the full list). The first-time license fee is approximately $28.50 for the 5-year cycle. The road test is the same as for an adult applicant.

Suspension and Level 2 violations

Any conviction for a moving violation during the Level 2 period extends the period and may require completion of an approved Driver Improvement Program. A DUI conviction during the Level 2 period results in immediate revocation of the license under West Virginia DUI laws. See point system for how points are assessed against under-18 drivers.