Virginia Driver's Permit Requirements
Everything you need to get your Virginia learner's permit — age, fees, documents for the written test, supervised-hours rules, and what the road test itself checks — summarized from the official DMV pages and linked to the source.
VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: Virginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's Permit ↗
Fees and rules change — always confirm current requirements on the official page above before you go.
The Virginia licensing timeline
Each stage below carries what DMV itself publishes, the people it applies to, the page it came from, and the date we last checked it. Where The state agency publishes no figure, the card says so instead of guessing one.
1Eligibility
Minimum permit age15½VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Virginia DMV says applicants must be at least 15 years and 6 months old
2Documents
DMV lists these for the knowledge-test visit:
- Completed Virginia driver's license application
- Parent/legal guardian consent if under 18
- One proof of identity
- One proof of legal presence
- Two proofs of Virginia residency
- Proof of Social Security number, if issued
- $3 learner's permit fee plus yearly driver-license cost
The knowledge test and the permit itself are handled in the same visit.
VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
3Required education
Virginia's own published steps name a training requirement:
- Hold the learner's permit at least 9 months if under 18 while completing driver education
VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
4Application
Learner's permit fee, plus the yearly cost of a driver license
5Knowledge test
Wait before a retakeVirginia sets the wait by age rather than a single figure: an applicant under 18 must wait a full 15 days before retaking the knowledge exam, while an applicant 18 or older may test once per day. After three failures the applicant must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved driver training program before testing again.VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — The Knowledge ExamChecked 2026-08-17Official source
10 road-sign questions, ALL of which must be correct ("All ten questions must be answered correctly") before the 30-question general-knowledge section (24 of 30 needed) is administered — stricter than New York/Georgia's at-least-N-correct rule. Combined: 40 questions, 34 needed correct (85%).
6Permit restrictions
Permit validityThe state agency does not publish a verified validity periodVirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Non-REAL ID learner's permit expires on the applicant's birthday and is valid up to 8 years (5 years if age 75 or older)
Restrictions Virginia puts on a new driver:
- Permit supervision: A licensed driver must sit beside the permit holder; driver must be 21+, or 18+ if legal guardian or sibling
- Driver education: Under-18 applicants must complete a state-approved driver education program before licensing
VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
7Supervised driving
Supervised driving for applicants under 1845 hours (15 at night)VirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Parent/guardian certifies the hours on the completion certificate for under-18 applicants. That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 18 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
8Road test
Minimum permit hold9 monthsVirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
9Full licence
Unrestricted driving age16 years 3 monthsVirginiaDMVVirginia DMV — Apply for a Learner's PermitChecked 2026-07-13Official source
Learner permit holders may drive without a licensed driver only after driver education completion, age 16 years 3 months, and 9 months permit hold
How to get your permit in Virginia
- Apply in person at a DMV customer service center with documents, fees, and parent/guardian consent if under 18
- Pass the vision screening and two-part knowledge exam
- Hold the learner's permit at least 9 months if under 18 while completing driver education
- Have a parent/guardian certify 45 supervised hours, including 15 after sunset
- Receive the driver's license after meeting the education, holding-period, and practice-hour requirements
What is different about Virginia
Rules that are set by Virginia rather than nationally, and where they depart from what most states do. Compared against DMV Prep's verified rules for all 51 jurisdictions — unverified figures are left out of both sides of every comparison.
- Minimum permit age: 15½ here. The most common minimum permit age is 15 (25 of 50 states we have verified).
- Minimum permit hold: 9 months here. The most common minimum permit hold is 6 months (33 of 46 states we have verified).
- Supervised-driving requirement: 45 hours here. The most common supervised-driving requirement is 50 hours (29 of 49 states we have verified).
- Passing score: 85% here. The most common passing score is 80% (15 of 26 states we have verified).
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a permit in Virginia?
You can get a learner's permit in Virginia at 15½. Virginia DMV says applicants must be at least 15 years and 6 months old.
How much does a Virginia permit cost?
The Virginia permit fee is $3. Learner's permit fee, plus the yearly cost of a driver license.
How long do you have to hold your permit in Virginia?
You must hold your Virginia permit for at least 9 months before the driving test.
How many practice driving hours does Virginia require?
Virginia requires 45 hours of supervised practice driving for applicants under 18, including 15 at night. That is a graduated-licensing rule — an applicant who is already 18 follows a different path, so check the official source below rather than assuming this figure is yours to meet.
Where can I practice for the Virginia permit test?
Right here — take a free Virginia practice test, review every answer, and build readiness in your browser. The free DMV Prep app adds offline study and native reminders.
