Driving Tests

Moving to Virginia: How to Get Your Driver's License in 60 Days

informational·how to guide·Published August 11, 2026

How long can you drive on your old license after you move to Virginia?

You have 60 days after you move to Virginia to get a Virginia driver's license. If you hold a commercial driver's license (CDL), you have 30 days. If you are 18 or older and your license from another state is not expired for more than one year, you skip the knowledge and road tests: bring your documents, pass a vision screening and pay $32 for a standard eight-year license.

Where the Virginia new-resident facts come from

The 60-day and 30-day limits, the exemptions and the document rules come from the Virginia DMV page on driver's license eligibility. The application steps, the fee and the vision screening come from the DMV page on how to apply for a driver's license. The rules for drivers under 18 come from the DMV driver education requirements. The DMV pages for new residents, REAL ID and license exchange, and Code of Virginia 46.2-308 and 46.2-324.1, back the rest. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.virginia.gov) before you drive.

The 60-day rule for new Virginia residents

The 60 days start when you move to Virginia. Code of Virginia 46.2-308 lets a new resident over 16 years and 3 months old who holds a license from another state or country drive without a Virginia license for the first 60 days of residency. Drivers with a Department of Defense military license for privately owned vehicles get the same 60 days. A license from outside the U.S. has its own DMV process: see the guide to a Virginia foreign driver's license exchange.

Which tests do you take when you move to Virginia?

You are 18 or older, and your license from another U.S. state is not expired for more than one year

You do not take driver training, the two-part knowledge exam or the road skills test. You must pass a vision screening at the DMV customer service center.

You are under 18

Your driver education decides the next step: an exchange, a six-month temporary license or a permit. See the section for drivers under 18 below.

You never held a license anywhere, and you are 21 or older

Hold a learner's permit for at least 60 days, or finish a state-approved driver education program while you hold the permit. This rule is the same now and from January 1, 2027.

You never held a license anywhere, and you are at least 18 and less than 21

Now, you hold a permit for at least 60 days or finish driver education. From January 1, 2027, Code 46.2-324.1 requires both: driver education and a permit held for at least 90 days. See the 2027 Virginia driver education rules.

How to get a Virginia driver's license step by step

1
Check your age and license
DMV lists three steps: driver training, documents and fee, and tests. If you are 18 or older and your license from another state is not expired for more than one year, you only complete the documents and fee step, plus the vision screening.
2
Start your application online
Complete the Driver's License Application online or on paper. If you exchange an out-of-state license or want a REAL ID, start the application online before your visit.
3
Gather your original documents
Use the list in the next section. Bring originals, not copies.
4
Visit a DMV customer service center
You can apply at any DMV customer service center. Pay the license fee and take the vision screening there. If you are not sure which tests you need, DMV tells you at the visit.

What to bring to the DMV customer service center

One proof of identity
One proof of legal presence
Two proofs of Virginia residency
One proof of your Social Security number (SSN), if you have been issued one. You do not need it if you know the number and DMV can verify it electronically.
Your current driver's license, if you exchange a license from another U.S. state, territory or jurisdiction
Proof of name change, if your name appears differently on your proof documents
Under 18: your parent or legal guardian signs your application, or you bring a court order that shows you are an emancipated minor
The license fee

Document rules that can stop your visit

Bring original documents only. DMV checks each one, and it does not take photocopies or temporary documents. DMV can ask for more documents, or change the list of accepted documents, without notice, so check the current list before you go. If you do not want your home address on your license, you can also give DMV a different mailing address. A PO box is fine.

Virginia driver's license cost for new residents

Virginia driver's license cost for new residents
Item	Cost
Standard eight-year driver's license	$32
REAL ID	$10, added to the cost of the license

How long a Virginia license lasts, and when to get a REAL ID

A Virginia driver's license is normally valid for up to eight years and expires on your birthday. To board a domestic flight or enter most secure federal facilities, you need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card, or another federally approved ID. Your first Virginia license visit is a good time to get a REAL ID, because you already bring all the necessary documents.

Moving to Virginia under 18: exchange, temporary license or permit

You are at least 16 years and 3 months old, under 18, and hold a valid license, and you finished driver education in another state

DMV may exchange your license for a Virginia license if the program had at least 30 classroom hours and six in-car hours. You also need all the documents for the license.

You hold a current out-of-state license, but you have no proof of driver education

DMV may issue a Virginia six-month temporary license. It gives you time to get the proof or to finish a state-approved driver education program.

You hold a valid learner's permit from another U.S. state or territory

The time you held it counts toward the Virginia minimum: nine months for drivers under 18, now and from January 1, 2027. If you finished driver education in the other state while you held that permit, the program must show at least 30 classroom hours and six in-car hours.

Who can drive in Virginia without a Virginia license

Who can drive in Virginia without a Virginia license
Who you are	What the DMV rule says
Active-duty military stationed in Virginia	You, your spouse and dependent children 16 years and 3 months old or older may drive with a valid license from your home state or country.
Full-time student in an accredited Virginia school, not employed	You may drive with a valid out-of-state or foreign license and valid out-of-state plates.
Full-time student who is employed	You count as a Virginia resident for motor vehicle laws. Apply for a Virginia license and register your vehicle in Virginia.
Non-resident living in Virginia for a short time	You may drive with your home license and plates for no more than six months. If you become gainfully employed, you need a Virginia license.

Other first steps after you move

Title your vehicle within 30 days of moving to Virginia, and register it at any DMV customer service center within 30 days. To check the deadline rule, try our free question on the new-resident license deadline.

Key takeaways

You have 60 days after you move to Virginia to get a Virginia license. CDL holders have 30 days.
At 18 or older, with a license from another state that is not expired for more than one year, you bring documents, pass a vision screening and pay $32 for an eight-year license.
Bring proof of identity, proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency, SSN proof and your current license.
Under 18: an exchange needs driver education with 30 classroom and six in-car hours. Without proof, DMV may issue a six-month temporary license.
Next step: practice on the free Virginia passenger practice test.

Moving to Virginia: common license questions

How long do I have to switch my CDL to Virginia?

You must get a Virginia CDL within 30 days of your move, not 60. You may hold either a driver's license or a CDL, but not both. For a CDL, proof of your Social Security number is required, so bring it with your other documents.

Does the 2027 driver's ed rule apply if I already have a license from another state?

No. From January 1, 2027, applicants at least 18 and less than 21 years old need driver education and a permit held for at least 90 days. Code 46.2-324.1 applies this rule only to people who never held a driver's license from Virginia, another state or territory, or a foreign country. It does not cover the exchange of a license from another state.

What if my name is different on my documents?

Your name must appear the same on all proof documents. If it appears differently, bring proof of name change, and expect DMV to ask for more documents. Use your full legal name on every document, because DMV does not accept nicknames or abbreviations.

Where will DMV send my new Virginia license?

DMV securely mails your new license to the address that it has on file for you. If you move again, notify DMV right away, because the U.S. Postal Service does not forward driver's licenses to a new address.