Driving Tests

How to Get a Learner's Permit in Virginia (2026 Steps and Age)

informational·how to guide·Published September 7, 2026

How old must you be to get a learner's permit in Virginia, and what are the steps?

You must be at least 15 years and 6 months old. You apply in two steps, both in person at any Virginia DMV customer service center: first you submit your documents and fees, then you take a vision screening and pass a two-part knowledge exam. The permit fee is $3 plus the yearly cost of a driver's license, and DMV mails the permit to you.

Where the Virginia learner's permit facts come from

The age, the steps, the documents, the validity periods and the license rules come from the Virginia DMV page on how to apply for a learner's permit. The 2027 change comes from the DMV FAQ on the revised holding period and driver education rules and Code of Virginia 46.2-324.1. The fees come from the DMV fee chart (DMV 201) and the DMV driver's license page. The passenger, curfew and academic standing rules come from Code of Virginia 46.2-335, and the vision rules and walk-in visits from the DMV vision screening and knowledge exam pages. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.virginia.gov) before you drive.

How to apply for a Virginia learner's permit

1
Study the Virginia Driver's Manual
Read the manual first. Then take the sample knowledge exam online. This is the best way to prepare for the knowledge exam.
2
Plan your DMV visit
Schedule an appointment online at any DMV customer service center, or come during office hours without one. Both steps happen in person at the same visit.
3
Step 1: submit documents and fees
Bring the documents in the list below and pay the permit fee.
4
Step 2: take the tests
At the same visit, you take a vision screening and pass a two-part knowledge exam. Our guide to the Virginia knowledge exam explains both parts.
5
Wait for the permit in the mail
DMV mails the learner's permit to the address in its records. If you have moved, tell DMV right away, because the U.S. Postal Service will not forward learner's permits.

What to bring to the DMV for a Virginia learner's permit

A completed Application for a Virginia Driver's License.
One proof of identity and one proof of legal presence.
Two proofs of Virginia residency.
Proof of your Social Security number, if you have been issued one. If you know your number, DMV can verify it electronically.
Original documents only. Copies are not accepted.
DMV may change which documents it accepts without prior notice, so check the DMV list of acceptable documents before you go.

Do you need a parent's signature for a Virginia permit?

You are under 18

Your parent or legal guardian must give written consent by signing your application.

You are under 18 and an emancipated minor

A court order that shows you are emancipated is accepted in place of written consent.

You are of school age and not in good academic standing

Virginia law lets DMV issue the permit only if a parent or guardian who has custody of you gives written authorization on a DMV form. A married or emancipated minor does not need this.

You are 18 or older

The parent consent rule does not apply. You apply with your own documents.

What a Virginia learner's permit costs

What a Virginia learner's permit costs
Item	Fee in U.S. dollars, as of 2026
Learner's permit	$3, plus the yearly cost of a driver's license
Yearly cost of a driver's license	$4 per year
Standard eight-year driver's license	$32
REAL ID (optional)	$10 one time, plus the cost of the permit or license
Replacement learner's permit	$2
Learner's permit for homeless youth	No $3 permit fee

How long is a Virginia learner's permit valid?

Your permit stays valid until you get your driver's license or no longer qualify for a permit. If you are temporarily authorized to be in the U.S. and meet the federal REAL ID requirements, you can choose a REAL ID compliant permit. It lasts for your authorized stay, or one year if your stay has no definite end date, and you cannot get one if your stay ends less than 30 days after you apply. If you choose a permit that is not REAL ID compliant instead, it expires on your birthday and lasts up to 8 years, or 5 years at age 75 or older.

Who must sit beside you, and who can ride along?

A learner's permit lets you drive only when a licensed driver sits beside you. That driver must be at least 21, or at least 18 if he or she is your legal guardian, brother or sister. Virginia law also limits you to one passenger under 21, not counting family and household members, and you may not drive between midnight and 4 a.m. A violation of the permit law is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Our guide to Virginia learner's permit rules explains each rule and its exceptions.

What comes next: the license rules now and from January 1, 2027

What comes next: the license rules now and from January 1, 2027
Your age when you get your license	Before January 1, 2027	On or after January 1, 2027
Under 18	Driver education, a permit held at least 9 months, and 45 hours of driving (15 after sunset) certified by a parent or guardian	Same rule
At least 18 and under 21, first license	A permit held at least 60 days, or driver education while you hold the permit	A permit held at least 90 days, and driver education while you hold the permit
21 or older, first license	A permit held at least 60 days, or driver education while you hold the permit	Same rule

What the January 1, 2027 change means for you

The change comes from House Bill 1224 and starts on January 1, 2027. The rule that applies depends on the date you get your license. So if you are 18 to 20 and expect to get your license in 2027, plan for 90 days with the permit and driver education. "First license" means that you have never held a license from any state, U.S. territory or foreign country. When you finish driver education, the driver training school sends the completion certificate to DMV. DMV does not accept the certificate from you directly.

Can you drive alone at 16 years 3 months with a DTS B?

Yes, if you meet all three conditions. You hold a valid Virginia Driver Training Certificate (DTS B), signed by a parent or legal guardian, which shows you finished the classroom and behind-the-wheel parts of driver education. Your instructor issues it when you complete the course. You are at least 16 years 3 months old. And you have held your permit for nine months. With your permit, the DTS B or TDL-180 is then a valid driver's license for 180 days from the eligibility date on the certificate, or until you turn 18.

Key takeaways

You can apply at 15 years and 6 months. Both steps happen in person at a DMV customer service center, and DMV mails the permit to you.
Step 1 is documents and fees: $3 plus the yearly cost of a driver's license. Step 2 is a vision screening and a two-part knowledge exam.
If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs your application.
Under 18, you need driver education, 9 months with the permit and 45 hours of driving. At 18 or older, you need 60 days or driver education before January 1, 2027; from that date, ages 18 to 20 need 90 days and driver education.
Next step: practice on the free Virginia passenger practice test.

Virginia learner's permit: common questions

Can I get my learner's permit before I turn 15 and a half in Virginia?

No. DMV makes no exceptions to the age rules. You must be at least 15 years and 6 months old to apply for a learner's permit, and at least 16 years and 3 months old to get a driver's license. You can study the Virginia Driver's Manual before your birthday, so that you are ready for the knowledge exam at your first visit.

What vision do I need to pass the DMV vision screening?

For a license without restrictions, you need 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes, with or without glasses, and 110 degrees or better of horizontal vision. If you fail the screening, DMV asks you to see an eye care professional for a vision exam. If you need glasses or contact lenses to pass, you must wear them when you drive.

Do adults need a learner's permit in Virginia?

Yes, if you have never held a driver's license from any state, U.S. territory or foreign country. At 21 or older, you hold the permit for at least 60 days or finish driver education while you hold it. Our free question about an adult who skips driver education uses this rule. At 18 to 20, the same choice applies until December 31, 2026; from January 1, 2027, you need 90 days and driver education.

Can I add a medical condition to my learner's permit?

Yes. You can ask DMV to place an indicator on your permit that tells law enforcement about a condition or impairment. If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian can make the request. You can also choose to show your blood type on the permit.