Moving to West Virginia? Transfer Your Out-of-State License Within 30 Days
How long do you have to get a West Virginia license after you move?
You must apply for a West Virginia driver's license within 30 days after you take up residence in the state. With a valid, non-expired license from another state, you pass a vision screening, finish a brief alcohol awareness course and surrender your old license. With an expired license, you give a certified driving record or take all tests.
Where the West Virginia transfer rules come from
The 30-day rule and the surrender rule come from W. Va. Code 17B-2-1a. The West Virginia DMV out-of-state transfer page lists the transfer steps, and the DMV acceptable documents page lists the proofs you bring. The West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook and the DMV pages on REAL ID, fees, license procedures, the Problem Driver Pointer System and carrying your license add the other details. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.wv.gov) before you drive.
Who must get a West Virginia license, and when?
If you live in West Virginia and want to drive on public roads, you must have a West Virginia license, unless you are exempt. State law says every driver must apply to the Division of Motor Vehicles (WV DMV) within 30 days after taking up residence. The free practice question on the 30-day deadline for new residents tests this rule.
The 90-day limit does not extend that time. It applies to a nonresident who is at least 16 and has a valid license from another state or country: that visitor may drive for up to 90 days in a calendar year.
What you do, by situation
| Your old license | What the WV DMV requires |
|---|---|
| Valid and not expired | Pass a vision screening, complete a brief alcohol awareness course and surrender the old license. |
| Expired | Take all tests (vision, written and road skills) or give a certified driving record. |
| Not in hand | Give a certified driving record from the state that licensed you, dated no more than 30 days before your application. This record waives the testing requirement. |
| Suspended or revoked | No West Virginia license until the Problem Driver Pointer System shows a clearance. It is illegal to drive in West Virginia with a suspended or revoked license. |
| You are under 18 | Special graduated license rules apply. See the under-18 section below. |
How the transfer works
- 1Check your old license
A valid, non-expired out-of-state license is eligible for transfer.
- 2Clear old problems
Settle any pending citations and suspensions from other states before you apply, because the DMV checks your record in a national driver registry.
- 3Apply at the DMV
You can get licenses at DMV Regional Offices or Exam Centers, which work on a rotating schedule.
- 4Complete the transfer steps
Pass the vision screening, finish the brief alcohol awareness course and surrender your old license.
- 5Leave with a temporary license
If you apply for a REAL ID card, the DMV issues a temporary license when it accepts your application.
Why you must surrender the old license
The DMV takes your old license before it issues the West Virginia license. For a license from a state with a reciprocal driver's license agreement, the law also accepts a signed affidavit that you surrendered all your valid licenses. It is unlawful to hold more than one valid driver's license at any time. The DMV then tells your old state that you are licensed in West Virginia.
The normal rules for issuing, fees, expiration, renewal and driver examination also apply to a transfer. The DMV may set the license class, endorsements or restrictions based on your prior licensing status, your age and the licensing system of your old state.
What changes if I am under 18?
If you are under 18 and do not hold a graduated license equal to or better than the West Virginia Level 2 intermediate license, or your old state had no graduated program, you take the road skills test and the written examination as if you never held a license. With a current driving record from your old state, the time you held your old license counts toward the Level 1 instruction permit time period. The old record also becomes part of your West Virginia driving record once the DMV issues a graduated license.
Documents to bring
- A transfer applicant must present all documents that a first-time applicant needs. The DMV counts an out-of-state transfer as a first-time application.
- For a REAL ID card: one proof of identity, one proof of Social Security number, two proofs of West Virginia residency and proof of a name change if your name changed. A Social Security card is one accepted proof of the number.
- Your current out-of-state license, or a current certified driving record dated 30 days or less before your application.
- Residency proofs must show your name and physical address. A document with a PO Box is not accepted, a recurring document must be 60 days old or less, and you may not use two documents from the same company. A West Virginia utility bill, a residential rental or lease agreement and a West Virginia bank statement are examples.
- The guide to the West Virginia DMV documents for a first license has more on the proofs.
Fees for a transferred license
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Class E license | $5.00 per year |
| REAL ID-compliant license | $10.00 extra |
| Motorcycle endorsement transfer | $1.00 per year, for the life of the license |
How long does the new license last?
Under the Drive for Five program, every license expires in a year in which your age is divisible by five, such as 25, 30 or 35. To phase you in, your first West Virginia license runs from three to seven years, depending on your age. The fee is $5.00 for each year. For example, a driver who is 21 at renewal pays $20.00 ($5.00 x 4), because the license next expires on the 25th birthday.
Carry your license and learn West Virginia rules
You must carry your license when you drive. If you are stopped, you must show it on demand to a law enforcement officer, magistrate or DMV official. Violation of this requirement is a misdemeanor.
A new state also means new road rules, so practice them. The question on who must hold a West Virginia license is a good start. Our practice tests and question pages are free and in English only. The guide to driving on a foreign license in West Virginia covers visitors from other countries.
Key takeaways
- Apply for a West Virginia license within 30 days after you take up residence. The 90-day limit is for nonresident visitors only.
- A valid, non-expired license transfers with a vision screening, a brief alcohol awareness course and surrender of your old license.
- An expired license means a certified driving record or all tests. A suspended or revoked license blocks the transfer until the registry shows a clearance.
- Bring first-time applicant documents: identity, Social Security number and two proofs of West Virginia residency.
- Next step: practice on the free West Virginia Class E practice test.
West Virginia license transfer: common questions
Do I take the driving test when I transfer a valid license?
For a valid, non-expired license, the transfer steps are a vision screening, a brief alcohol awareness course and surrender of the old license. All tests (vision, written and road skills) apply to an expired license when you give no certified driving record. The law also applies the normal examination rules to transfers, so ask the DMV what applies to you.
What if I have unpaid tickets or a suspension in another state?
Every applicant is checked in the Problem Driver Pointer System, a national driver registry that tracks violations and suspensions from state to state. Satisfy pending citations and suspensions before you apply. If your old license is suspended or revoked, you get no West Virginia license until the registry shows a clearance, and it is illegal to drive in West Virginia on that license.
Does a college student from another state need a West Virginia license?
Not while you stay a nonresident. A nonresident who attends a West Virginia college or university and has a valid license from another state is exempt. If you take up residence in West Virginia, the 30-day rule applies to you. A student with a license from another country uses the 90-day nonresident rule.
Can I keep my motorcycle endorsement?
Yes. The DMV transfers a motorcycle endorsement for an additional $1.00 per year, for as long as the license is valid. The DMV may also set endorsements or restrictions from your prior licensing, so tell the clerk about the endorsement when you apply.
When does my REAL ID card arrive?
The DMV mails the REAL ID card to your address by USPS in 30 to 45 days. Until it arrives, you use the temporary license from your DMV visit. A REAL ID-compliant license costs $10.00 more than a standard license.
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