Virginia DMV Permit Test 2026

Who Can Get a Learner's Permit

To apply for a learner's permit in Virginia, you must be at least 15 years and 6 months old. There is no upper age limit — adults who have never held a license can apply through a similar process.

If you're under 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide written consent by signing your application. If you are an emancipated minor, you can submit a court order in place of parental consent.

Residency: You must be a Virginia resident. You'll need to show proof of your Virginia address at the DMV. If you're moving to Virginia from another state, you are expected to obtain a Virginia license within 60 days of establishing residency.

Driver's education: If you're under 18, you must complete a state-approved driver education program before you can get your permit. This includes classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training. If you're 18 or older, driver's ed is not required — you can hold your permit for 60 days instead.

How to Apply

You can begin your application process by visiting the Virginia DMV's learner's permit page. Virginia allows you to complete some paperwork online, but you will need to visit a DMV customer service center in person to take the knowledge exam.

Teens under 18: Before applying, you must have completed (or be enrolled in) an approved driver education program. Your driver's ed school will provide a completion certificate that you'll bring to the DMV.

Adults 18 and older: You can apply directly at the DMV without driver's ed. You'll need to hold your permit for at least 60 days (or complete an approved driver training course) before taking the road skills test.

Fees and What You Pay For

Virginia's learner's permit fee is remarkably low: just $3 for the permit itself, plus the applicable driver's license fee (approximately $4 per year for the license portion). The total cost for most applicants is under $20.

There is no separate test fee for the knowledge exam — it is included in your application. The DMV accepts cash, check, debit card, and credit card.

If you fail: There is no additional fee to retake the knowledge exam within your application. However, after three failures, you must complete the classroom portion of a state-approved driver training program before you can test again.

Documents You Need at the DMV

To apply for a Virginia learner's permit, you'll need to bring the following documents to the DMV:

Teens: If you're under 18, also bring your driver education certificate of completion and your parent/guardian consent form (signed by a parent or legal guardian).

Real ID: If you want a Real ID-compliant credential, make sure you bring the required documents. Virginia issues Real ID credentials at no additional cost — just make sure you have all the necessary identity and residency documents.

Do You Need an Appointment?

No, but it's recommended. The Virginia DMV accepts walk-ins for knowledge exams, but walk-in applicants must arrive by 4:30 PM Monday through Friday and by 11:30 AM on Saturdays.

Making an appointment online is free and will significantly reduce your wait time. Appointments are available at DMV customer service centers across Virginia.

What Happens at the DMV

Here's what a typical DMV visit looks like, in order:

The entire process — from walking in to walking out with your permit — usually takes about 1 to 2 hours depending on how busy the office is. The knowledge exam itself takes most people 20 to 40 minutes.

The Eye (Vision) Test

The DMV vision screening is done at the service window. The clerk will ask you to look into a viewing device and read letters or numbers. It tests whether you can see well enough to drive safely.

Virginia requires a minimum visual acuity of 20/40 in at least one eye (with or without corrective lenses). If you wear glasses or contact lenses, keep them on during the test. If you pass with corrective lenses, your permit will have a restriction noting that you must wear them while driving.

If you cannot meet the 20/40 standard at the DMV, you'll be given a form to take to your eye doctor for a more thorough examination. You can return to the DMV with the completed form to continue your application.

Photo and Fingerprints

Your photo is taken during the document processing step, typically at the service window after your identity documents are verified and your fee is paid. This happens before you take the knowledge exam — so come prepared to have your picture taken when you first arrive. The photo will appear on your learner's permit and eventually on your driver license. You'll be asked to remove glasses, hats, and head coverings (unless worn for religious or medical reasons) for the photo.

The Knowledge Exam

Virginia's knowledge exam is a two-part test taken on a computer at the DMV. All questions are based on the Virginia Driver's Manual. The exam covers traffic laws, road signs, safe driving practices, and Virginia-specific rules.

Part 1 — Road Signs: 10 questions identifying road signs by their shape, color, and meaning. You must get all 10 correct (100%) to move on to Part 2. If you miss even one, you fail Part 1 and must retake the entire exam.

Part 2 — General Knowledge: 25 questions on traffic laws, right-of-way rules, safe driving practices, and Virginia-specific regulations. You must answer at least 20 correctly (80%) to pass.

The test is available in 24 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Farsi, French, and many others. Oral exams are available upon request. The exam cannot be taken online — it must be taken in person at a DMV customer service center.

The Road Signs Test (Part 1)

The road signs portion is the first thing you'll encounter on the exam, and it's the part that trips up the most people. You'll be shown 10 road signs and asked to identify what each one means. The signs may be shown without text — just the shape and color — so you need to know them by sight.

You must get all 10 correct. There is zero room for error on this section. If you miss even one sign, you fail the entire exam and must come back to retake it (after the waiting period).

This is why road sign identification is critical to study. Know the shapes (octagon = stop, triangle = yield, diamond = warning, rectangle = regulatory or guide), the colors (red = stop or prohibition, yellow = warning, orange = construction, green = guide, blue = services), and the specific meanings of common signs like no passing zone, railroad crossing, school zone, merge, and divided highway.

What the Test Looks Like

At the DMV, you'll take the test on a computer terminal. The interface is straightforward — each screen shows one question with multiple-choice answer options. You select your answer and move to the next question.

The test begins with Part 1 (road signs). You must complete all 10 sign questions with a perfect score before the computer moves you to Part 2. If you fail Part 1, the test ends immediately.

Part 2 (general knowledge) then presents 25 questions on traffic laws and safe driving. The computer will track your score and end the test early if you've either locked in a passing score or missed too many to pass.

Passing Score and Results

The Virginia knowledge exam has two passing requirements — you must meet both:

The same test structure applies to both teens and adults — there is no difference in the number of questions or passing requirements based on age.

When the test ends, the screen will clearly show whether you passed or failed. If you passed both parts, you'll return to the service counter where the clerk will issue your learner's permit.

Teens vs. Adults: How the Process Differs

The knowledge exam is the same for everyone, but the overall process and permit rules differ:

The test-taking experience at the DMV — checking in, paying, vision test, photo, and using the computer — is identical regardless of age. The main differences are the waiting periods and the requirements that come after you get your permit.

After You Pass

When you pass both parts of the knowledge exam, you'll return to the service counter. The DMV will issue your learner's permit on the spot. You can start driving that same day, provided you follow the permit rules (see below).

Can you start driving immediately? Yes — but only with a supervising driver. You cannot drive alone with a learner's permit. You must always be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old (or at least 18 if they are your legal guardian, sibling, half-sibling, or step-sibling). The supervising driver must sit in the front passenger seat beside you.

How long before you can get your license? If you're under 18, you must hold the permit for at least 9 months and complete 45 hours of supervised driving before taking the road skills test. If you're 18 or older, you must hold the permit for at least 60 days or complete a driver training course.

If You Don't Pass

If you fail the knowledge exam (either Part 1 or Part 2), the waiting period before you can retake it depends on your age:

After 3 failures: If you fail the knowledge exam three times, you cannot simply keep retaking it. You must first complete the classroom portion of a Virginia-approved driver training school program. The course completion date must be after the date of your third failure. Once you've completed the course, you can return to the DMV and try again.

When you come back for a retake, you do not need to redo the vision test, photo, or document verification. You simply check in, let them know you're there for a retest, and they'll direct you to the testing area.

Learner's Permit Rules

For teens, the Virginia learner's permit is valid until your 20th birthday or until you receive your driver's license. You must carry your permit every time you drive.

While driving with a learner's permit:

International License Holders

If you hold a valid driver license from another country, you can drive in Virginia as a visitor. Virginia recognizes foreign licenses for temporary visitors. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended as a supplement but not required.

However, if you become a Virginia resident, you must apply for a Virginia driver license within 60 days. Your foreign license does not transfer — you'll need to go through the full process: application, documents, fees, vision test, knowledge exam, and road skills test.

As an adult (18+), you can take the knowledge exam and schedule your road skills test as soon as you meet the minimum holding period requirement (60 days with the permit or completion of a driver training course).

Out-of-State Transfers

If you have a valid driver license from another U.S. state, the process is simpler. You'll visit a DMV office, submit your application, provide documents, pay the fee, and take the vision test. Virginia waives the knowledge exam and road skills test for applicants who hold a valid, unexpired license from another U.S. state.

You'll surrender your old state's license and receive a Virginia license. You must transfer your license within 60 days of establishing Virginia residency.

The Driver's Manual

The Virginia Driver's Manual is the official study guide for the knowledge exam. Every question on the test is based on information in this manual. It covers Virginia traffic laws, right-of-way rules, road signs and signals, safe driving practices, alcohol and drug laws, and special driving situations.

The manual is available for free online as a PDF and as an interactive online version. It's also available in Spanish. You can pick up a printed copy at any DMV office.

Pay special attention to the road signs chapter — since Part 1 of the exam requires a perfect score on sign identification, this is the most critical section to study. Also focus on right-of-way rules, speed limits, and Virginia-specific laws.

Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare, especially for the road signs section where you need a perfect score.

Official DMV practice tests: The Virginia DMV offers free practice exams on their website. These give you a feel for the types of questions you'll encounter.

DMV Question Bank practice tests: For more thorough preparation, you can take Virginia DMV practice tests on DMV Question Bank. The question bank covers all topics from the Virginia Driver's Manual and simulates the real test experience, including both the road signs and general knowledge sections. It's a good way to test yourself repeatedly until you're consistently scoring 100% on signs and above 90% on general knowledge.

A common study strategy is to read through the manual once, then take practice tests to see where you're weak. Go back and re-read the sections you missed questions on, then test again. For Part 1, drill road sign identification until you can name every sign instantly by shape and color alone.

Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

After getting your permit, the next step is preparing for the road skills test. The requirements differ between teens and adults.

GDL restrictions after getting a license (teens only): Once you pass the road skills test and receive your provisional license (under 18), you'll be subject to Virginia's Graduated Driver License restrictions:

Quick Reference

Official Links