Apply for Virginia Drivers License
The process of applying for a drivers license in Virginia or any other state may be somewhat confusing, since there are many requirements that must be met before a license can be issued. To confuse first time license applicants even more, these licensing requirements are age-dependent and teenagers must follow the state's graduated license program when applying for a Virginia driver's license. However, if you spend a little time researching the subject, you should be able to make a short list of requirements that apply to you and go through the whole thing in no time at all. We hope that this article will help you understand the process of applying for Virginia driver license a little better.
Drivers License - Under 19 Years of Age
In Virginia, all driver's license applicants can be divided into two groups - those who choose to apply for a license before reaching the age of 19 years of and everyone else. Due to the fact that teenagers have higher crash rates than older drivers, they must meet a number of additional requirements when applying for a permit or a license. These requirements are known as Virginia's graduate drivers license program.
Your road towards a drivers license will start when you reach the age of 15 years, 6 months. This is the minimum age when you can apply for a Virginia drivers permit. In order to do so, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles, take a vision exam and a drivers permit test. If you pass the tests successfully, you are granted a learners permit.
Congratulations, you can now get in the car and go for a drive. However, remember that you must observe all Virginia drivers permit restrictions at this stage. Thus, you are not allowed to drive alone and must have a supervising driver accompany you whenever you are behind the wheel.
The permit must be held for at least nine months before you can graduate to the next level of the program and submit your application for Virginia drivers license. During these months, you will need to complete a Virginia drivers education course and receive at least 45 hours of driving practice from your parents, including 15 hours at nighttime.
If you are taking a drivers education class through high school or a commercial driving school, you will also take your Virginia drivers license test as part of the class. Those participating in a parent taught drivers education course will have to take a driving test at the DMV.
Finally, when all of the above requirements are met, you can apply for a Virginia driving license. If you are under 18 years of age when this happens, you are issued with a provisional license and you will have to keep all Virginia provisional driver's license restrictions in mind until you are 18 years of age.
Driving License - 19 Years of Age and Older
Those applying for a drivers license when they are at least 19 years of age have it much easier since they do not need to observe any of the graduated license requirements. You can start your way towards a drivers license by visiting the DMV and filing an application for a drivers permit. At this point, you take a permit test and your vision is tested. Once the tests are behind you, you receive a Virginia drivers permit and you can start practicing driving with another licensed driver.
Your learners permit must be held for at least 30 days before you can take a drivers license test. If you want to reduce this time, you can take a drivers education course, this way you'll be able to take the driving test as soon as you complete the class.
When you meet the above requirements and feel confident enough operating a vehicle, schedule the road skills exam with the DMV. When you pass the driving test, you are issued with a full unrestricted Virginia drivers license.
Required Tests
Driving is a very dangerous activity, although most of us don't perceive it as such and we frequently fail to treat it with due seriousness. That's where the Virginia DMV steps in. You will not be issued with a drivers license until you are able to prove that you are physically and mentally fit to drive a vehicle and that you possess both the knowledge and the skills required. In the process of applying for a Virginia driver's license, you will have to take a vision exam, a permit test, a driving skills test and answer a series of health-related questions. You will not be issued with a licensed until you can pass all of the mentioned exams.
Vision Testing
Your vehicle is capable of covering a great distance very quickly and seeing far ahead is very important. Furthermore, if you plan on driving both day and night, you have to be able to see well in low-light conditions. Vision testing is a must for all first-time drivers permit applicants all over the country.
In Virginia, vision examination is conducted with mechanical aid. When you submit your application for a Virginia drivers permit, you will be asked to look into a machine and read a series of numbers and letters. If you wear glasses or contact lenses during the exam, you will also have to wear them while operating under your Virginia learner's permit.
In order to receive an unrestricted license, you have to have 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes and 100 degrees or better horizontal vision in one or both eyes. If you do not meet these standards, you will be issued with a restricted learners permit or you will be asked to see an eye care professional before a permit can be issued.
Drivers Permit Test
Permit testing, also known as knowledge testing, is performed at the time when you initially apply for a drivers permit. A DMV permit test in Virginia consists of two parts - 10 questions on road signs and multiple choice questions on driving rules and safe driving practices. In order to pass the test, you are required to answer all of the road signs questions correctly and to get a score of at least 80% on the second part of the knowledge exam.
Those looking for a good drivers license study guide that could help them prepare for the exam should go ahead and download a copy of the Virginia drivers license manual. The test is based on the information in the book, so you don't need to search for additional sources of information.
Once done with the book, you may also want to take a few Virginia practice drivers tests, just to see if you can get a score high enough. If you are not satisfied with the score, revisit the drivers license book.
Driving Test
Those who apply for a Virginia driver license before the age of 19 years will most likely take their drivers test as part of the drivers education course. However, everyone else must take a Virginia drivers license test at the DMV. Make sure that you meet all permit requirements before you make an appointment for the driving test and arrange for a test vehicle in advance. During the test, you will be asked to prove that you are able to control the vehicle and that you can apply your knowledge of Virginia driving rules in real-life situations. Once you pass the drivers test, you are issued with a drivers license. If you are under 18 years of age at the time, your license is marked as provisional and you need to follow all Virginia provisional license restrictions until you are 18 years of age.
Paperwork Required
The list provided below outlines the paperwork that you will need to present at certain stages of the application process:
- proof of ID (two forms)
- proof of Virginia residency
- proof of citizenship or legal presence
- Social Security Number
Drivers license applicants under the age of 18 years will also need to receive parental consent and a statement that they have completed at least 45 hours of supervised driving practice.
If you have any questions regarding acceptable proof of identity, you may contact the DMV over the phone or to check out one of many publications provided on the DMV website.