Steps to Obtaining Your Driver’s License or Photo ID Card

Complete the Application Process

When applying for an original learner’s permit, driver’s license or photo ID card, you must complete an application for a Virginia license. For a child ID card (under age 15) complete the DL 5, Identification Card for Minors Application.

You may complete these forms before or after coming to DMV. Use your full legal name. Abbreviations and nicknames will not be accepted.

You cannot hold any type of driver’s license while simultaneously holding a photo ID card. If you hold a learner’s permit, driver’s license, or commercial driver’s license (CDL), you may not hold a photo ID card.

To apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license, you must show

• Two proofs of identity;
• One proof of Virginia residency plus a piece of postmarked mail addressed to you at the address on your DMV application;
• Proof of your social security number (SSN);
• You will also be required to show proof of legal presence.

To apply for a photo ID card, you must show

• Two proofs of identity;
• One proof of Virginia residency plus a piece of postmarked mail addressed to you at the address on your DMV application;
• You will be required to show proof of legal presence, unless you were born in 1937 or before and have had a valid Virginia driver's license or ID card within the last five years.

Photocopies will not be accepted. All documents must be originals and all documents may be subject to verification with the issuing authority prior to acceptance.

Be sure to refer to “Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver’s License or Photo ID Card” (DMV 141) for a list of acceptable documents.

All documents must show your name and the address of your principal residence as it appears on your application. A post office box or business address is not acceptable. However, if you do not want your residence address to appear on your driver’s license or photo ID card, you may provide DMV with an alternate address in addition to your residence address. This alternate address must also be in Virginia.

If you change your residence or alternate address to a location outside Virginia, your driver’s license or photo ID card will be cancelled.

Exceptions may be made for some individuals such as active duty military personnel and Virginia residents employed outside the U.S. Refer to “Re-establishing Your Virginia Residency or Qualifying for a Virginia Address Requirement Exception,” DMV 143 , for information about the exception process. This publication is available at www.dmvNOW.com or at any DMV office.

Proof of Identity: Documents submitted as primary proof of identity must show your full legal name and date of birth. Nicknames and abbreviations will not be accepted. You must present at least one document from the primary list of documents. The second proof of identity may come from either the primary list or the secondary list. If two of your proofs of identity are issued by the same entity, such as the same state agency, DMV may require additional proof of identity documents. If you are under age 19, you will need only one proof of identity but it must come from the primary list of identity documents.

A U.S. birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport will serve as a primary proof of identity. These documents will also serve as proof of your legal presence in the U.S.

Social security number: If you are applying for a learner’s permit or driver’s license, you will be required to provide proof of your social security number (SSN) if you have one. If you are applying for a photo ID card, you do not have to provide an SSN.

DMV will immediately verify all SSNs with the Social Security Administration. If the SSN you present does not match the SSN on file at the Social Security Administration, DMV will not issue you a driver’s license or learner’s permit.

DMV will assign you a customer number which will display on your driver’s license or learner’s permit. If you wish to change your DMV-assigned number in the future, you may be required to present documentation from law enforcement or the courts indicating that you may be a victim of identity theft.

Proof of Virginia residency: You must provide one proof of Virginia residency and you must provide DMV with the street address of your principal Virginia residence. You must also provide one piece of postmarked mail addressed to you at your principle Virginia residence. If you are under age 19, your parent or legal guardian may certify your Virginia residency.

Proof of legal presence: Applicants for a first-time Virginia driver’s license or photo ID card must show proof of legal presence in the United States. A U.S. birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport will serve as both proof of identity and proof of legal presence. For a list of other documents that you can use to prove your legal presence in the United States, refer to “Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver’s License or Photo ID Card” (DMV 141). This form is available at any DMV customer service center and also online at www.dmvNOW.com.
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Proof of Legal Presence

A proof of legal presence document shows that you are in the United States legally. Applicants for a first-time Virginia driver's license or photo ID card must show proof of legal presence, including individuals born in the United States.

People who were born outside of the U.S. and who are not U.S. citizens can prove their legal presence in the U.S. with a wide array of documents. Refer to "Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver’s License or Photo ID card" (DMV 141) for additional information about the documents you can use to prove your legal presence. This publication is available at www.dmvNOW.com and at any DMV customer service center.

Acceptable Documents

Information about documents that DMV will accept as proof of identity, residency and social security number is presented in “Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver’s License or Photo ID Card” (DMV141). This form is available at any DMV customer service center and also online at www.dmvNOW.com.

Photocopiess will not be accepted. All documents must be originals. All documents will be subject to verification which may delay issuance of your driver's license, learner's permit or photo ID card.

DMV will not accept any document when there is reason to believe it has been altered, fraudulently obtained or is fake, forged, counterfeit or otherwise nongenuine or illegitimate. DMV may require additional documents. Altering, manufacturing, selling, or possessing a fraudulent birth certificate, driver's license, or ID card is a criminal offense.

Falsifying information on a driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo identification card application is a criminal offense. Assisting a person with improperly or fraudulently obtaining a driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo ID card is a criminal offense.

Documents accepted by DMV as proof of identity, social security number and Virginia residency and legal presence may change without prior notice.
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Take the Required Tests

Tests will include a vision screening and may include a two-part knowledge exam and a road skills test. A DMV representative will tell you which tests you need to take.

To screen your vision, you will be asked to look into a machine and read the lines of letters or numbers to the DMV representative. This screening determines whether your eyesight and peripheral vision meet Virginia’s standards to safely operate a motor vehicle.

The two-part knowledge exam is given on a computer and tests your knowledge of traffic signs, motor vehicle laws, and safe driving techniques. Exam questions are taken from information in this manual.

All ten traffic sign questions in Part One must be answered correctly before you can take the 25-question general knowledge exam in Part Two. Part Two consists of 25 multiple choice questions. You must score at least 80 percent on these questions to pass Part Two.

If you fail the exam:

• Under age 18 - by law you must wait a full 15 days before you can retake the exam. For example, if you fail the test on January 1, the earliest you would be eligible to take the test again is January 17.
• Age 18 or older - you must pay a $2.00 re-examination fee if you retake the exam within 15 days.

The exam may be taken only once per business day. An audio version of the exam is available and the exam is also offered in Spanish. If necessary, you may request to have the exam translated.

If you fail the driver's license knowledge examination administered by DMV three times, you will not be permitted to take it a fourth time until you successfully complete the classroom component of driver instruction at a driver training school approved by DMV or a comparable course approved by the Department of Education. The completion date for the classroom component must be after the date you failed the knowledge test the third time. Upon completion of the classroom component and presentation of your certificate of completion, DMV will allow you to take the knowledge test again.

It is unlawful to

• receive assistance or to assist anyone while taking the knowledge exam;
• to attempt to secure or provide answers to any parts of the exam;
• to have unauthorized possession of an exam or exam answers; or
• to use a cell phone during the exam.

Go online at www.dmvNOW.com to take a sample knowledge exam.

You will need to take the road skills test if you do not hold a valid out-of-state, Canadian, German or French driver’s license. You must provide a vehicle for the road skills test. The vehicle must have a valid inspection sticker, license plates, registration card, and working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors and speedometer.

For applicants under 19, the road skills test will be given as part of the driver education course taken at a public, private or commercial driving school. If you are a home schooler, refer to the “Home-Schooled In-Car Driver Education Information Sheet,” HS-3, for more information about taking the road skills test.

The road skills test will be administered by a DMV representative. Only the applicant and the DMV representative are allowed in the vehicle during the road skills test. The test may be taken only once per business day. You may only take the road skills test three times during a three-month period.

If you fail the driver's license road skills test administered by the Department three times, you will not be permitted to take it a fourth time until you successfully complete the in-vehicle component of driver instruction at a driver training school approved by DMV or a comparable course approved by the Department of Education. The completion date for the classroom component must be after the date you failed the road test the third time. Upon completion of the in-vehicle component and presentation of your certificate of completion, DMV will allow you to take the road skills test again.
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Vision Standards

The vision screening determines if you meet Virginia’s vision standards for operating a motor vehicle safely. It is not a medical exam. If you fail the vision screening, you may be asked to see an eye care professional.

If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses to pass the vision screening, you must wear them when you drive. Your license will show this restriction. To have this restriction removed after having laser surgery to correct your vision, you must visit a DMV customer service center and pass the vision screening without wearing glasses or contact lenses or submit a Vision Screening Report (MED4).

DMV’s vision screening is not an eye exam and is not intended to be an indicator of the health of your eyes. We strongly encourage all drivers to visit their eye care professional on a regular basis.

Driver’s license:

• 20/40 or better vision in one or both eyes, and
• 100 degrees, or better, horizontal vision in one or both eyes.

Driving restricted to daylight hours only:

• 20/70 or better vision in one or both eyes, and
• 70 degrees, or better, horizontal vision. If only one eye, 40 degrees or better temporal and 30 degrees or better nasal are required.

A restricted license permits you to drive only during the period of time beginning one-half hour after sunrise and ending one half hour before sunset.

Bioptic Telescopic Lenses: If you wear bioptic telescopic lenses, contact DMV tollfree at 1-866-368-5463 (DMV-LINE) to find out about vision requirements.
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Make Your Payment

You may pay the licensing fee with cash, money order, check, check card or credit card. Your Virginia driver's license and learner's permit always expire on your birthday and generally will expire eight years from the issue date. The length of time that a driver's license is valid may be affected by your legal presence status.

The licensing fee is $4.00 per year; so your fee will range from $4.00 to $32.00, depending on the validity period of your license. A learner's permit costs $3.00 plus the yearly cost of a driver's license.

Fees Per Year for Driver's Licenses

License Type	Fee Per Year
Driver’s license	$4.00 per year
Motorcycle class	$2.00 per year
Learner’s permit	$3.00 plus $4.00 per year
Motorcycle learner’s permit	$3.00
Replacement license	$10.00
90-day temporary driver’s license	$10.00
Re-examination fee	$2.00 (if taken within 15 days)
You may pay your fees with cash, money order, check, check card or major credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or VISA).

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Complete the Process

Once you pass your required testing, a DMV representative will take your photograph and ask you to sign a signature pad.

In most circumstances, your photograph and information will be processed while you wait. Your name will be called when your driver’s license or learner’s permit is ready.

All first-time driver’s licenses issued to persons under age 18 are sent to the judge of your local juvenile and domestic relations court. The court will notify you by mail about when and where you and your parent, custodial parent or legal guardian must appear to receive your license.

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