2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-324.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21.
[S 396]
Approved
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.2-324.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 46.2-324.1 . Requirements for initial licensure of certain applicants.
A. No driver's license shall be issued to any applicant who is at least 21 years old unless he either (i) provides written evidence of having satisfactorily completed a course of driver instruction at a driver training school licensed under Chapter 17 (§ 46.2-1700 et seq.) or a comparable course approved by the Department or the Department of Education or (ii) has held a learner's permit issued by the Department for at least 60 days prior to his first behind-the-wheel examination by the Department when applying for a noncommercial driver's license. For any applicant who is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old, no driver's license shall be issued to any such applicant unless he (a) provides written evidence of having satisfactorily completed a course of driver instruction at a driver training school licensed under Chapter 17 (§ 46.2-1700 et seq.) or a comparable course approved by the Department or the Department of Education and (b) has held a learner's permit issued by the Department for at least 90 days.
The provisions of this section shall only apply to persons who are at least 18 years old and who either (a) (1) have never held a driver's license issued by Virginia or any other state or territory of the United States or foreign country or (b) (2) have never been licensed or held the license endorsement or classification required to operate the type of vehicle which they now propose to operate. Completion of a course of driver instruction approved by the Department or the Department of Education at a driver training school may include the final behind-the-wheel examination for a driver's license; however, a driver training school shall not administer the behind-the-wheel examination to any applicant who is under medical control pursuant to § 46.2-322 . Applicants completing a course of driver instruction approved by the Department or the Department of Education at a driver training school retain the option of having the behind-the-wheel examination administered by the Department.