State guide · Updated October 2026
Virginia Driving Laws (2026): Speed, Phone, Insurance, Tax
Virginia sits in the South census region, with Richmond as its capital and Virginia Beach and Chesapeake as its biggest cities. This guide collects the Virginia driving laws that matter most, covering speed limits and phone use to coverage, taxes, inspections and riding.
Every topic below covers one rule in detail, with the facts, the figures and how it compares nationally; we last verified the numbers on October 25, 2026 for Virginia.
Virginia driving laws: speed limits
The maximum speed limit in Virginia is 70 mph. Interstates carry limits of up to 70 mph in town and country alike.
| Virginia: Maximum posted speed | 70 mph |
|---|---|
| Interstates outside cities | 70 mph |
| Interstates in cities | 70 mph |
On major roads such as I-95 and I-81, signs are frequently below 70 mph, especially through Virginia Beach and in work zones.
Every driver must also hold a speed that suits the conditions, even below the posted number, and officers can write a ticket for that alone.
At a glance, under Virginia driving laws: max speed limit, 70 mph.
Virginia driving laws: cell phone and texting law
Only hands-free. Virginia has a hands-free law: motorists are not allowed to hold a phone to talk, text or browse behind the wheel. Bluetooth calls and mounted navigation remain legal.
| Virginia: Hand-held calls | Banned |
|---|---|
| Sending texts while driving | Banned |
| Phone ban for new drivers | No |
Under the Virginia driving laws, a phone in a mount, a voice assistant and a single tap to answer a call or start navigation stay legal; having it in your hand in traffic is what gets ticketed.
At a glance, under Virginia driving laws: phone law, hands-free law.
Virginia driving laws: driving age and teen licenses
In Virginia, teens can apply for a learner's permit at 15 and an intermediate (provisional) license at 16, which still restricts night driving and passengers.
| Virginia: Earliest permit | Age 15 |
|---|---|
| Provisional license | Age 16 |
| Hours with an adult | 45 (15 at night) |
| All limits lifted | Age 18 |
Prior to the road test, permit holders in Virginia must log 45 hours (15 at night) of supervised driving.
Bottom line, under Virginia driving laws: learner's permit age, permit at 15.
Virginia driving laws: minimum car insurance
Virginia requires motorists to carry at least 50/100/25 in liability coverage: $50,000 for injuries to one person, $100,000 for all injuries in one accident and $25,000 for property damage. You also need uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
| Virginia: Injury limit per person | $50,000 |
|---|---|
| Per-accident injury coverage | $100,000 |
| Property damage limit | $25,000 |
| Other required coverage | UM, UIM |
| Claims system | At-fault |
| Coverage required by law | Yes |
Minimums rose to 50/100/25 on January 1, 2025. Since July 2024 every driver must carry insurance; the option to pay an uninsured motor vehicle fee instead was removed.
Virginia is an at-fault state, so the at-fault driver is responsible for the other parties' injuries and damage through their policy.
Required on top of liability in Virginia: uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
The legal minimum seldom pays for a serious crash, because medical bills plus a replacement car can pass $100,000 in one crash.
Consumer groups suggest limits like 100/300/100, as anything above your limits can be claimed from you personally.
Bottom line, under Virginia driving laws: car insurance, 50/100/25.
Virginia driving laws: car sales tax
Virginia collects a 4.15% state motor vehicle sales and use tax on cars you buy. No local tax is added.
| Virginia: State rate | 4.15% (motor vehicle sales and use tax) |
|---|---|
| City or county tax | No |
| Trade-in deducted | No |
| Example: $30,000 car | $1,245 |
Virginia taxes the full price; a trade-in is not deducted. The minimum tax is $75.
- A $22,600 car in Virginia: about $938 in state tax
- A $38,900 car in Virginia: about $1,614 in state tax
- A $55,000 car in Virginia: roughly $2,283 in state tax
Virginia taxes the full price, so a trade-in does not lower the Virginia driving laws.
At a glance, under Virginia driving laws: car sales tax, 4.15%.
Virginia driving laws: car inspection and emissions
Yes. Virginia requires an annual safety inspection and emissions testing in Northern Virginia (the counties and cities close to Washington, DC).
| Virginia: Safety check | Every year |
|---|---|
| Emissions testing | Some areas: Northern Virginia (the counties and cities near Washington, DC) |
The safety check in Virginia covers brakes, lights, tires, steering, glass and horn each year.
Emissions tests on newer vehicles scan the on-board computer, which takes a few minutes; a lit check-engine light usually means an automatic fail.
In short, under Virginia driving laws: car inspection, safety + emissions.
Virginia driving laws: license and registration deadlines for new residents
After moving to Virginia, you have 60 days to obtain a Virginia driver's license, and 30 days to register your car.
| Virginia: License deadline | 60 days |
|---|---|
| Vehicle registration | 30 days |
| Required insurance | 50/100/25 |
| Inspection | Safety + emissions |
Checklist for Virginia driving laws
- Get a Virginia driver's license: 60 days. Take an ID document, your SSN and two documents with your new address to the Virginia DMV (REAL ID rules).
- Set up car insurance that meets the minimum: Virginia requires 50/100/25. A policy is generally required before registration.
- Inspection: Yes. Virginia requires an annual safety inspection and emissions testing in Northern Virginia (the counties and cities near Washington, DC).
- Register and title your car: 30 days at the Virginia DMV.
The clock generally starts when you take a job, buy a house or register kids for school in Virginia, not on the day the truck arrives.
In short, under Virginia driving laws: new resident deadline, 30 days.
Virginia driving laws: motorcycle helmet law
Yes. Virginia has a universal helmet law: each motorcycle rider and passenger have to wear a DOT-certified helmet, regardless of age. Whether you are on I-95 near Virginia Beach or on I-64, the rule stays the same.
| Virginia: Helmet required for | All riders and passengers |
|---|---|
| Law type | Universal |
| Adult riders exempt | No |
Under the Virginia driving laws, operators and passengers of each age must wear a helmet on every motorcycle, including mopeds that need an endorsement.
According to NHTSA, that helmets reduce roughly 37% of rider deaths, and around 41% for passengers.
Any helmet worn to meet the law indicates the DOT label at the rear; thin novelty shells without it are not legal.
Bottom line, under Virginia driving laws: helmet law, all riders.
Virginia driving laws: lane splitting
No. Splitting and filtering are not allowed in Virginia. Each motorcycle gets its own full lane, and riders are not allowed to ride between vehicles or ride between lanes of traffic.
| Virginia: Lane splitting (moving traffic) | Not legal |
|---|---|
| Passing stopped cars | Not legal |
| In effect since | — |
With no law allowing it, Virginia driving laws is treated as unlawful passing or an improper lane change, and a crash during a split can undercut the rider with insurers.
At a glance, under Virginia driving laws: lane splitting, not permitted.
Where the Virginia driving laws stand out
- 50/100/25 (car insurance), in the higher group of 4 states
Getting around Virginia
The main routes are I-95, I-81 and I-64, connecting Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Richmond, the capital. Each of these routes falls under Virginia driving laws.
Driver's licenses are issued by the Virginia DMV, and registration and titles go through the Virginia DMV.
Every law on this page applies in every county, from Virginia Beach to small towns.
Next door
- Kentucky: 6% for car sales tax, against 4.15%; 25/50/25 for car insurance, against 50/100/25; helmet law Under 21 (vs. All motorcyclists)
- Maryland: car sales tax 6.5% (vs. 4.15%); 30/60/15 for car insurance, against 50/100/25
- North Carolina: 3% for car sales tax, against 4.15%; car insurance 50/100/50 (vs. 50/100/25)
- Tennessee: car sales tax 7% (vs. 4.15%); 25/50/25 for car insurance, against 50/100/25
- West Virginia: car sales tax 6% (vs. 4.15%); car insurance 25/50/25 (vs. 50/100/25)
- District of Columbia: max speed limit of 55 mph instead of 70 mph; 6% for car sales tax, against 4.15%; car insurance of 25/50/10 instead of 50/100/25
FAQ: the Virginia driving laws
Do the Virginia driving laws differ for trucks?
The majority of roads in Virginia use the same number for passenger vehicles and big rigs; look out for truck-only limits.
Will police pull over motorists solely for violating the Virginia driving laws?
Yes. In Virginia it is typically primary enforcement, so you can be pulled over for it even with no other violation.
May a 15-year-old drive unsupervised under the Virginia driving laws rules?
No. Driving without an adult begins after you receive the provisional license at 16 in Virginia.
What if I drive without Virginia driving laws?
Driving without coverage in Virginia can bring fines, loss of your registration, and personal responsibility for any damage.
Is the Virginia driving laws charged on used cars?
Yes. A used car is taxed the same way, and private sales can be taxed at a minimum or book value.
Is a Virginia driving laws needed to sell a car?
Buyers need a current inspection to register it in Virginia.
Do adults have to obey the Virginia driving laws?
Yes. Anyone on the bike in Virginia must wear a helmet.
Is filtering at red lights part of Virginia driving laws?
No. Squeezing between stopped cars at a light is not allowed in Virginia as well.
Travel ideas in Virginia
- Place to visitShenandoah National ParkSkyline Drive follows the crest of the Blue Ridge for 169 kilometers, with 75 overlooks.
- Place to visitColonial WilliamsburgWalk the streets of Virginia’s 18th-century capital, where the American Revolution was argued in taverns.
- Motorcycle roadBlue Ridge Parkway469 miles of curves, overlooks and mountain music, with no stoplights and no trucks.
- Scenic driveSkyline DriveThe crest of the Blue Ridge for 169 kilometers, with 75 overlooks and a speed limit of 35 mph.
- Hiking trailOld Rag MountainThe most famous rock scramble in the East, over granite boulders to a summit with 360-degree views.