New Virginia law · House Bill 1224
Your First Virginia Driver's License at 18, 19, or 20
Virginia is changing how first-time drivers ages 18 to 20 get licensed. If you have never held a driver's license and plan to apply in 2027, two requirements will apply to you at the same time — and one of them is a fixed 90-day wait that no class can shorten. This guide explains the new rule, who it covers, and how to plan your timeline here in Richmond.
What changes in 2027 — and what stays the same
House Bill 1224 (2026 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 754; identical to Senate Bill 396) amended § 46.2-324.1 of the Code of Virginia. The change is narrow: it adds a combined requirement for first-time applicants ages 18 to 20 and leaves every other age group as it is today.
| Age group | Licensed by December 31, 2026 | Licensed from January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | Approved driver education, permit held at least 9 months, and 45 hours of supervised driving (15 after sunset) certified by a parent or guardian. | No change — the same requirements continue. |
| Ages 18–20, first license | Your choice: complete an approved driver education program, or hold a permit at least 60 days and pass the DMV road skills test. | Both are required: complete an approved driver education program while holding your permit, and hold the permit for at least 90 days. |
| Age 21 and older, first license | Your choice: hold a permit at least 60 days, or complete an approved driver education program. | No change — the same choice continues. |
Who the new rule covers
The 2027 requirement applies to applicants who are 18, 19, or 20 years old and have never held a driver's license from Virginia, another state, a U.S. territory, or a foreign country. If you previously held a license, this new requirement may not apply to you — but a learner's permit from another state is not a previous license, and it does not exempt you.
For everyone the rule covers, the two pieces work together. You hold your permit while you complete driver education: finishing the course does not erase the 90-day permit period, and reaching day 90 does not excuse you from the course. Plan on both from the start.
What counts as driver education in Virginia
A state-approved driver education program is a complete program, not a handful of private lessons. Virginia's standard program includes:
- 36 classroom sessions of 50 minutes each — the classroom portion may be completed online with an approved school
- 7 driving sessions of 50 minutes behind the wheel with a licensed instructor
- 7 observation sessions of 50 minutes watching another student drive
- A final road skills examination, taken through the program rather than at a DMV office
When you finish, the driver training school sends your completion certificate to DMV. DMV does not accept completion certificates handed in by applicants, so choose a school that is licensed to run the full program and submit your record.
Step by step: a first-time 19-year-old in 2027
- Study the Virginia Driver's Manual and prepare for the two-part knowledge exam.
- Pass the knowledge exam and receive your learner's permit. Your 90-day clock starts on the day the permit is issued.
- Enroll in a state-approved driver education program. You can start the classroom portion online right away.
- Complete the 36 classroom sessions.
- Practice driving with a licensed driver throughout the 90-day permit period — do not leave all of your driving for the formal sessions.
- Complete the 7 driving sessions and 7 observation sessions with your school.
- Pass the final road skills examination through the program.
- Your school submits your completion certificate to DMV.
- Finish the remaining DMV licensing steps and receive your driver's license.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming the 90 days replaces driver education
It does not. For first-time applicants ages 18 to 20, the permit period and the driver education program are separate requirements, and both must be met.
Waiting until the license is urgent
The 90-day permit period is a fixed wait that starts only when DMV issues your permit. If you need a license for a job, school, or a move, count backward from that date and start early.
Counting an out-of-state permit as a previous license
Holding a learner's permit from another state does not make you a previously licensed driver. Only proof of a prior license may exempt you from the new requirement.
Choosing a school that is not licensed for the full program
Private lessons and a state-approved driver education program are different products. Before you pay, confirm the school is DMV-licensed to provide the complete program: classroom, driving, observation, and the final road skills exam.
How Abigail's can help
Abigail's Driving School is a DMV-licensed driving school in Richmond, Virginia, with instruction and support in English and Spanish. Here is how our programs line up with the new requirement:
$549
Adult Online Classroom + Behind-the-Wheel Package
The complete package: the online classroom program plus the behind-the-wheel driving and observation program — the full driver education program the 2027 rule requires, in one enrollment.
Book the complete package$207 checkout total
EZ 30-Hour Online Driver Education
The classroom portion online, at your own pace: $200 tuition plus $7 processing. Behind-the-wheel training is completed separately.
Enroll in the classroom course$425
Behind-the-Wheel Program
Already finished an approved classroom program? Complete the driving and observation sessions and the final road skills examination with our instructors.
Book behind-the-wheelFrequently asked questions
What changes for 18–20-year-olds on January 1, 2027?
First-time applicants ages 18, 19, and 20 must meet two requirements together: complete a state-approved driver education program and hold a Virginia learner's permit for at least 90 days. The rule comes from House Bill 1224, which amended § 46.2-324.1 of the Code of Virginia.
How long do I have to hold a learner's permit if I am 19?
For a license issued on or after January 1, 2027, at least 90 days — and completing driver education is also required. For licenses issued through December 31, 2026, the older choice applies: 60 days on a permit plus the DMV road skills test, or driver education instead.
Can holding my permit for 90 days replace driver education?
No. The permit period and driver education are separate requirements for first-time applicants ages 18 to 20, and one does not substitute for the other.
What does a state-approved driver education program include?
Thirty-six classroom sessions, seven driving sessions, and seven observation sessions — each 50 minutes — plus a final road skills examination taken through the program. The school then submits your completion certificate to DMV.
I got my permit in 2026, but my license will be issued in 2027. Does the new rule apply to me?
Yes. If your license is issued after January 1, 2027, you must show proof of completed driver education even if your learner's permit was issued before that date.
What if I had a license or permit in another state?
If you can show you previously held a driver's license from another state, a U.S. territory, or a foreign country, the new requirement may not apply to you. A learner's permit from another state does not count as a previous license.
I am 21 or older. What changes for me in 2027?
Nothing. First-time applicants age 21 and older keep the existing choice: hold a permit for at least 60 days, or complete an approved driver education program.
Can I take the classroom portion online?
Yes. Approved schools may offer the classroom portion online. The driving and observation sessions and the final road skills examination are completed in person with the school.
Sources: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (driver education and driver's license eligibility information) and Code of Virginia § 46.2-324.1, as amended by House Bill 1224, 2026 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 754.