What Virginia Charges for a Driver's License

A Virginia driver's license costs $24 for an eight-year license if you are 21 or older. If you are under 21, the license costs $19 and expires on your 21st birthday. These are the base fees charged by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you obtain a new license or renew an existing one.

The fee covers the card itself, the background check, and the processing of your process. You pay this fee whether you explore in person at a DMV office, through a DMV service center, or by mail for certain renewal types. If you need a replacement card because yours was lost, stolen, or damaged, you pay the same renewal fee—there is no separate replacement charge.

Virginia does not charge separate fees for different license classes (Class D for regular driving, Class M for motorcycle). The $24 or $19 fee applies regardless of what you are licensed to drive.

Key Takeaways

  • A standard Virginia driver's license costs $24 for eight years if you are 21 or older, or $19 if you are under 21.
  • Renewal by mail costs the same as in-person renewal, but you must meet specific requirements to be may be able to access for mail renewal.
  • A replacement card for a lost, stolen, or damaged license costs the same as a renewal and takes about two weeks to arrive.
  • Virginia charges additional fees for certain services: a duplicate license costs $7, and a corrected license costs $7 if the error was the DMV's fault or $24 if you requested the change.
  • Commercial Driver's License (CDL) fees are separate and higher than regular driver's license fees.

Renewal Fees and Timeline

When your Virginia driver's license is within six months of expiration, you can renew it. The renewal fee is the same as the original license fee: $24 for a standard eight-year license. If you renew before your current license expires, your new license will be valid for eight years from the expiration date of your old license, not from the date you renew.

Renewal by mail is available if your license is not suspended or revoked, you have no medical restrictions, and your address has not changed. Mail renewal takes about two to three weeks from the time the DMV receives your process. If you need your license sooner, you must renew in person at a DMV office, which typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, and you receive a temporary paper license when ready.

If your license has already expired, you can still renew it by mail or in person at the same $24 fee, as long as it expired fewer than five years ago. If it has been expired for more than five years, you must explore for a new license rather than renew, which requires a written test and vision test in addition to the fee.

Replacement and Correction Fees

A duplicate license—an extra copy of your current license with the same information—costs $7 and takes about two weeks to arrive by mail. You can order a duplicate online through the Virginia DMV website or in person at any DMV office.

A corrected license costs $7 if the error was made by the DMV, such as a misspelled name or wrong address on the card. If you are requesting a change to your information (such as a legal name change or address update), the fee is $24—the same as a renewal. You must provide supporting documents for any change, such as a marriage certificate for a name change or a utility bill for an address change.

If your license was lost, stolen, or damaged, you pay the standard renewal fee of $24 for a replacement card. You do not pay extra for the replacement itself. The DMV will issue you a temporary paper license in person or mail you a new card within two weeks.

Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Fees

A Virginia Commercial Driver's License costs $72 for an eight-year license and is valid only for commercial driving. This fee is significantly higher than a standard driver's license because CDL holders must pass additional written and skills tests and meet federal safety standards.

CDL renewal also costs $72 and follows the same eight-year cycle as a standard license. You cannot renew a CDL by mail; you must renew in person at a DMV office. If you hold both a standard driver's license and a CDL, you pay the CDL fee for your combined license—you do not pay both fees.

Hazmat endorsement (required to transport hazardous materials) adds $10 to the CDL fee and requires a separate background check and written test. This fee is in addition to the base CDL cost.

Payment Methods and Where to Pay

Virginia DMV accepts cash, check, debit card, and credit card at in-person locations. When you renew by mail, you must include a check or money order—credit and debit cards are not accepted for mail renewals. Do not send cash by mail.

You can pay your fee at any of Virginia's 74 DMV customer service centers, located throughout the state. If you renew online through the DMV website (available for certain renewal types), you can pay by debit or credit card. Some DMV service centers, run by third-party vendors, may charge an additional service fee on top of the state fee—this fee varies by location and vendor.

If you are renewing by mail, send your payment to the address listed on the renewal form. The DMV will not process your renewal until payment is received.

Age-Based Fees and Restrictions

Drivers under 18 cannot hold a standard Virginia driver's license. A learner's permit costs $7 and is valid for one year. A provisional license for drivers 16 to 18 costs $19 and is valid until the driver's 21st birthday, at which point it must be renewed as a standard license.

Drivers aged 18 to 20 can hold a standard license that costs $19 and expires on their 21st birthday. When they turn 21, they must renew to a standard eight-year license at the cost of $24. This renewal is required even if their current license has not expired.

Senior drivers aged 75 and older can renew for a shorter period: a four-year license costs $12, or an eight-year license costs $24. Drivers 75 and older must renew in person and may be required to pass a vision and written test depending on their driving record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my Virginia license online and what does it cost?

Online renewal is available only if you meet specific conditions: your license is not suspended or revoked, you have no medical restrictions, and your address has not changed. If you are may be able to access, online renewal costs the same as mail or in-person renewal: $24 for a standard license. You can pay by debit or credit card online.

What happens if I renew my license before it expires?

Your new eight-year license will be valid for eight years from the expiration date of your old license, not from the date you renew. This means you do not lose any time on your license—the expiration date straightforward moves forward by eight years from where it was.

Do I have to pay the fee again if my license was rejected the first time?

If your process was rejected due to an error you made (such as providing an incorrect form), you must reapply and pay the fee again. If the DMV rejected your process due to their error, contact your local DMV office to discuss whether you need to resubmit and repay.

Is there a fee to change my address on my Virginia license?

If you are only changing your address and your license is not expiring soon, you can update your address for free through the DMV website or by mail without renewing. If you are renewing your license at the same time, the $24 renewal fee covers the address change. If you want a new card with the updated address before your license expires, you pay $24 for the change.

What is the fee for a Virginia ID card instead of a driver's license?

A Virginia identification card (for non-drivers) costs $24 for an eight-year card, or $19 if you are under 21. The fee is the same as a driver's license. You can obtain an ID card at any DMV office with proof of identity and residency.