In Virginia, a horizontal driver’s license is simply the format the DMV issues to anyone 21 or older. If you’re already 21 and applying for your first Virginia license, transferring one from another state, or renewing, the horizontal card comes automatically. If you already hold a vertical Virginia license and have since turned 21, you can walk into any DMV customer service center and replace it with a horizontal version for $20.1Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Replace Your Driver’s License or Learner’s Permit
Swapping a Vertical License for a Horizontal One
This is the most common path. You turned 21, your current Virginia license is still valid, and you want the card to reflect that you’re of legal age. Virginia treats this as a replacement transaction.
Go to any DMV customer service center with your current vertical license and $20. If you want to add REAL ID at the same time, add another $10 and bring the underlying documents (see below). Your existing vertical license remains legally valid until its printed expiration date, so there’s no legal urgency, but a vertical card is the visual shorthand that clerks and door staff use to flag someone under 21. Expect extra scrutiny at bars, liquor stores, and anywhere else that checks ID for age until you swap it.
Getting a Horizontal License as a First-Time Driver 21 or Older
If you’ve never held a license anywhere and you’re 21 or older, the license you eventually receive will be horizontal by default. Nothing extra to request. The work is in the underlying application.
Adults 18 and older who have never been licensed have two ways to qualify for the road skills test: complete an approved driver education course, or hold a Virginia learner’s permit for at least 60 days.2Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver License Eligibility Requirements You’ll also need to pass a vision screening and the two-part knowledge exam: 10 road-sign questions (all 10 correct required) and 30 general knowledge questions (24 correct required).3Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. The Knowledge Exam
Bring originals of these to the DMV. Photocopies, nicknames, and abbreviated names aren’t accepted.4Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Getting a Virginia Driver’s License or Identification Card
- One proof of identity, such as an unexpired U.S. passport or an official birth certificate. This document usually doubles as proof of legal presence.
- Two proofs of Virginia residency. A deed, mortgage statement, or lease qualifies as a primary proof. A utility bill dated within the last two months also works, though cell phone bills aren’t accepted. You need two documents total: either two primary, or one primary and one secondary such as a bank statement or pay stub.
- Your Social Security card if you have it. If you know the number but can’t find the card, the DMV can verify it electronically.
For the road skills test, you’ll need to bring a vehicle with a valid safety inspection sticker, current plates and registration, and working brakes, seat belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors, and speedometer.5Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Road Skills Tests Rentals and Zipcars work only if you’re an authorized driver on the agreement.
Transferring an Out-of-State License at 21 or Older
If you’re 18 or older and hold a valid license from another state that hasn’t been expired more than a year, Virginia waives the knowledge exam, the road skills test, and the driver training requirements entirely. Bring your current out-of-state license along with the standard identity, legal presence, residency, and Social Security documents, pay $32, and you’ll leave with a Virginia license.6Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Apply for a Driver’s License At 21 or older, that license is horizontal.
If your out-of-state license has been expired more than a year, you’ll go through the full first-time process.
Adding REAL ID at the Same Time
Since May 7, 2025, boarding a domestic flight or entering a federal facility requires a REAL ID-compliant credential or an acceptable alternative like a passport.7Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID If you’re already visiting the DMV for a horizontal replacement or a first-time license, adding REAL ID during the same visit avoids a second trip.
A REAL ID application must be done in person. The surcharge is $10 on top of your other licensing fees. You’ll bring the same identity, residency, and Social Security documents listed above, plus proof of any legal name changes (marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or court orders) if the name on your identity document doesn’t match your current legal name.8Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions If your name has changed more than once, you need the full paper trail linking your birth-certificate name to your current name.
What It Costs
A standard Virginia driver’s license is $4 per year and valid for eight years, so a first-issue or transfer license runs $32.9Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Fee Schedule A replacement, including the vertical-to-horizontal swap, is $20.1Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Replace Your Driver’s License or Learner’s Permit Add $10 if you’re also upgrading to REAL ID. A first-time driver going the full route with a learner’s permit ($3) and REAL ID pays roughly $45.
One boundary worth naming: none of this applies while you’re still under 21. Virginia issues a vertical license to every driver in that age range regardless of application type, and there’s no way to request a horizontal card early. The horizontal format only becomes available on your 21st birthday, at which point the $20 replacement route opens up.