No more skipping driver's ed at 18 in Virginia
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Getting your first driver's license in Virginia is about to get a little more complicated — at least if you're between 18 and 20.
Why it matters: A new state law is closing a loophole that allowed young adults to skip driver's ed simply by waiting until 18 to get licensed.
State of play: Starting Jan. 1, first-time drivers ages 18 to 20 must complete driver's ed and hold a learner's permit for at least 90 days.
- Currently, they can choose between taking a driver's ed course and holding a permit for 60 days.
- The new rules apply even to those who already have permits, though time already spent holding one counts toward the new requirement.
- Rules for drivers under 18 and ages 21+ aren't changing.
Zoom in: Lawmakers passed the new requirements this spring amid concerns about inexperienced young drivers.
- The legislation had support from a Virginia mother whose 16-year-old son was killed in a 2019 crash involving an unlicensed teen driver. She called the existing rules "a dangerous loophole," WTVR reported.
- A 2022 study of more than 136,000 young drivers found those first licensed at 18 had the highest first-year crash rates — and held learner's permits for about two fewer months, on average, than those licensed at 16.
The big picture: The changes come as young Americans are waiting longer to get licensed.
- Just 60% of American 18-year-olds had driver's licenses in 2024, down from 67% in 2004, according to new federal data.
- Virginia has been gradually tightening its rules for young drivers for decades, including adding restrictions on nighttime driving and passengers.
The bottom line: If you're 18 to 20 and planning to get your license next year, plan ahead.