How to Get Your West Virginia Driver’s License: A Complete Guide

Once you have a driver’s license, you have the freedom to go places you’ve never gone before. Whether it’s a road trip with friends and family, a new job, or just driving on your own back and forth from school, obtaining a license marks an exciting moment in life.

If you’re ready to start the process of applying for your West Virginia driver’s license, below are some things you should know before setting off on this adventure.

• If you’re a new driver age 18 or over, you will only need to hold a permit for a minimum of 30 days before you are eligible to take the driving test and get your full license.
• If you’re between the ages of 15 and 17, you’ll have to go through the three-part process of the graduated driver’s license program to get your full unrestricted license. You’ll first get an instruction permit so that you can practice driving with a licensed adult driver who will supervise you. The restricted license comes next, and with it, you can drive alone under certain conditions. Lastly, you can get your full West Virginia driver’s license, which allows you to drive on your own anytime and anywhere.

The Learner’s Permit

If you are between 15 and 17 years old, you’ll need to go through the Graduated Driver’s Licensing program. The first level is the learner’s permit which allows you to drive under the supervision of a licensed driver.

You can receive the permit after passing the vision test and written knowledge test at the DMV. The written test is one of the hardest parts of getting your West Virginia driver’s license with over a 50% fail-rate nation-wide, so we strongly recommend that you study with a proper study resource like Zutobi. Try our free West Virginia practice tests today.

If you would like to know more about this part of the licensing process, we recommend that you read our in-depth permit guide.

The Intermediate Driver’s License

When you turn 16, you’ll be allowed to move on to the second level of the graduated driver’s license program. To be eligible for an intermediate license in West Virginia, you must have had your permit for at least six months with no violations. You will also need to have 50 hours of driving logged (with 10 being night hours) and confirmed with the signature of a parent or guardian.

How to Get an Intermediate License in West Virginia

If you’re ready, schedule an appointment to take your driving exam to get your intermediate driver’s license. Here’s a list of things you must bring with you on test day:

• Your social security number and card
• Proof of identity document
• Two West Virginia residency proofs
• A Driver’s Eligibility Certificate from your school
• Cash to pay the fee
• Permission from a parent or legal guardian
• Your signed driving log (50 hours total, with 10 night hours)

Your car needs to be in proper working condition for the driving exam; make sure that mirrors, turn signals, headlights and brake lights, seat belts, etc., are all working well. Your vehicle should also be properly insured and registered.

Driving Restrictions with an Intermediate License

With an intermediate license, you are able to drive with the following restrictions:

• Everyone in the car must be wearing their safety belts.
• You are not allowed to text or talk on a cell phone while driving.
• Absolutely no alcohol is allowed.
• For the first six months after getting your license, you cannot drive anyone under age 20 who is not a family member.
• For the second six months after getting your license, you can drive with only one person under age 20 who is not a family member.
• You may not drive alone between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless you are driving to or from a school sanctioned or religious activity, employment, or an emergency situation.

Unrestricted West Virginia Driver’s License

You can apply for your full West Virginia driver’s license at a driver’s licensing office once you turn 17 years old and have had the intermediate license with no infractions for at least one year.

With the full license, you’re allowed to drive anytime and anywhere without an adult in the car. You will only have to follow the basic restrictions that all West Virginia drivers have to follow:

• No alcohol is allowed.
• Everyone in the car must be wearing their safety belts.

Your license will remain valid until you turn 21.

That’s It!

That’s everything you need to know about getting your driver’s license in West Virginia. We hope this guide has helped you out and that you now feel comfortable with the steps moving forward. If you need any help studying for your upcoming knowledge or driving exams, then Zutobi is the perfect study resource with a summarized handbook, West Virginia permit practice tests, and a gamified experience.