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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>61610</law_id><section_number>46.2-300</section_number><catch_line>Driving without license prohibited; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>12.1-19</reference><reference>15.2-1716</reference><reference>16.1-228</reference><reference>16.1-69.48:1</reference><reference>17.1-293</reference><reference>18.2-6</reference><reference>19.2-327.15</reference><reference>2.2-3705.7</reference><reference>2.2-3808</reference><reference>2.2-3808.1</reference><reference>20-107.1</reference><reference>20-60.3</reference><reference>22.1-205</reference><reference>22.1-289.031</reference><reference>24.2-410.1</reference><reference>24.2-411.3</reference><reference>24.2-416.7</reference><reference>32.1-291.2</reference><reference>33.2-613</reference><reference>4.1-305</reference><reference>46.2-100</reference><reference>46.2-203.2</reference><reference>46.2-209</reference><reference>46.2-216.1</reference><reference>46.2-221</reference><reference>46.2-221.2</reference><reference>46.2-301.1</reference><reference>46.2-302</reference><reference>46.2-384</reference><reference>46.2-411.1</reference><reference>46.2-908.3</reference><reference>59.1-442</reference><reference>59.1-443.3</reference><reference>8.01-420.8</reference><reference>8.9A-503</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Unlicensed Driving Prohibited</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No person, except those expressly exempted in &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Licenses not required for operating road roller or farm tractor" href="/46.2-303/">46.2-303</a> through <a class="law" title="Temporary exemption for new resident licensed under laws of another state; privately owned vehicle driver's licenses" href="/46.2-308/">46.2-308</a>, shall drive any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> in the Commonwealth until such person has applied for a <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license, as provided in this article, satisfactorily passed the examination required by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Examination of applicants; waiver of Department's examination under certain circumstances; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-325/">46.2-325</a>, and obtained a <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license, nor unless the license is valid.
		A violation of this section is a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. A second or subsequent violation of this section is a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>.
		Upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> under this section, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> the person&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive for a period not to exceed 90 days.
		The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in its discretion, dismiss the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> or warrant, where proof of compliance with this section is provided to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> on or before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> date, unless such person was operating a commercial <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-341.4/">46.2-341.4</a>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-347; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-349; 1968, c. 494; 1970, c. 347; 1984, c. 780; 1989, c. 727; 2005, c. 245; 2007, c. 532; 2008, c. 684; 2025, c. 121.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
