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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64850</law_id><section_number>46.2-328</section_number><catch_line>Department to issue licenses; endorsements, classifications, and restrictions authorizing operation of certain vehicles</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-312</reference><reference>46.2-325</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="4">Obtaining Licenses, Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> to every person licensed as a <span class="dictionary">driver</span> a <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license. Every <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license shall contain all appropriate endorsements, classifications, and restrictions, where applicable, if the licensee has been licensed: <a id="paragraph-235999" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To operate a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-100/">46.2-100</a>; <a id="paragraph-236000" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To operate a <span class="dictionary">school bus</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-100/">46.2-100</a>; <a id="paragraph-236001" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> To operate a commercial <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> pursuant to the provisions of the Virginia Commercial <span class="dictionary">Driver</span>&#x2019;s License Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Title" href="/46.2-341.1/">46.2-341.1</a> et seq.); or <a id="paragraph-236002" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> To operate a <span class="dictionary">passenger car</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-100/">46.2-100</a>. <a id="paragraph-236003" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Every applicant intending to operate one or more of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicles</span> described in subsection A, when applying for a <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license, shall state in his application the classification of each vehicle that he intends to operate and for which he seeks to be licensed and submit to and pass the examination provided for in &#xA7; <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, if applicable, &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination and road test required for license to operate motorcycle; regulations" href="/46.2-337/">46.2-337</a> and <a class="law" title="Testing requirements for commercial driver's license; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-341.14/">46.2-341.14</a>, using the type of each vehicle for which he seeks to be licensed. <a id="paragraph-236004" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Every applicant intending to drive a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span>, when applying for a classification to authorize the driving of a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span>, shall submit to and pass the examination provided for in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination and road test required for license to operate motorcycle; regulations" href="/46.2-337/">46.2-337</a>. A classification on any license to drive a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> shall indicate that the license is classified for the purpose of authorizing the licensee to drive only <span class="dictionary">motorcycles</span> and shall indicate as applicable a further restriction to a two-wheeled <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> only or a three-wheeled <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> only. However, if the applicant has a valid license at the time of application for a classification to drive a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span>, or if the applicant, at the time of such application, applies for a regular <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license and submits to and passes the examination provided for in &#xA7; <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>, he shall be granted a classification on his license to drive <span class="dictionary">motorcycles</span> based on the applicable restrictions, in addition to any other vehicles his <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license or commercial <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license may authorize him to operate.
			A valid Virginia <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license issued to a person 19 years of age or older shall constitute a <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license with a temporary <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> classification for the purposes of driving a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> if the <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license is accompanied by either (i) documentation verifying his successful completion of a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> rider safety training course offered by a provider licensed under Article 23 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Motorcycle rider safety training courses" href="/46.2-1188/">46.2-1188</a> et seq.) of Chapter 10 or (ii) documentation that the license holder is a member, the spouse of a member, or a dependent of a member of the United States Armed Services and that the license holder has successfully completed a basic <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> rider course approved by the United States Armed Services. The temporary <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> classification shall only be valid for 30 days from the date of successful completion of the <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> rider safety training course as shown on the documentation evidencing completion of such course. The temporary <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> classification shall indicate whether the license holder is authorized to operate any <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> or is restricted to either a two-wheeled <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> only or a three-wheeled <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> only.
			Any person who holds a valid Virginia <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license and is a member, the spouse of a member, or a dependent of a member of the United States Armed Services shall be issued a <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> classification by mail upon documentation of (a) successful completion of a basic <span class="dictionary">motorcycle</span> rider course approved by the United States Armed Services and (b) documentation of his assignment outside the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-236005" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Department</span> may make any changes in the classifications and endorsements during the validity of the license as may be appropriate. <a id="paragraph-236006" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The provisions of this section shall be applicable to persons applying for learner&#x2019;s permits as otherwise provided for in this title. <a id="paragraph-236007" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Every person issued a <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license or commercial <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license who drives any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> of the classifications in this section and whose <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license does not carry an endorsement or indication that the licensee is licensed as provided in this section is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-236008" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-328/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-368; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-373; 1964, c. 239; 1968, c. 642; 1970, c. 696; 1984, cc. 73, 476, 780; 1989, cc. 705, 727; 2000, c. 269; 2007, c. 190; 2009, c. 77; 2013, cc. 673, 783, 789; 2016, c. 368.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
