Motor Vehicles

State laws vary regarding motor vehicle insurance requirements, licensing and registration. The term vehicle generally includes automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trailers and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight.

Visit the USA.gov Motor Vehicle Services page for links to state-specific websites.

Virginia State law requires you to have sufficient liability insurance and a valid driver’s license in order to operate a vehicle.

Vehicle Registration

All privately owned vehicles entering Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall must be licensed, registered, inspected and insured IAW state and local laws. However, installation registration for vehicles is no longer required. Drivers with a valid DoD-issued ID card will be authorized to enter and will not be required to undergo a search.

Child Restraint

Article 13. Child Restraints. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title46.2/chapter10/article13/

§ 46.2-1095. Child restraint devices required when transporting certain children; safety belts for passengers less than 18 years old required.
A. Any person who drives on the highways of Virginia any motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968, shall ensure that any child, up to age eight, whom he transports therein is provided with and properly secured in a child restraint device of a type which meets the standards adopted by the United States Department of Transportation. Such child restraint device shall not be forward-facing until at least (i) the child reaches two years of age or (ii) the child reaches the minimum weight limit for a forward-facing child restraint device as prescribed by the manufacturer of the device. Further, child restraint devices shall be placed in the back seat of a vehicle. In the event the vehicle does not have a back seat, the child restraint device may be placed in the front passenger seat only if the vehicle is either not equipped with a passenger side airbag or the passenger side airbag has been deactivated.

B. Any person transporting another person less than 18 years old, except for those required pursuant to subsection A to be secured in a child restraint device, shall ensure that such person is provided with and properly secured by an appropriate safety belt system when driving on the highways of Virginia in any motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968, equipped or required by the provisions of this title to be equipped with a safety belt system, consisting of lap belts, shoulder harnesses, combinations thereof or similar devices.

C. A violation of this section shall not constitute negligence, be considered in mitigation of damages of whatever nature, be admissible in evidence or be the subject of comment by counsel in any action for the recovery of damages in a civil action.

D. A violation of this section may be charged on the uniform traffic summons form.

E. Nothing in this section shall apply to any person operating taxicabs, school buses, executive sedans, or limousines. The provisions of (i) subsection B shall not apply to any person operating an emergency medical services agency vehicle, fire company vehicle, fire department vehicle, or law-enforcement agency vehicle while in the performance of his official duties and (ii) subsection A shall not apply to any person operating any such vehicle in the performance of his official duties, under exigent circumstances, provided that no child restraint device is readily available.

Driver's License

If you are an active duty member of the Armed Forces stationed in Virginia, you, your spouse and dependent children may drive with a valid driver's license issued by your home state or country. You are not required to obtain a Virginia driver's license; however, if you choose to apply, you will need documents to prove identity, Virginia residency, legal presence, and social security number. The DMV website offers a complete list of documents that are acceptable.

Vehicle Registration

While stationed in Virginia, you may title and register your vehicle in your home state, or you may title and register the vehicle in Virginia. Vehicles titled and registered in the military member's name ONLY may be driven with valid out-of state license plates. If the vehicle is co-owned and an out-of-state plate is used, all co-owners must be active duty members of the Armed Forces. If all co-owners are not active duty, the vehicle will need to be registered in Virginia.

Insurance Requirements

You may title and register your vehicle in Virginia without obtaining a Virginia driver's license, but before you put plates on your vehicle, it will need to be inspected and insured. All Virginia drivers must carry the minimum insurance requirements on their vehicle, or pay the Uninsured Motor Vehicle fee, before registering a vehicle in Virginia. Be sure your insurance carrier is authorized to conduct business in Virginia.

Virginia requires the following minimum coverage:

• Bodily injury/death of one person: $25,000
• Bodily injury/death of two or more persons: $50,000
• Property damage: $20,000

County Decal Requirements

The locality in which you live may or may not require you to register the vehicle. Once you have established where you will live, contact your locality to determine if a county decal is required. You can find this information by contacting the local Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer or Director of Finance or searching a link on the DMV website.

State and local laws regulate the operation of motor vehicles, and these laws can vary by location. Many states regulate the following:

• Seatbelt use
• Child safety seats
• Motorcycle operation
• The use of cellphones and other digital devices while driving

Learn more about motor vehicle laws in your state at the Distraction.gov State Laws page.

You and your passengers must always wear seatbelts while driving. You will be ticketed and issued heavy fines if seatbelts are not secured. State law requires that all children under 7 years of age be properly restrained in child seats. Some states also require younger, smaller children to sit in the back seat.

Motorcycles and their operators are subject to special laws. If you own and operate a motorcycle, you must comply with those laws. Visit the State Department of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Many states and local jurisdictions have strict laws about the use of cell phones and other digital devices while driving. Research these laws on the State Department of Motor Vehicles website. Tickets will be issued and fines assessed for violating these laws. Play it safe and always use a “hands free” device if you must use a cell phone or other PDA while driving. Hands-free devices must be used while operating a motor vehicle on ALL military installations worldwide.