Virginia driving guide

Exploring Virginia by road is one of the best ways to experience everything this wonderful state has to offer. But before you embark on your epic adventure, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations for driving in Virginia.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most important driving rules in Virginia, including speed limits, toll roads and car seat requirements.

Jump to a section:

• Quick rules of the road
• Speed limits
• Toll roads
• Driving ages
• Essential equipment
• Speed violations
• Driving with children
• Gas prices
• Electric car charging
• Driving between Virginia and other states
• Driving conditions 

Quick rules of the road

• When two vehicles approach an intersection at the same time, the driver on the left side of the road should give way to the vehicle on the right.
• Headlights must be used in rainy weather and after sunset.
• It is illegal to use a handheld communications device while driving in Virginia, but hands-free cell phones are fine. 

Speed limits in Virginia

Virginia traffic laws determine the maximum speed that vehicles can legally drive on the road. Driving over the speed limit in Virginia may result in a fine, license suspension or even arrest.

Toll roads in Virginia

There are several toll roads, bridges and tunnels in VA. These include:  

Dulles Toll Road

The Dulles Toll Road is a 14-mile highway in Northern Virginia that provides access to interchanges between the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Washington Dulles International Airport.  

From: Capital Beltway

To: Washington Dulles International Airport

Cost for car: $3.25 at main toll plaza – or $1.50 at the on/off ramps

Cost for truck: $3.00 to $6.50, depending on entry and exit point

How to pay: The best way to travel along the Dulles Toll Road is by using E-ZPass.

Powhite Parkway

Powhite Parkway, also known as SR 76, is a toll road that connects SR 652 with the I-195, along the outskirts of Richmond.

From: SR 652

To: I-195

Cost for car: $0.25 to $0.75, depending on distance traveled

Cost for truck: $0.35 to $1.00 (based on three axles)

How to pay: E-ZPass, cash and automated payments.

Route 186 Chesapeake Expressway

Route 186 Chesapeake Expressway is a 16-mile-long divided highway linking I-64 in Chesapeake to North Carolina and the Outer Banks.

From: SR 168, North Carolina

To: Near Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

Cost for car: $4.00 – or $9.00 at peak travel times (weekends)

Cost for truck (three axles): $5.00 – or $10.00 at weekends

How to Pay: Tolls can be paid using cash or E-ZPass.

Downtown Expressway

The Downtown Expressway, or SR 195, runs for 3.39 miles, connecting the West End of Richmond with Downtown Richmond.

From: West End of Richmond

To: Downtown Richmond

Cost for car: $0.30 to $0.70

Cost for truck (three axles): $0.60 to $0.80

How to Pay: E-ZPass only.

Pocahontas Parkway

Pocahontas Parkway, also known as SR 895, connects junctions I-95 and SR 150 with the I-295 near Richmond International Airport.

From: SR 150

To: Trumpet interchange with I-295.

Cost for car: $3.00 to $5.20

Cost for truck (three axles): $4.20 to $6.40

How to Pay: Tolls can be paid with your E-ZPass and credit or debit cards. Cash is also accepted at the main plaza and the Laburnum and Airport drive exits and entrances.

The George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge

The George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge spans the York River, between Yorktown and Glouchester Point.

From: York County

To: Glouchester

Cost for car: $2.00

Cost for truck (three axles): $3.00

How to Pay: E-ZPass only.

Boulevard Bridge

The 2,030-foot long Boulevard Bridge carries State Route 161 across the James River.

From: State Route 161

To: James River

Cost for car: $0.35

Cost for truck (three axles): $0.70

How to Pay: E-ZPass, cash and automated payments are accepted.

The Jordan Bridge

The Jordan Bridge, also known as the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge, carries SR 377 over the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, VA.

From: Victory Boulevard

To: Poindexter Street

Cost for car: $2.75 with E-ZPass, $6.05 via Pay by Plate

Cost for truck (three axles): $6.05 with E-ZPass, $9.85 via Pay by Plate

How to pay: E-Pass and Pay by Plate.

Elizabeth River Tunnels

The Elizabeth River Tunnels (formerly known as Midtown Tunnel) provide access between the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. There is a Downtown Tunnel (I-264) and a Midtown Tunnel (US 58).

From: Norfolk

To: Portsmouth

Cost for car: $1.94-$2.50 with E-ZPass or $5.81-$6.37 via Pay by Plate (depending on time of travel)

Cost for truck: $5.80-$9.98 with E-ZPass or $9.67-$13.85 via Pay by Plate (depending on time of travel)

How to pay: You can save up to 60% on travel when you pay with E-ZPass. Alternatively, you can pay by plate on the Elizabeth River Tunnels website.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is a 17.6-mile tunnel that connects Northampton County with Virginia Beach.

From: Northampton County

To: Virginia Beach

Cost for car: $2.50

Cost for truck (three axles): $8.00

How to pay: E-ZPass, cash and credit card payments are accepted.

Driving ages and license requirements in Virginia

• The legal driving age in Virginia is 16
• The minimum age to rent a car in Virginia is 21

Drivers under the age of 25 may have additional fees or requirements to pay. You can find out more about renting with Hertz when you’re under 25 in our guide.

Essential equipment to carry in your car in Virginia

Ensuring you have the right equipment in your car is important as it can help you deal with unforeseen obstacles on the road.

Here are a few essential items to carry in your car:

• Owner’s manual – can provide specific instructions on how to deal with common emergencies, such as how to change a flat tire or jump start the car.
• Driving license – by law, you must have this close at hand when you’re on the road.
• First aid kit – if you’re in an accident, you’ll want to make sure you have a basic first aid kit available.
• Tire jack, spare tire and lung wrench – in case you get a flat tire or puncture.

Virginia speed violations, infractions and penalties

Exceeding the speed limit in Virginia could land you a speeding ticket, which can result in serious penalties.

Speeding tickets may be punished with fines and demerit points. The number of points you receive will depend on how fast you were driving:

• Three points – driving between one and nine miles per hour over the speed limit.
• Four points – driving between 10 and 19mph over the speed limit.
• Six points – driving 20 mph or more over the speed limit.

You may also have to pay additional court fees and your driving license may be suspended if you receive too many points in a short period of time.

Driving with children in Virginia

Car seat requirements in Virginia state that children must travel in a child safety seat or child booster seat up until the age of eight. There are no height or weight requirements.

Gas prices in Virginia

The average gas price in Virginia is $3.50 per gallon.

Based on manufacturers’ average fuel figures:

• For a small car like a Ford Focus, that’s about $0.09 per mile.
• For a larger family car like a Nissan Pathfinder, it works out at $0.12 per mile.

Gas price figure last updated November 11, 2022.

Electric car charging in Virginia

There are over 800 public charging stations in Virginia. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant coastal city of Virginia Beach or uncovering Richmond’s history, you’ll never be too far away from an EV charging point.

You’ll find EV charging points everywhere, including in and around the cities, hotels and service stations.

Driving between Virginia and other states

You can easily drive your rental car between different states, so long as you follow the rules and regulations of that state. This is ideal if you’re wanting to explore more of the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern regions of the US, or travel between multiple cities for business.

Find out more about driving around Virginia’s neighboring states, including North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia and Maryland.

Driving conditions in Virginia

Virginia has a humid, sub-tropical climate, with warm summers and moderately cold winters. The hottest month of the year in Virginia is July, with average highs of 86°F. January is typically the coldest month, with temperatures ranging from 30-50°F.

There can be extreme weather events such as tropical storms and hurricanes in Fairfax County. When driving around Virginia, be sure to check the weather conditions before setting off to guarantee a smooth road trip.