Booking a Virginia DMV appointment

How to book

1. Open the DMV's Reserve Your Spot page and choose the appointment scheduler.
2. Choose your service, such as a learner's permit and knowledge exam, a road skills test or a REAL ID.
3. Pick a customer service center, then a date and time.
4. For a road skills test, arrive 15 minutes early.
5. To cancel or check a booking, use the View/Cancel Appointments page.

Walking in, and the text e-ticket

If you'd rather not book, you can join a same-day line by text. Pick an office on the locations page, scan its QR code or text its code to 89247, then text 'I am here' when you arrive. In the lobby you can check in at the information desk or scan the QR code there.

Wait times for walk-ins are shown on each office's page.

When offices are open

Most of the 75 customer service centers open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, as of October 2026. Eighteen are weekday-only, including Lebanon, Marion, Staunton, Waynesboro and Woodstock. Appointments themselves are only offered Monday to Friday, so Saturday is walk-in time.

If you can't book online

Call (804) 497-7100, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday 8 a.m. to noon. Call center staff can't book beyond what the online calendar shows, so phoning won't get you an earlier slot. For TTY, dial 711.