Your Complete Guide to Virginia Motorcycle Laws

While riding your motorcycle in Virginia is exciting, it’s also crucial to follow the law. Otherwise, you could face legal penalties or trouble recovering fair compensation after a crash. Our Virginia motorcycle accident attorneys have compiled this guide to the key laws you must follow while riding.

Helmet and Equipment Requirements

Virginia law requires all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear helmets, regardless of age or experience. Your helmet must meet safety standards from the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

There are a few exceptions to the Virginia motorcycle helmet law. Riders on motorcycles with wheels eight inches or smaller do not need helmets. The same is true for riders in enclosed three-wheeled vehicles with fixed roofs and windshields.

Beyond helmets, Virginia also requires motorcycles to have specific safety equipment:

• Headlights – Your motorcycle must have at least one headlight that can light the road 200 feet ahead. You may also add up to two auxiliary headlights, but they must not be too bright or have a blue tint.
• Brake light and tail light – Your brake light must work properly to signal when you slow or stop. You also need a red tail light that’s visible from 500 feet and lights up your license plate from at least 50 feet away.
• Mirrors and horn – You must have at least one rearview mirror for safe lane changes and awareness. State law also requires your motorcycle to have a working horn to alert other drivers and pedestrians when necessary.
• Passenger gear – If your bike is designed to carry a passenger, it must have a separate seat and footpegs for them.

Licensing and Training Requirements

You can’t ride a motorcycle legally in Virginia without the proper license or endorsement. The state offers several options based on the type of bike you ride:

• Class M – For both two- and three-wheeled motorcycles.
• Class M2 – For two-wheeled motorcycles only.
• Class M3 – For three-wheeled motorcycles only.

If your license includes a restriction code “6,” that means you’re limited to motorcycles only and cannot drive a standard passenger vehicle.

To add a motorcycle designation to your existing Virginia driver’s license, you must complete these steps:

• Pass a vision screening
• Complete the Virginia Rider Training Program OR
• Pass the motorcycle knowledge exam and hold a learner’s permit for 30 days
• Pass the motorcycle road skills test (the state waives this step if you complete the training program)

If you’re under 18, these are the steps to get your motorcycle license:

• Pass the vision screening
• Complete the Virginia Rider Training Program and hold a learner’s permit for nine months OR
• Pass the motorcycle knowledge exam and hold a learner’s permit for nine months
• Pass the motorcycle road skills test

Insurance and Inspection Laws

Virginia motorcycle laws require all riders to buy liability insurance to cover injuries and property damage they cause in a collision. In the past, riders could pay a fee to ride uninsured, but that’s no longer an option.

In addition to insurance, all motorcycles must pass a yearly safety inspection. Inspections typically cover your brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, and other safety components. If your motorcycle fails an inspection, you must fix the issue before it can legally return to the road.

Lane-Splitting Rules and Riding Practices

Lane-splitting—riding between two lanes of slow or stopped traffic—is illegal in Virginia. However, two motorcycles can legally ride side-by-side in a single lane. This practice can make riders more visible to drivers and reduce the risk of being squeezed out of a lane.

Law Tigers: Protecting Virginia Riders

Understanding the laws is just the first step in staying safe on the road. If you’re ever involved in a motorcycle accident in Virginia, Law Tigers is here to fight for your rights and protect our riding community.