Everything a West Virginia parent needs in one place — required practice hours, night-driving rules, permit age, and what the written test looks like — plus a free log that keeps the hours straight.
Requirements summarized from the official West Virginia driver handbook.
Restrictions: Licensed driver 21+ in front seat; 50 supervised hours (10 at night) over at least 6 months
Restrictions: No driving 10pm-5am except for work, school or emergencies; passenger limits on unrelated passengers under 20
Restrictions: Unrestricted at 17 with a clean record, or at 18
Everyone in a passenger vehicle must wear a federally approved safety belt, and the driver is responsible for ensuring all passengers are buckled. The only legal exception is for persons 18 years or older riding in the back seat, though a medical exception may sometimes be issued.
Unless otherwise posted or unsafe for conditions, designated limits are 70mph on interstates, 55mph on open county highways, 25mph in business or residential areas, and 15mph in school zones while children are present along the roadway. Always drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for existing conditions.
West Virginia prohibits drivers under the age of 21 from driving with any measurable alcohol; the handbook also states that BAC is illegal at 0.02% or higher for drivers under the age of 21 and 0.08% or higher for drivers over the age of 21. Level 1 and Level 2 GDL drivers may not use a wireless communication device while driving unless contacting a 9-1-1 system.
In a school zone, the maximum speed limit is 15 m.p.h. when children are present or when specified; yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and to blind pedestrians using a white or metal cane or a guide dog. Traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights that is receiving or discharging students, except traffic approaching on the other side of an Interstate Highway median, and must wait until the bus moves, the driver signals, or the visual signals stop.
Yield to an emergency vehicle sounding a siren and flashing warning lights by pulling to the right edge of the road, clear of the intersection, and stopping until it passes. Check for other emergency vehicles before proceeding.
Yield to traffic already on the roadway when entering from an alley, private road, or driveway, and yield to oncoming traffic when turning left. At an uncontrolled intersection or four‑way stop, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, yield to the driver on the right.
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