What to Bring to the West Virginia DMV for Your Permit Test
Don't get sent home. Here's the complete checklist — documents, fees, forms, and what to leave at home.
Before You Go
- →Make an appointment online to skip the long lines
- →Download and fill out Form DL-180 ahead of time (but don't sign it)
- →Call ahead to confirm if your specific documents are accepted
- →Bring a parent or guardian with you (they must be present)
- →Study the West Virginia Driver's Handbook thoroughly before arriving
- →Arrive 15 minutes early to handle paperwork
- →Double-check that all your documents have your current address
Required Documents
Proof of Identity (Primary Document)
- ✓Valid U.S. Passport or Passport Card
- ✓Certified U.S. Birth Certificate (issued by state/county/city)
- ✓Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- ✓Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization
- ✓Valid Foreign Passport with I-551 stamp
Bring the original document only; photocopies are not accepted. If your name has changed, bring the marriage certificate or court order linking the names.
Proof of Social Security Number
- ✓Social Security Card (original)
- ✓W-2 Form with full SSN
- ✓Paystub with full SSN
- ✓SSA-1099 Form
- ✓Non-SSA-1099 Form
West Virginia requires proof of your SSN. If you don't have a card, you must visit the Social Security Administration first to get one; there is no waiver for teens.
Proof of West Virginia Residency
Bring 2 of these:
- ✓Utility bill (electric, water, gas) issued within last 60 days
- ✓Bank statement with current address
- ✓Parent's lease or mortgage statement
- ✓School report card or transcript with home address
- ✓Official mail from a government agency
For a REAL ID, you need two different documents proving residency. For a standard license, one is usually sufficient, but bringing two is safer.
Parental / Guardian Consent (applicants under 18)
- ✓Parent or legal guardian must sign the application in person at the DMV
- ✓If the parent cannot appear, a notarized consent form (Form DL-180TD) is required
- ✓Legal guardians must bring court documents proving guardianship
- ✓Both parents must sign if the teen lives with both, unless one has sole custody
- ✓Foster parents must bring specific foster care documentation
If you are a foster child, your caseworker must sign the consent form. Single parents with sole custody need to bring the court order proving that status.
Fees & Payment
$7.50
This fee covers the learner's permit application and the written test. If you fail the written test, you must wait 24 hours and pay a retest fee (usually $5).
Accepted payment:
Forms
Application for Driver's License (Form DL-180)
Available at: DMV office or download from dmv.wv.gov
Do NOT sign the form until you are standing in front of the DMV clerk; they need to witness your signature.
What NOT to Bring
- ✗Your cell phone (turn it off or leave it in the car; no texting during the test)
- ✗Large backpacks or heavy bags (storage is limited)
- ✗Friends or siblings (they cannot wait inside the testing area)
- ✗Pets (service animals only)
- ✗Food or drinks (no eating in the testing room)
- ✗Your own pen (use the one provided by the DMV)
- ✗Photocopies of documents (they must be originals)
At the Office
- →The written test is computer-based and multiple-choice
- →You must pass with a score of 80% (16 out of 20 correct)
- →If you fail, you can retake it the next day for a small fee
- →Once you pass, you'll get an interim paper permit immediately
- →Your hard plastic permit card will arrive by mail in 10-14 days
Official West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles info: dmv.wv.gov
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