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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>365477</law_id><section_number>46.2-302</section_number><catch_line>Driving while restoration of license is contingent on furnishing proof of financial responsibility</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-384</reference><reference>46.2-936</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="101" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Unlicensed Driving Prohibited</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No resident or <span class="dictionary">nonresident</span> (i) whose <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license or learner&#x2019;s permit has been suspended or revoked by any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> or by operation of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, pursuant to the provisions of this title or of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Forfeiture of driver's license for driving while intoxicated" href="/18.2-271/">18.2-271</a>, or who has been disqualified pursuant to the provisions of the Virginia Commercial <span class="dictionary">Driver</span>&#x2019;s License Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Title" href="/46.2-341.1/">46.2-341.1</a> et seq.), or (ii) who has been forbidden as prescribed by <span class="dictionary">law</span> by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, the State Corporation <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of <span class="dictionary">Highways</span>, or the <span class="dictionary">Superintendent</span> of State Police, to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in the Commonwealth shall drive any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in the Commonwealth during any period wherein the restoration of license or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> is contingent upon the furnishing of proof of <span class="dictionary">financial responsibility</span>, unless he has given proof of <span class="dictionary">financial responsibility</span> in the manner provided in Article 15 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Proof of financial responsibility to be furnished for each vehicle" href="/46.2-435/">46.2-435</a> et seq.) of Chapter 3 of this title. Any person who drives a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> on the roads of the Commonwealth and has furnished proof of <span class="dictionary">financial responsibility</span> but who has failed to pay a reinstatement fee, shall be tried under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Driving without license prohibited; penalties" href="/46.2-300/">46.2-300</a>.</p><p>A first <span class="dictionary">offense</span> violation of this section shall constitute a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. A second or subsequent violation of this section shall constitute a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-484; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-351; 1960, cc. 157, 364; 1962, c. 302; 1980, c. 29; 1984, c. 780; 1989, cc. 705, 727; 1991, c. 118.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>Samuel Ellis, Jr. v. Commonwealth of Virginia</name><case_number>0818211</case_number><citation></citation><date>2022-07-19</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/6624716/samuel-ellis-jr-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Barden v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>Record No. 1027-14-4</case_number><citation>64 Va. App. 700</citation><date>2016-05-12</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/8212029/barden-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. ALSTON, Judge. .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="2"><name>Kenneth Lee Barden v. Commonwealth of Virginia</name><case_number>1027144</case_number><citation></citation><date>2015-05-12</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2800134/kenneth-lee-barden-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="3"><name>Commonwealth of Virginia, DMV v. Arthles H. Lynn</name><case_number>0427981</case_number><citation>29 Va. App. 151</citation><date>1999-02-02</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1066512/commonwealth-of-virginia-dmv-v-arthles-h-lynn/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. BENTON, Judge. .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="4"><name>Hoye v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>Record No. 0071-90-4</case_number><citation>405 S.E.2d 628</citation><date>1991-06-04</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1233447/hoye-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 405 S.E.2d 628 (1991) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="5"><name>Lawrence D. Loflin v. Commonwealth</name><case_number>1365972</case_number><citation>27 Va. App. 626</citation><date>1998-06-30</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1066801/lawrence-d-loflin-v-commonwealth/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. ELDER, Judge. .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
