Moving out of Virginia: plates, insurance order, deadlines
The duties below bind a person leaving Virginia. Each carries its source
and a visible verification date; expand any citation for the exact quoted
text. Verified Aug 2026.
Plate surrender
binds: vehicle owner · verified Aug 2026
permanent departure from Virginia with a Virginia-registered vehicle
Who this covers, exactly
Owner of a Virginia-registered vehicle leaving the Commonwealth. INSTRUMENT NOT LOCATED: DMV states the duty and the sequencing, but no Code section imposing surrender-on-departure was found in this pass. Encoded from the agency source and flagged. Machine-readable form in trigger_clause.
Clocks | Kind | Clock | Runs from | Source |
| duty deadline | interval-free ordering rule | departure from Virginia -- DMV states no interval noteThird state in this pass whose plate-surrender duty is stated as an ORDERING rather than a countdown (with Maryland and New York). None of the three gives an interval for the act itself. | Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" |
ORDERING: the Virginia insurance must remain in force until the plates are surrendered. Encoded as a constraint.
Sequence cancellation of the Virginia motor vehicle insurance policy must come only after the surrendered Virginia licence plates. Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia"
Sequence cancellation of the present insurance before coverage is obtained from another insurance company must come only after the new policy in force. Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia"
If missed
Operating an uninsured motor vehicle licensed in or subject to registration in the Commonwealth is a Class 3 misdemeanor (Va. Code s. 46.2-707). That is the exposure from cancelling coverage while still registered -- it is NOT a penalty for failing to surrender.
criminal Class 3 misdemeanor for owning and operating, or permitting operation of, an uninsured motor vehicle licensed in or subject to registration in Virginia. This is the exposure created by cancelling coverage while still registered, not a penalty for failing to surrender. Va. Code s. 46.2-707
administrative suspension Suspension of the driver license and all registration certificates and license plates until reinstatement requirements are met. Va. Code s. 46.2-706(B)
monetary $600 per noncompliance event $600 noncompliance fee payable to the Commissioner. Va. Code s. 46.2-706(B)
Does this apply to you? Conditions and carve-outs
Applies where DMV's insurance verification (fed by insurer reporting under s. 46.2-706.1) finds the registered vehicle uninsured and the owner fails to resolve it within 30 days -- i.e. where insurance was cancelled while the plates were still out.
Same condition as the suspension: an unresolved insurance verification failure under s. 46.2-706(B).
Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" -- AGENCY SOURCE ONLY; no Code instrument located verified Aug 2026
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/moving/leaving-virginia
surrender your license plate
Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" -- the sequencing instruction verified Aug 2026
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/moving/leaving-virginia
Notify your insurance company of your move and provide them with your new address. If you wish to cancel your present insurance, do not do so until you get coverage from another insurance company.
Va. Code s. 46.2-707 -- operation of an uninsured vehicle verified Aug 2026
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-707/
Any person who owns an uninsured motor vehicle (i) licensed in the Commonwealth, (ii) subject to registration in the Commonwealth, or (iii) displaying temporary license plates provided for in s. 46.2-1558 who operates or permits the operation of that motor vehicle is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Va. Code s. 46.2-706(B) -- suspension and noncompliance fee under the insurance verification scheme verified Aug 2026
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter6/section46.2-706/
shall require the Commissioner to suspend any driver's license and all registration certificates and license plates ... paid to the Commissioner a noncompliance fee of $600
Driver license address
binds: licensed driver · verified Aug 2026
moving from the address shown in the driver license or special identification card application or record
Who this covers, exactly
Any person who, after applying for or obtaining a Virginia driver license or special identification card, moves from the address of record. Binds the CREDENTIAL HOLDER. Machine-readable form in trigger_clause.
Clocks | Kind | Clock | Runs from | Source |
| duty deadline | 30 days | the move from the address of record noteThirty days, matching Maryland; New York is ten for the same duty. | Va. Code s. 46.2-324(A) |
If missed
A $5 fee may be imposed for failing to notify (s. 46.2-324(C)), waived where the address came from the National Change of Address System. SEPARATELY, where the new address is outside Virginia, DMV mails a cancellation notice within three days and CANCELS the licence or ID 30 days after mailing -- unless the person is on active duty with the armed forces, is a US citizen residing abroad for their own or a spouse's or parent's employment, or proves bona fide Virginia residency. Under s. 46.2-324(E) a court may dismiss a summons if proof of compliance is provided on or before the court date.
monetary $5 per failure to notify A $5 fee may be imposed for failing to notify. Va. Code s. 46.2-324(C)
administrative suspension Cancellation of the driver license and/or special identification card. DMV mails notice of cancellation, then cancels; the two-stage clock is in the deadline rows attached to this consequence. Va. Code s. 46.2-324(A)
Does this apply to you? Conditions and carve-outs
Not imposed where the address was obtained from the National Change of Address System (s. 46.2-324(C)).
Applies only where the residential address has changed to a non-Virginia address, AND none of the three s. 46.2-324(A) exceptions holds: (i) the person is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States; (ii) the person proves they are a U.S. citizen residing outside the United States because of their own, a spouse's, or a parent's employment; (iii) the person proves to the Commissioner that they are a bona fide resident of Virginia. Separately, a court may dismiss a summons under s. 46.2-324(E) on proof of compliance on or before the court date.
Exceptions on record
Va. Code s. 46.2-324(A) -- three exceptions suspending cancellation, not the deadline
unless the person (i) is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States, (ii) provides proof that he is a U.S. citizen and resides outside the United States because of his employment or the employment of a spouse or parent, or (iii) provides proof satisfactory to the Commissioner that he is a bona fide resident of Virginia
Va. Code s. 46.2-324(E) -- cure provision extinguishing the summons
For any summons issued for a violation of this section, the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the summons, where proof of compliance with this section is provided to the court on or before the court date.
Va. Code s. 46.2-324(A) -- licence and ID holders to notify of change of address verified Aug 2026
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-324/
Whenever any person, after applying for or obtaining a driver's license or special identification card shall move from the address shown in the application or on the license or special identification card, he shall, within 30 days, notify the Department of his change of address.
Va. Code s. 46.2-324(A) -- cancellation on an out-of-state address, with its own clock verified Aug 2026
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-324/
the Department shall (i) mail, by first-class mail, no later than three days after the notice of address change is received by the Department, notice to the person that his license and/or special identification card will be cancelled by the Department and (ii) cancel the driver's license and/or special identification card 30 days after notice of cancellation has been mailed.
Va. Code s. 46.2-324(C) -- $5 fee verified Aug 2026
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-324/
There may be imposed upon anyone failing to notify the Department of his change of address as required by this section a fee of $5
Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" -- three separate address records verified Aug 2026
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/moving/leaving-virginia
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can record three different addresses (residence, mailing, and vehicle registration).
Registration address
binds: vehicle owner · verified Aug 2026
moving from the address shown in the vehicle registration application, registration card or certificate of title
Who this covers, exactly
Any person who has applied for or obtained the registration or title to a vehicle and moves from the address of record. Binds the REGISTERED OWNER or TITLE HOLDER. Separate statute and separate subject from the licence notice, same 30-day interval. Machine-readable form in trigger_clause.
Clocks | Kind | Clock | Runs from | Source |
| duty deadline | 30 days | the move from the address of record | Va. Code s. 46.2-606(A) |
If missed
Not stated in s. 46.2-606(A) itself; no fee or cancellation provision equivalent to s. 46.2-324(C) was located for the registration record.
Va. Code s. 46.2-606(A) -- notice of change of address, registrant or title holder verified Aug 2026
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-606/
Whenever any person who has applied for or obtained the registration or title to a vehicle moves from the address shown in his application, registration card or certificate of title, he shall notify the Department of his change of address within 30 days.
Local property tax
binds: vehicle owner · verified Aug 2026
moving out of the Virginia locality that assesses personal property tax on the vehicle
Who this covers, exactly
Owner of a vehicle assessed for local personal property tax who moves out of the assessing locality. The duty runs to the LOCALITY, not to DMV, and DMV explicitly cannot process it. Machine-readable form in trigger_clause.
Where this applies
The Virginia locality being left. In Virginia this is a county or an independent city, and the office is the Commissioner of the Revenue or the Director of Finance. Which localities, and what each requires, is not centrally published -- DMV names the office, not the rule.
Clocks | Kind | Clock | Runs from | Source |
| duty deadline | interval-free ordering rule | moving out of the assessing locality -- no interval stated by DMV, and the local ordinance was not sourced | Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" |
If missed
Continued local assessment of personal property tax on the vehicle after departure. DMV frames the notice as the way to prevent that, so the exposure is the tax itself rather than a penalty.
monetary Continued local personal property tax assessment on the vehicle after departure. Amount is set by the locality and is not centrally published. Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia"
Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" -- notice to the locality, which DMV cannot process verified Aug 2026
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/moving/leaving-virginia
Notify the Commissioner of the Revenue or Director of Finance of the locality you are moving from to prevent the locality from continuing to assess personal property taxes on your vehicle(s).
Placard return
binds: placard holder · verified Aug 2026
moving out of Virginia while holding a Virginia disabled parking placard
Who this covers, exactly
Holder of a Virginia disabled parking placard who moves out of the Commonwealth. Neither a plate surrender nor a licensing act -- a distinct credential-termination duty attaching to a permit. Machine-readable form in trigger_clause.
Clocks | Kind | Clock | Runs from | Source |
| duty deadline | immediate | the move, either before or immediately after noteDMV gives a two-sided window -- before OR immediately after -- which is not an interval and not quite "immediate". Encoded as immediate; the "or before" half is lost. | Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" |
Return in person or by mail to Virginia DMV.
- Required first
- return of the placard to Virginia DMV in person or by mail (proof: returned disabled parking placard) Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia"
If missed
Not stated on the DMV page. No penalty is asserted.
Virginia DMV, "Leaving Virginia" -- disabled parking placard return verified Aug 2026
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/moving/leaving-virginia
If you have a disabled parking placard, you must return it to Virginia DMV in person or by mail either before or immediately after you move.
Part-year tax
binds: departing resident taxpayer · verified Aug 2026
change of place of abode to outside Virginia, on or before the last day of the taxable year, with the bona fide intention of abiding permanently outside Virginia
Who this covers, exactly
A person who changes their place of abode to a place outside the Commonwealth with the bona fide intention of continuing actually to abide permanently outside Virginia. Note the trigger is INTENTION-QUALIFIED, unlike Maryland's and New York's status-change tests. Machine-readable form in trigger_clause.
Clocks | Kind | Clock | Runs from | Source |
| duty deadline | interval-free ordering rule | the Virginia individual income tax filing date for the taxable year (a fixed calendar date, not an interval) noteSame lossy encoding as Maryland and New York. The Virginia due date itself was not sourced in this pass and no date is asserted. | Va. Code s. 58.1-303(B) |
If missed
Not encoded. Personal exemptions are prorated by days of residency over 365; s. 58.1-303 penalty provisions were not sourced.
Va. Code s. 58.1-303(B) -- residency for a portion of the tax year, departing verified Aug 2026
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/58.1-303/
Any person who, on or before the last day of the taxable year, changes his place of abode to a place without the Commonwealth with the bona fide intention of continuing actually to abide permanently without Virginia shall be taxable as a resident for only that portion of the taxable year during which he was a resident of Virginia
E-ZPass account
binds: toll account holder · verified Aug 2026
any change to the personal or vehicle information held by the E-ZPass Service Center
Who this covers, exactly
Holder of an E-ZPass Virginia account whose account information changes on relocation. An interstate move changes at least the mailing address, the driver license number AND STATE, and the licence plates -- three of the enumerated fields. Machine-readable form in trigger_clause.
Where this applies
E-ZPass Virginia, operated for the Virginia Department of Transportation. Contractual duty arising from the Customer Agreement, not from the Code.
Clocks | Kind | Clock | Runs from | Source |
| duty deadline | immediate | the change of any enumerated account information noteClause (g) says "promptly" for plates; clause (n) says "provide accurate and complete updates when information changes" with no interval. | E-ZPass Virginia Customer Agreement, clause (n) |
If missed
Not stated as a penalty. The agreement makes the user responsible for violations, fees, claims, tolls and other charges assessed against the account.
E-ZPass Virginia Customer Agreement, clause (n) -- extracted from PDF, visual validation required verified Aug 2026
https://www.ezpassva.com/media/ezpassva/content-assets/documents/agreement.pdf
To provide the E-ZPass Service Center with current, accurate and complete personal information to include, name, phone number(s), mailing address, email address, driver's license number and State, replenishment information, vehicle information, and license plates for all vehicles that will use the Transponder, and provide accurate and complete updates when information changes.
E-ZPass Virginia Customer Agreement, clause (g) -- plate information verified Aug 2026
https://www.ezpassva.com/media/ezpassva/content-assets/documents/agreement.pdf
To promptly update license plate information for