Virginia's 13-Hour Driving Limit: Fines, DMV Points & What to Do After a Ticket

Most drivers have never heard of it, but Virginia caps how long anyone may drive in a single day. It isn't just a trucking rule — the statute says “no person” may exceed it, which puts long-haul road-trippers, rideshare and delivery drivers, and anyone pulling a marathon shift behind the wheel squarely in its path.

Exceeding the limit can lead to a ticket and DMV demerit points, and it's usually a sign of something more dangerous: driving while exhausted. Here's what Virginia Code § 46.2-812 requires, what a conviction costs, how it can affect insurance, and what to do if you're cited.

What Is Virginia's 13-Hour Driving Limit?

Virginia Code § 46.2-812 prohibits any person from driving a motor vehicle on Virginia highways for more than 13 hours in any 24-hour period. Two details make the rule broader than many people expect:

• It counts out-of-state driving. Time you spent driving in another state is added in. If those hours plus your Virginia hours exceed 13 in a 24-hour period, you're over the limit.

• It applies to vehicle owners, too. No owner may cause or permit a vehicle to be driven in violation of the section — which matters for small business owners and anyone who lends a vehicle for a long run.

The statute exempts vehicles used in snow or ice control or removal operations and in similar emergency situations. It sets a cumulative cap; it does not spell out a required rest break.

Commercial drivers should note that federal hours-of-service rules for interstate carriers are separate and generally stricter, so staying under 13 hours doesn't automatically mean you're compliant with your logbook. For app-based drivers, see our guide to tickets for Uber and Lyft drivers in Virginia.

Fines & DMV Demerit Points

• Demerit points: Virginia DMV assigns 3 demerit points for “driving in excess of 13 hours in a 24-hour period.”

• Record retention: The conviction remains on your Virginia driving record for 3 years.

• Fine: It's a traffic infraction. Under Virginia Code § 46.2-113, a traffic infraction carries a fine of no more than the Class 4 misdemeanor maximum — $250 — plus court costs.

A 13-hour violation rarely shows up alone. It's often discovered during a stop for speeding, a lane violation, or a crash, so the 3 points can stack quickly on top of other convictions. Virginia's DMV sends an advisory letter at 8 points in 12 months, requires a driver improvement clinic at 12 points in 12 months, and suspends your license at 18 points in 12 months. Demerit points stay active for two years from the date of the offense. See where you stand with our Virginia safe driving point system guide.

Offset 3 demerit points with 5 safe-driving points — enroll in the ABC course

How It Affects Car Insurance

Insurers price policies on the convictions on your motor vehicle record. A 13-hour violation is a moving violation, and because it's associated with fatigue — a recognized crash risk — some carriers may view it as more than a paperwork issue. The size of any increase depends on your carrier and the rest of your record.

For rideshare, delivery, and fleet drivers, the bigger concern is often platform or employer eligibility, since many companies screen motor vehicle records. Our guide to how Virginia traffic tickets affect insurance rates explains how convictions flow into pricing.

A DMV-approved driver improvement course adds 5 safe-driving points to your DMV record and may make you eligible for a safe-driver discount with some insurers.

What to Do After a 13-Hour Driving Ticket

1. Reconstruct your timeline. The question is how many hours you actually spent driving in a 24-hour window, including in other states. App logs, fuel and toll receipts, and phone location history can show breaks and stops. If the numbers don't add up to more than 13 hours, you may have a defense — see how to get a Virginia traffic ticket dismissed.

2. Remember that prepaying is a guilty plea. Paying online closes the case quickly but locks in the 3 points and a conviction that stays on your record for three years.

3. Take the driver improvement course. An 8-hour DMV-approved course adds 5 safe-driving points, more than offsetting this 3-point conviction, and completing it before court shows the judge you've addressed the safety issue. See taking the course before your court date and driver improvement for rideshare drivers.

4. Monitor your record. Check your Virginia driving record after the case closes to confirm the points and any course credit posted correctly.

Most important of all, build rest into long drives. Our guide to preventing drowsy driving in Virginia covers the warning signs and practical strategies.

Which ABC course code applies to you?

When you register, you'll pick a course code that matches why you're taking the driver improvement course. Choosing the right one makes sure your completion is reported correctly.

Not sure which fits? If you're taking the course on your own to add safe-driving points or earn an insurance discount, choose VOL or INS. If a judge ordered it, choose YCT or NCT based on whether points are involved. If the DMV ordered it, choose DMV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Virginia's 13-hour driving limit apply to regular drivers? Yes. § 46.2-812 says no person may drive a motor vehicle on Virginia highways for more than 13 hours in any 24-hour period. It isn't limited to commercial drivers, although DMV groups it with commercial-vehicle violations on its point list.

Does driving in another state count toward the 13 hours? Yes. The statute adds time driven in any other state to your Virginia driving time when calculating whether you exceeded 13 hours in a 24-hour period.

How many points is a 13-hour driving violation? Virginia DMV assigns 3 demerit points, and the conviction stays on your record for 3 years. A DMV-approved driver improvement course adds 5 safe-driving points to offset them.

Rest Up — and Reset Your Record

A 13-hour ticket is a warning about fatigue as much as a legal problem. The ABC Driving Improvement course is 100% online, DMV-approved, and self-paced, adds 5 safe-driving points to your record, and refreshes the defensive driving habits that keep long days on the road safe.

Enroll today for $74.99. The course is DMV-approved and protected by our 30-day money-back guarantee — there's nothing to lose by starting now.

Enroll today — $74.99, DMV-approved, 30-day guarantee