Virginia Improper Hand Signal Ticket: Correct Signals, Fines, 4 Points & What to Do

Your brake lights quit on the way to work, or your turn signal flasher died and you're limping to the shop. You stick your arm out the window to signal a turn, but you're not sure if you're doing it right. Then a trooper pulls you over and writes a ticket for an improper signal.

Hand signals feel like something from driver's ed that nobody uses anymore. But Virginia law still spells them out, and the DMV assigns an improper signal 4 demerit points, more than a minor speeding ticket. This guide explains the correct Virginia hand signals, the fine and points, the insurance impact, and how a DMV-approved driver improvement course can help you recover.

What Is an Improper Hand Signal in Virginia?

Two statutes work together. Va. Code § 46.2-848 says that before you back, stop, turn or partly turn from a direct line, you must first make sure the move can be made safely. If any other vehicle may be affected, you must give the required signal, plainly visible to that driver.

Va. Code § 46.2-849, "How signals given," says the signal may be given by an approved signal device or by hand and arm. Hand signals are made by extending the arm beyond the left side of the vehicle:

The law also sets a distance. Your signal must be given continuously for at least 100 feet before you slow, stop or turn when the speed limit is more than 35 mph, and for at least 50 feet in other cases. A quick flick of the hand at the last second, pointing in the wrong direction, or signaling where the other driver can't see it can all be charged as an improper signal.

Riders of bicycles, e-bikes, mopeds and electric scooters must signal too. They don't have to signal continuously if they need both hands to control the vehicle, and they may signal a right turn with the right arm held straight out, or a stop with the right arm extended down. See our guides to Virginia e-bike laws and moped and electric scooter laws.

Fines & DMV Demerit Points

An improper signal is a traffic infraction. Neither § 46.2-848 nor § 46.2-849 sets its own fine, so the general rule in Va. Code § 46.2-113 applies: a fine of no more than the maximum for a Class 4 misdemeanor, which Va. Code § 18.2-11 sets at $250. Court costs are added on top.

If a missing or confusing signal put other drivers in danger, the officer can charge reckless driving under Va. Code § 46.2-860 instead, a 6-point misdemeanor. Read reckless driving by failure to signal for that charge, and failure to signal tickets for the case where no signal was given at all.

Four points add up quickly. At 12 points in 12 months, or 18 points in 24 months, the DMV requires you to complete a driver improvement clinic. Our guide to Virginia demerit points explains every threshold.

When Virginia Drivers Need Hand Signals

• A turn signal or brake light is out. A hand signal keeps you legal on the way to the repair shop. See our guide to brake light tickets.

• Bright sun or glare washes out your signal lamps, so a driver behind you may not see them.

• Classic cars, farm vehicles and trailers may block or lack signal lamps that other drivers can see.

• Riding a bicycle, e-bike or moped, where hand signals are the only way to communicate.

A good habit: if you're unsure whether your lamps work, signal with both the lever and your arm. Once you've signaled, follow through. Switching direction after signaling is its own offense; see changing course after signaling.

How It Affects Car Insurance

Each insurer sets its own rules, but a 4-point moving violation can cost you a good-driver discount or lead to a surcharge at renewal. The bigger risk is a crash. A driver who signals wrong, or too late, and gets rear-ended or sideswiped may share fault for the collision, and an at-fault claim usually raises premiums far more than the ticket alone.

Learn how insurers view tickets in insurance points vs. DMV points, and see how a driver improvement course may lower your car insurance.

What to Do After an Improper Signal Ticket

1. Decide whether to contest it. Ask key questions. Did you give the correct arm position for the move you made? Did you signal for at least 100 feet (over 35 mph) or 50 feet (35 mph or less)? Was the signal visible to the driver who was affected? Was any other vehicle affected at all? Dash cam footage and photos of the location can help.

2. Or pay the fine. Prepaying is a guilty plea, and the 4 points post to your record. If you go this route, act quickly to offset them. Our prepaid traffic ticket guide explains the process.

3. Take the driver improvement course. A voluntary 8-hour Virginia course adds +5 safe driving points, enough to fully offset this ticket's 4 points. It also reviews signaling, lane changes and turning rules. Enroll online and finish at your own pace.

4. Monitor your driving record. Confirm that the conviction and safe driving points posted correctly, and get any broken signal lamps fixed right away.

Virginia Driver Improvement Course Codes Explained

When you register for a Virginia driver improvement course, you choose a reason code. The code tells the DMV why you are taking the class and whether you should receive the +5 safe driving points.

Most drivers who sign up on their own choose VOL, which credits +5 safe driving points once every 24 months. If a judge sent you, use YCT or NCT based on your court paperwork, because the court decides whether you receive safe driving points. Not sure which code fits? Ask us before you start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hand signals legal in Virginia?
Yes. Va. Code § 46.2-849 allows signals by hand and arm or by an approved signal device. Left turn: arm straight out. Right turn: arm up. Stop or slow: arm down.

How far ahead do I have to signal in Virginia?
At least 100 feet before turning, slowing or stopping when the speed limit is over 35 mph, and at least 50 feet in other cases. The signal must be continuous.

How many points is an improper signal in Virginia?
The DMV assigns 4 demerit points. The points stay active for two years, and the conviction stays on your DMV record for three years.

Enroll Today and Signal Your Fresh Start

Don't let one wrong arm position cost you points and higher premiums. Offset the 4 points and sharpen the habits that keep other drivers informed. Enroll today — $74.99, DMV-approved, 30-day guarantee. Start your 8-hour Virginia driver improvement course now, 100% online.