The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) handles driver's licenses, vehicle registration and titling, license plates, and state ID cards. Chesapeake is served by local DMV offices, and many services can be completed online without a visit.
The DMV issues and renews driver's licenses and ID cards, registers and titles vehicles, sells and renews license plates and decals, and processes address changes. New Virginia residents generally need to transfer an out-of-state license and register their vehicles within a set time after moving.
Many transactions — license and registration renewals, replacement cards, address changes, and personalized plate orders — can be completed on the Virginia DMV website or at a DMV Select office, avoiding a trip to a full service center. Appointments are recommended for in-person visits.
If you've just moved to the city, plan to obtain a Virginia driver's license and register your vehicles. You'll typically need proof of identity, residency, and vehicle ownership. Review the DMV's document checklist before you go so you only have to make one trip.