Verified Va. Code §46.2-646 · Checked October 2026 · 6 sources
What an expired-registration ticket costs in Virginia
First offense Va. Code §46.2-646
Prepayable, $76 total statewide
Verified October 2026 against the sources on this page
Virginia treats expired registration as a traffic infraction. The Supreme Court of Virginia’s statewide Uniform Fine Schedule (Rule 3B:2) sets a $25 fine plus $51 in costs, $76 total, applied uniformly statewide for the fine, though local processing fees on top of it can run higher, Fairfax County’s own prepayment sheet lists a $67 processing fee for a first charge, putting its total at $92. The statute gives courts discretion to dismiss entirely on proof of compliance by the court date. The stop rule in §46.2-646(E) limits traffic stops, not the offense itself: the registration still expires on the last day of its final month under §46.2-646(A), so there is no grace period for driving on it. Renewing after the registration has expired also adds a $10 late fee at DMV (DMV 201 fee chart, revised August 2026; DMV says the fee applies once the registration has expired).
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Renew promptly
The dismissal path depends on it: the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the summons where proof of compliance is provided on or before the court date (Va. Code §46.2-646).
- 2
Check your court’s total prepayable amount
The $25 fine is fixed statewide, but processing fees vary by court: the statewide schedule adds $51 for $76 total, while Fairfax County’s own sheet lists $67 for a $92 total.
- 3
Bring proof of compliance to court
Dismissal is discretionary, not automatic, so renew and bring the paperwork on or before the court date.
Virginia at a glance
- Grace period
- None; no stops for it before month 4
- Misdemeanor?
- No, traffic infraction
- Dismissed if you renew?
- Court may dismiss on proof
- Late renewal fee
- $10 at DMV once expired
First offense, ordinary passenger vehicle. Each label compares Virginia with every verified state.
Note: amounts vary by court for the processing-fee component; the $25 fine itself is fixed statewide by Rule 3B:2, the figures above are the statutory frame, not a quote.
Is driving on expired tags a crime in Virginia?
No, a traffic infraction, prepayable at a $25 fine fixed statewide by Rule 3B:2 plus a processing fee that varies by court ($51 to $67 or more), with two built-in outs: a stop moratorium and dismissal on proof of compliance.
Can it be dismissed?
Often: “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 §46.2-646(D)), and §46.2-613(B) gives the same discretion if the summons cites §46.2-613 instead. And officers may not stop a vehicle for an expired sticker before the first day of the fourth month after expiration.
Frequently asked questions
Can police stop you for expired tags in Virginia?
Not immediately: no officer may stop a vehicle for an expired registration sticker before the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date (Va. Code §46.2-646).
Will a Virginia expired-registration ticket be dismissed if I renew?
Courts have express discretion to dismiss the summons if you provide proof of compliance on or before the court date, renew promptly and bring the paperwork.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
- Va. Code §46.2-646, official text (Virginia Law Portal)
- Fairfax County General District Court, prepayable fine schedule (PDF)
- Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia, Part Three B, Rule 3B:2 Uniform Fine Schedule (vacourts.gov, full Rules of Court PDF)
- DMV Fees, form DMV 201, revised August 2026 (Virginia DMV)
- Online registration renewal, $10 late fee once expired, February 2024 (Virginia DMV)
- Va. Code §46.2-613, registration infractions, official text (Virginia Law Portal)
Read next
- Va. Code 46.2-646, plainly: what Virginia's expired registration law says and costs
- How to Get an Expired Registration Ticket Dismissed
- How much is a ticket for driving without registration? Eight states, from the statutes
- Pulled over on expired tags: the ticket, the late fee, the tow, and the points
Other tickets in Virginia
Driving Without Insurance in Virginia
Expired Registration: other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming All states
General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of October 2026.