Virginia Law

Article 5. Reciprocity for Nonresidents.

The privileges extended under this article to nonresident owners of foreign motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers operated in the Commonwealth are extended only on condition that the same privileges are granted by the state of the United States or foreign country wherein such nonresident owners are residents to residents of the Commonwealth operating motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers in such state of the United States or foreign country.

Code 1950, § 46-110; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-131; 1989, c. 727.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, a nonresident owner of a passenger car which has been registered for the current calendar year in the state or country of which the owner is a resident and which at all times when operated in the Commonwealth displays the license plate or plates issued for such vehicle in the place of residence of such owner, may operate or permit the operation of such passenger car within or partly within this Commonwealth for a period of six months without registering the passenger car or paying any fees to the Commonwealth. If, however, at the expiration of such six months the passenger car is still in the Commonwealth, its owner shall apply for registration of the vehicle and shall pay a fee for such registration based on the time operation of the vehicle in the Commonwealth commenced.

Code 1950, § 46-111; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-132; 1989, c. 727.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this article, any nonresident from a state that does not require the registration of a vehicle like that owned by such nonresident when such vehicle is owned and operated by a resident of Virginia in the state in which the foreign vehicle owned or operated by such nonresident is registered, shall not be required to register such vehicle in the Commonwealth. This section, however, shall not permit the operation of any truck, trailer, or semitrailer the weight, length, width, or height of which vehicle or combination of vehicles is in violation of the provisions of this title or at a speed in violation of this title; nor shall the privileges provided in this section apply to common carriers or passenger cars.

Code 1950, § 46-116; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-133; 1989, c. 727.

Except as provided in § 46.2-657, a nonresident owner of a foreign motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer which is regularly operated in the Commonwealth, or from a point or points outside the Commonwealth to a point or points within the Commonwealth, or from a point or points within the Commonwealth to a point or points outside the Commonwealth, or through the Commonwealth, for purposes other than purposes of pleasure, shall, unless otherwise provided in this chapter, register such vehicle and pay the same fees therefor as are required with reference to like vehicles owned by residents of the Commonwealth. Any owner who operates or permits to be operated one or more of these vehicles either simultaneously or alternately as often as four times in any one month shall be considered to be regularly operating them in the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 46-117; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-134; 1989, c. 727.

Repealed by Acts 1997, c. 283.

Every nonresident, including any foreign corporation, conducting business in the Commonwealth and owning and regularly operating in such business any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer in the Commonwealth shall be required to register the vehicle and pay the same fees required for registration of similar vehicles owned by residents of the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 46-121; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-136; 1989, c. 727.

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter, the Commissioner, with the consent of the Governor, may extend to the owners of foreign vehicles operated in the Commonwealth the same privileges which are granted by the state of the United States or foreign country wherein the owners of the foreign vehicles are residents to residents of this Commonwealth operating vehicles in such state of the United States or foreign country.

Code 1950, § 46-122; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-137; 1989, c. 727.