Organ Donation in Virginia

Organ Donation in Virginia

Organ donor registration in Virginia is provided by Donate Life Virginia and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

In the United States, 116,000 people are on a waiting list for an organ transplant, and approximately 20 people die every day from a lack of organ donations available. A single organ donor can save up to 8 lives, and improve the lives of more than 75 people through tissue donation.

Register as an Organ Donor in Virginia

You can register as an organ donor online, by mail, or in person at your local VA DMV office. To be listed on the VA donor registry, you need to have either a Social Security number (SSN) or driver's license or ID card number. Either way, you should discuss your decision to be an organ donor with your family.

There is no fee to sign up for the organ donor registry.

Online

You may register as an organ donor online in a variety of ways:

• Through My DMV.
• Via the Donate Life Virginia website.
• Through ORGANIZE.org, a central database that records your registration in VA and carries them with you nationwide.

NOTE: If you are registering via Donate Life Virginia and are between 13 and 18 years old, you can register on the website. However, your parents will have the final say regarding tissue donation or organ donation at the appropriate time.

By Mail

To register by mail, simply complete the Donate Life Virginia Registration Form and mail it to:

Donate Life Virginia
Donate Life Virginia
9200 Arboretum Pkwy 104
North Chesterfield, VA 23236

In Person

You can also register when you apply for or renew your VA driver's license, permit, or ID card at the DMV. Your choice will be noted on the front of your document, and entered into the statewide online registry.

Changing Your VA Organ Donor Status

You can change your donor status online by visiting My DMV or the Donate Life Virginia website.

You may also change your organ donor information at a VA DMV customer service center. You'll be charged for a replacement driver's license or permit unless you change your donor status when renewing your document.

Organ donor profile changes include:

• Contact information.
• Legal name, i.e. due to adoption or marriage.
• Donation specifications.

Other Ways to Support Organ Donation

In addition to registering as an organ donor, you can also help by:

• Contributing funds to the Virginia Donor Registry and Public Awareness Fund to help support programs that increase organ, tissue, and eye donations. Financial contributions can be made:
  • Online during DMV transactions, or in person and by phone with the Virginia DMV.
  • By mail using this form.
• Encouraging others to register as organ donors.
• Volunteering with any of the following organizations to increase the number of registered donors:
  • Workplace Partnership for Life.
  • Join the Campus Challenge.
  • Join the WPFL Hospital Campaign.

Donor Facts

• Being a donor doesn't cost anything to you or your family.
• Being a donor won't delay or alter your funeral plans; open-casket funerals are still possible.
• Donors receive the same level of medical care as non-donors.

Visit the Donate Life Virginia website or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) donor page for more information about organ and tissue donation.

You can also read our page about Organ Donation Facts for more details.