Virginia DMV Launches New Online System For Highway Safety Grants

By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

December 31, 2025

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is rolling out a new online grant application system ahead of its annual highway safety funding cycle, a move officials say will simplify and modernize how hundreds of safety-focused projects are reviewed and funded each year.

Beginning in February, applicants seeking federal highway safety grants administered by the DMV’s Highway Safety Office will use a new digital platform called eGrants, which replaces what the agency described as a largely manual, paper-heavy process. The application window will run from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, 2026.

Each year, Virginia DMV awards millions of dollars in federal highway safety funds to organizations working to reduce traffic deaths, injuries and crashes across the commonwealth.

Grants start at $5,000, and DMV is inviting a wide range of Virginia-based organizations to apply, including law enforcement agencies, nonprofit groups, state and local government agencies, and colleges and universities.

“With eGrants, applying for funding will now be faster, simpler, and easier for applicants across the commonwealth,” the agency said in a statement announcing the new system on Tuesday.

DMV officials said they are particularly interested in proposals that bring new or creative approaches to traffic safety, while continuing proven strategies that have helped save lives on Virginia roads.

Over the years, grant funding has supported a broad mix of education, enforcement and community-based initiatives.

Among past projects cited by the agency are a campaign at Norfolk State University that featured student-athletes creating videos urging classmates and fans to drive safely; an artist-led contest sponsored by the city of Roanoke to design highly visible pedestrian safety messages displayed around the city; and specialized law enforcement task forces, including in Fairfax County, focused on keeping impaired drivers off the road.

The new eGrants platform is intended to make it easier both for applicants and for DMV staff who oversee the program.

According to the agency, the portal allows users to upload required materials electronically, track the status of their applications in real time, and reduce errors that can delay approval or reimbursement.

The system also centralizes records and project reporting, which DMV said will help staff manage and review roughly 350 grants each year and close out projects more efficiently.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must propose programs with measurable objectives that allow the state to evaluate whether a project is effective.

In addition, applicants are required to complete a grant application training course scheduled to take place in January 2026. DMV said prospective applicants should contact the program manager assigned to their area for details about the required training.

Funding decisions will be based on the potential impact of proposed projects, with an emphasis on efforts that promote the safety of Virginians of all backgrounds.

Approved projects will be funded on a cost-reimbursement basis, with the funding period running from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.

When the application period opens in February, applicants will be able to submit proposals entirely online using the new system. DMV said the launch of eGrants is part of a broader effort to improve how the agency delivers services to both customers and employees.

“The launch of eGrants reflects DMV’s ongoing commitment to enhancing services for customers and employees,” the agency said.

Additional information, including application forms, program guidelines, required training and evaluation measures, will be available on the DMV’s website.

Applicants may also contact their regional DMV program manager for assistance or questions related to the grant process.

This story was originally published by the Virginia Mercury. For more stories from the Virginia Mercury, visit VirginiaMercury.com.