The Adhoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) protocol faces challenges in selecting the best relay nodes, which requires optimization to improve performance in Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs). This study aims to enhance Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication in VANETs by implementing the Learning Automata-Driven Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (LA-AODV) routing protocol. LA-AODV is designed to achieve higher packet delivery ratios and optimize data transfer rates, even under congested network conditions, by dynamically adjusting to changing network scenarios. The performance evaluation includes six key metrics analyzed under varying node densities and time intervals, comparing LA-AODV against the standard AODV protocol. Results indicate that LA-AODV consistently outperforms AODV, demonstrating improved efficiency in flood identifier management, reduced data loss, higher packet delivery ratios, better throughput, and reduced end-to-end delay and jitter. Specifically, under a 20-node scenario, LA-AODV exhibits lower flood ID scores (54 vs. 88), reduced packet loss (11% vs. 12%), higher PDR (88.0% vs. 87.0%), and superior throughput (85.34 Kbps vs. 47.26 Kbps). Additionally, LA-AODV achieves lower end-to-end delay (6.84E+09 ns vs. 3.76E+10 ns) and jitter (2.52E+09 ns vs. 2.15E+10 ns). These findings suggest that LA-AODV significantly enhances Quality of Service (QoS) in vehicular ad-hoc networks, positioning it as a promising solution for optimizing V2V communication performance.