diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/config.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/config.go
index 509d202eba..738ac8badc 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/config.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/config/config.go
@@ -126,6 +126,10 @@ var settings = []Setting{
 		name: config.WantNoneDriverWarning,
 		set:  SetBool,
 	},
+	{
+		name: config.WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning,
+		set:  SetBool,
+	},
 	{
 		name: config.ProfileName,
 		set:  SetString,
diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/root.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/root.go
index 9049596c09..785a2db36b 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/root.go
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ func setupViper() {
 	viper.SetDefault(config.WantUpdateNotification, true)
 	viper.SetDefault(config.ReminderWaitPeriodInHours, 24)
 	viper.SetDefault(config.WantNoneDriverWarning, true)
+	viper.SetDefault(config.WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning, true)
 }
 
 func addToPath(dir string) {
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/config/config.go b/pkg/minikube/config/config.go
index 893844eaee..a1129fcb72 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/config/config.go
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ const (
 	ReminderWaitPeriodInHours = "ReminderWaitPeriodInHours"
 	// WantNoneDriverWarning is the key for WantNoneDriverWarning
 	WantNoneDriverWarning = "WantNoneDriverWarning"
+	// WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning is the key for WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning
+	WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning = "WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning"
 	// ProfileName represents the key for the global profile parameter
 	ProfileName = "profile"
 	// UserFlag is the key for the global user flag (ex. --user=user1)
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/node/start.go b/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
index c8a79d0889..6e1e435714 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/out/register"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/proxy"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/reason"
+	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/registry"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/style"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/vmpath"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/util"
@@ -191,6 +192,11 @@ func Start(starter Starter, apiServer bool) (*kubeconfig.Settings, error) {
 		go addons.Start(&wg, starter.Cfg, starter.ExistingAddons, addonList)
 	}
 
+	// discourage use of the virtualbox driver
+	if starter.Cfg.Driver == driver.VirtualBox && viper.GetBool(config.WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning) {
+		warnVirtualBox()
+	}
+
 	if apiServer {
 		// special ops for none , like change minikube directory.
 		// multinode super doesn't work on the none driver
@@ -731,3 +737,28 @@ func addCoreDNSEntry(runner command.Runner, name, ip string, cc config.ClusterCo
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// prints a warning to the console against the use of the 'virtualbox' driver, if alternatives are available and healthy
+func warnVirtualBox() {
+	var altDriverList strings.Builder
+	for _, choice := range driver.Choices(true) {
+		if choice.Name != "virtualbox" && choice.Priority != registry.Discouraged && choice.State.Installed && choice.State.Healthy {
+			altDriverList.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\n\t- %s", choice.Name))
+		}
+	}
+
+	if altDriverList.Len() != 0 {
+		out.Boxed(`You have selected "virtualbox" driver, but there are better options !
+For better performance and support consider using a different driver: {{.drivers}}
+
+To turn off this warning run:
+
+	$ minikube config set WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning false
+
+
+To learn more about on minikube drivers checkout https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/docs/drivers/
+To see benchmarks checkout https://minikube.sigs.k8s.io/docs/benchmarks/cpuusage/
+
+`, out.V{"drivers": altDriverList.String()})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/site/content/en/docs/commands/config.md b/site/content/en/docs/commands/config.md
index b6b4016965..75f99b44e3 100644
--- a/site/content/en/docs/commands/config.md
+++ b/site/content/en/docs/commands/config.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Configurable fields:
  * WantBetaUpdateNotification
  * ReminderWaitPeriodInHours
  * WantNoneDriverWarning
+ * WantVirtualBoxDriverWarning
  * profile
  * bootstrapper
  * insecure-registry