diff --git a/.github/workflows/cmake_builds.yml b/.github/workflows/cmake_builds.yml
index 000579df4485..4d7c95ce9619 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cmake_builds.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cmake_builds.yml
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ jobs:
       shell: bash -l {0}
       run: |
         rm -f build/CMakeCache.txt
-        cmake -A ${architecture} -G "${generator}" "-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${CONDA}/envs/gdalenv" -Werror=dev "-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_LAUNCHER=clcache" -DCMAKE_UNITY_BUILD=${CMAKE_UNITY_BUILD} -S "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE" -B "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/build" -DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=" /WX" -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=" /WX" -DGDAL_USE_EXTERNAL_LIBS:BOOL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_PNG_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_JPEG_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_JPEG12_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_GIF_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_LERC_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_LERCV1_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_QHULL_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_OPENCAD_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS=OFF -DOGR_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS=OFF -DWERROR_DEV_FLAG="-Werror=dev"
+        cmake -A ${architecture} -G "${generator}" "-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${CONDA}/envs/gdalenv" -Werror=dev "-DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_LAUNCHER=clcache" -DCMAKE_UNITY_BUILD=${CMAKE_UNITY_BUILD} -S "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE" -B "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/build" -DCMAKE_C_FLAGS=" /WX" -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=" /WX" -DGDAL_USE_EXTERNAL_LIBS:BOOL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_PNG_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_JPEG_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_JPEG12_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_GIF_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_LERC_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_LERCV1_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_QHULL_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_USE_OPENCAD_INTERNAL=OFF -DGDAL_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS=OFF -DOGR_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS=OFF -DGDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_DERIVED=ON -DWERROR_DEV_FLAG="-Werror=dev"
     - name: Build
       shell: bash -l {0}
       run: cmake --build $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/build --config RelWithDebInfo -j 2
diff --git a/apps/CMakeLists.txt b/apps/CMakeLists.txt
index d7034a36df08..33548ec5b963 100644
--- a/apps/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/apps/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -147,6 +147,11 @@ if (BUILD_APPS)
       target_compile_definitions(${UTILCMD} PRIVATE -DSUPPORTS_WMAIN)
     endif ()
     target_link_libraries(${UTILCMD} PRIVATE $<TARGET_NAME:${GDAL_LIB_TARGET_NAME}> utils_common)
+
+    if (NOT GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_GTI OR GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_GTI_PLUGIN)
+        target_compile_definitions(${UTILCMD} PRIVATE -DGTI_DRIVER_DISABLED_OR_PLUGIN)
+    endif()
+
   endforeach ()
   install(TARGETS ${APPS_TARGETS} RUNTIME DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR})
 
diff --git a/apps/gdaladdo.cpp b/apps/gdaladdo.cpp
index 32d1ffa873b7..3f03c122bd18 100644
--- a/apps/gdaladdo.cpp
+++ b/apps/gdaladdo.cpp
@@ -311,6 +311,17 @@ static bool PartialRefreshFromSourceTimestamp(
             }
         }
     }
+#ifdef GTI_DRIVER_DISABLED_OR_PLUGIN
+    else if (poDS->GetDriver() &&
+             EQUAL(poDS->GetDriver()->GetDescription(), "GTI"))
+    {
+        CPLError(CE_Failure, CPLE_NotSupported,
+                 "--partial-refresh-from-source-timestamp only works on a GTI "
+                 "dataset if the GTI driver is not built as a plugin, "
+                 "but in core library");
+        return false;
+    }
+#else
     else if (auto poGTIDS = GDALDatasetCastToGTIDataset(poDS))
     {
         regions = GTIGetSourcesMoreRecentThan(poGTIDS, sStatVRTOvr.st_mtime);
@@ -320,6 +331,7 @@ static bool PartialRefreshFromSourceTimestamp(
                 static_cast<double>(region.nDstXSize) * region.nDstYSize;
         }
     }
+#endif
     else
     {
         CPLError(CE_Failure, CPLE_AppDefined,
diff --git a/autotest/alg/cutline.py b/autotest/alg/cutline.py
index de27180d5e20..e4bc8bb3c569 100755
--- a/autotest/alg/cutline.py
+++ b/autotest/alg/cutline.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 ###############################################################################
 
 
diff --git a/autotest/alg/warp.py b/autotest/alg/warp.py
index fae126885e55..d8ab607e0165 100755
--- a/autotest/alg/warp.py
+++ b/autotest/alg/warp.py
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@
 import gdaltest
 import pytest
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 from osgeo import gdal, osr
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/autotest/cpp/test_gdal.cpp b/autotest/cpp/test_gdal.cpp
index c5046797e65f..675ec33396b1 100644
--- a/autotest/cpp/test_gdal.cpp
+++ b/autotest/cpp/test_gdal.cpp
@@ -3114,6 +3114,12 @@ TEST_F(test_gdal, GDALCachedPixelAccessor)
 // (https://github.com/OSGeo/gdal/issues/5989)
 TEST_F(test_gdal, VRTCachingOpenOptions)
 {
+    if (GDALGetMetadataItem(GDALGetDriverByName("VRT"), GDAL_DMD_OPENOPTIONLIST,
+                            nullptr) == nullptr)
+    {
+        GTEST_SKIP() << "VRT driver Open() missing";
+    }
+
     class TestRasterBand : public GDALRasterBand
     {
       protected:
diff --git a/autotest/cpp/test_gdal_pixelfn.cpp b/autotest/cpp/test_gdal_pixelfn.cpp
index 6adfbc567636..cb23e556585f 100644
--- a/autotest/cpp/test_gdal_pixelfn.cpp
+++ b/autotest/cpp/test_gdal_pixelfn.cpp
@@ -170,6 +170,15 @@ struct test_gdal_pixelfn : public ::testing::Test
         src_ += SEP;
         src_ += "pixelfn.vrt";
     }
+
+    void SetUp() override
+    {
+        if (GDALGetMetadataItem(GDALGetDriverByName("VRT"),
+                                GDAL_DMD_OPENOPTIONLIST, nullptr) == nullptr)
+        {
+            GTEST_SKIP() << "VRT driver Open() missing";
+        }
+    }
 };
 
 // Test constant parameters in a custom pixel function
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/gdal_stats.py b/autotest/gcore/gdal_stats.py
index 95137a355879..7a7dbe69a3f9 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/gdal_stats.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/gdal_stats.py
@@ -180,6 +180,10 @@ def test_stats_nan_3():
 # and complex source nodata (#3576)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_stats_nan_4():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/nan32_nodata.vrt")
@@ -197,6 +201,10 @@ def test_stats_nan_4():
 # and complex source nodata (nan must be translated to 0 then) (#3576)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_stats_nan_5():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/nan32_nodata_nan_to_zero.vrt")
@@ -213,6 +221,10 @@ def test_stats_nan_5():
 # Test reading a warped VRT with nan as src nodata and dest nodata (#3576)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_stats_nan_6():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/nan32_nodata_warp.vrt")
@@ -229,6 +241,10 @@ def test_stats_nan_6():
 # Test reading a warped VRT with nan as src nodata and 0 as dest nodata (#3576)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_stats_nan_7():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/nan32_nodata_warp_nan_to_zero.vrt")
@@ -245,6 +261,10 @@ def test_stats_nan_7():
 # Test reading a warped VRT with zero as src nodata and nan as dest nodata (#3576)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_stats_nan_8():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/nan32_nodata_warp_zero_to_nan.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/geoloc.py b/autotest/gcore/geoloc.py
index d27be4319703..dcee7f5f82e4 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/geoloc.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/geoloc.py
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@
 # Verify warped result.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_geoloc_1():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest("VRT", "warpsst.vrt", 1, 63034)
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/interpolateatpoint.py b/autotest/gcore/interpolateatpoint.py
index 3dffd4c8b3f1..767a144e54dd 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/interpolateatpoint.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/interpolateatpoint.py
@@ -302,6 +302,10 @@ def test_interpolateatpoint_complex_float():
     assert res == pytest.approx((34.433130 - 36.741504j), 1e-4)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_interpolateatpoint_big_complex():
     # The purpose of this test is to check that the algorithm implementation
     # works for bigger values above the first block of 64x64 pixels.
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/mask.py b/autotest/gcore/mask.py
index 180521e11b65..19570c59dbb2 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/mask.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/mask.py
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ def test_mask_1():
 # Verify the checksum and flags for "nodata" case.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_mask_2():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/byte.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/numpy_rw.py b/autotest/gcore/numpy_rw.py
index d4451ab0dcf7..52258f7dadeb 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/numpy_rw.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/numpy_rw.py
@@ -732,6 +732,10 @@ def test_numpy_rw_18():
 # The VRT references a non existing TIF file, but using the proxy pool dataset API (#2837)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_numpy_rw_failure_in_readasarray():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/idontexist2.vrt")
@@ -964,6 +968,10 @@ def test_numpy_rw_band_read_as_array_error_cases():
 # Test that we can get an error (#5374)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_numpy_rw_band_read_as_array_getlasterrormsg():
 
     ds = gdal.Open(
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/overviewds.py b/autotest/gcore/overviewds.py
index a3a8a11a4540..e4d567c714cd 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/overviewds.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/overviewds.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 import shutil
 import struct
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 
 from osgeo import gdal
@@ -250,6 +251,10 @@ def test_overviewds_4(tmp_path):
 # Test GEOLOCATION
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_overviewds_5(tmp_path):
 
     shutil.copy("data/sstgeo.tif", tmp_path)
@@ -296,6 +301,10 @@ def test_overviewds_5(tmp_path):
 # Test VRT
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_overviewds_6(tmp_path):
 
     shutil.copy("data/byte.tif", tmp_path)
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/pixfun.py b/autotest/gcore/pixfun.py
index 57fcf99f3fb3..d8dc001eba66 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/pixfun.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/pixfun.py
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 # All tests will be skipped if numpy is unavailable.
 numpy = pytest.importorskip("numpy")
 
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/testnonboundtoswig.py b/autotest/gcore/testnonboundtoswig.py
index 8979d26f4512..5d964a2fc0c4 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/testnonboundtoswig.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/testnonboundtoswig.py
@@ -291,6 +291,10 @@ def my_pyDerivedPixelFunc(
     return 0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_testnonboundtoswig_VRTDerivedBands():
 
     DerivedPixelFuncType = ctypes.CFUNCTYPE(
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/tiff_ovr.py b/autotest/gcore/tiff_ovr.py
index d047ea29843e..7dd49bd0e7cf 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/tiff_ovr.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/tiff_ovr.py
@@ -122,6 +122,10 @@ def mfloat32_tif(tmp_path):
     yield dst_fname
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_ovr_1(mfloat32_tif, both_endian):
 
     ds = gdal.Open(mfloat32_tif)
@@ -151,6 +155,10 @@ def test_tiff_ovr_1(mfloat32_tif, both_endian):
 # Open target file in update mode, and create internal overviews.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_ovr_3(mfloat32_tif, both_endian):
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open(mfloat32_tif, gdal.GA_Update)
@@ -531,6 +539,10 @@ def test_tiff_ovr_12(tmp_path, both_endian):
 # Test gaussian resampling
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_ovr_13(mfloat32_tif, both_endian):
 
     ds = gdal.Open(mfloat32_tif)
@@ -608,6 +620,10 @@ def test_tiff_ovr_15(tmp_path, both_endian):
 # Test mode resampling on non-byte dataset
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_ovr_16(tmp_path, both_endian):
 
     tif_fname = str(tmp_path / "ovr16.tif")
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/tiff_read.py b/autotest/gcore/tiff_read.py
index ba2b0d4677a7..c048531c3f87 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/tiff_read.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/tiff_read.py
@@ -5192,6 +5192,10 @@ def test_tiff_read_webp_lossless_rgba_alpha_fully_opaque():
 # Test complex scenario of https://github.com/OSGeo/gdal/issues/9563
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_creation_option("GTiff", "JPEG")
 def test_tiff_read_jpeg_cached_multi_range_issue_9563(tmp_vsimem):
 
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/tiff_write.py b/autotest/gcore/tiff_write.py
index c7bcdef00130..88f3caac637f 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/tiff_write.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/tiff_write.py
@@ -212,6 +212,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_4():
 # Write a file with GCPs.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_5():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("data/gcps.vrt")
@@ -434,6 +438,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_14():
 # file using the PROFILE creation option with CreateCopy()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_15():
 
     ds_in = gdal.Open("data/byte.vrt")
@@ -484,6 +492,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_15():
 # file using the PROFILE creation option with Create()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_16():
 
     ds_in = gdal.Open("data/byte.vrt")
@@ -548,6 +560,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_16():
 # Test writing a TIFF with an RPC tag.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_17():
 
     # Translate RPC controlled data to GeoTIFF.
@@ -608,6 +624,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_17():
 # case (#3996)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_17_disable_readdir():
     with gdal.config_option("GDAL_DISABLE_READDIR_ON_OPEN", "TRUE"):
         test_tiff_write_17()
@@ -617,6 +637,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_17_disable_readdir():
 # Test writing a TIFF with an RPB file and IMD file.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_18():
 
     # Translate RPC controlled data to GeoTIFF.
@@ -713,6 +737,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_imd_with_space_in_values():
 # case (#3996)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_18_disable_readdir():
     with gdal.config_option("GDAL_DISABLE_READDIR_ON_OPEN", "TRUE"):
         test_tiff_write_18()
@@ -722,6 +750,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_18_disable_readdir():
 # Test writing a TIFF with an _RPC.TXT
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_rpc_txt():
 
     # Translate RPC controlled data to GeoTIFF.
@@ -774,6 +806,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_rpc_txt():
 # Test writing a TIFF with an RPC in .aux.xml
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_rpc_in_pam():
 
     ds_in = gdal.Open("data/rpc.vrt")
@@ -1269,6 +1305,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_31():
 # Create a rotated image
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_32():
 
     ds_in = gdal.Open("data/byte.vrt")
@@ -1309,6 +1349,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_32():
 # (BASELINE is tested by tiff_write_15)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_33():
 
     ds_in = gdal.Open("data/byte.vrt")
@@ -1464,6 +1508,10 @@ def tiff_write_big_odd_bits(vrtfilename, tmpfilename, nbits, interleaving):
 # Test copy with NBITS=9, INTERLEAVE=PIXEL
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_36():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits("data/uint16_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_36.tif", 9, "PIXEL")
 
@@ -1472,6 +1520,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_36():
 # Test copy with NBITS=9, INTERLEAVE=BAND
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_37():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits("data/uint16_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_37.tif", 9, "BAND")
 
@@ -1480,6 +1532,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_37():
 # Test copy with NBITS=12, INTERLEAVE=PIXEL
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_38():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits(
         "data/uint16_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_38.tif", 12, "PIXEL"
@@ -1490,6 +1546,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_38():
 # Test copy with NBITS=12, INTERLEAVE=BAND
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_39():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits("data/uint16_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_39.tif", 12, "BAND")
 
@@ -1498,6 +1558,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_39():
 # Test copy with NBITS=17, INTERLEAVE=PIXEL
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_40():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits("data/uint32_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_40tif", 17, "PIXEL")
 
@@ -1506,6 +1570,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_40():
 # Test copy with NBITS=17, INTERLEAVE=BAND
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_41():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits("data/uint32_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_41.tif", 17, "BAND")
 
@@ -1514,6 +1582,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_41():
 # Test copy with NBITS=24, INTERLEAVE=PIXEL
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_42():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits(
         "data/uint32_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_42.tif", 24, "PIXEL"
@@ -1524,6 +1596,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_42():
 # Test copy with NBITS=24, INTERLEAVE=BAND
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_43():
     return tiff_write_big_odd_bits("data/uint32_3band.vrt", "tmp/tw_43.tif", 24, "BAND")
 
@@ -4892,6 +4968,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_120():
 # Test error cases of COPY_SRC_OVERVIEWS creation option
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_121():
 
     # Test when the overview band is NULL
@@ -5326,6 +5406,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_125():
 # Test implicit JPEG-in-TIFF overviews
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_creation_option("GTiff", "JPEG")
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("JPEG")
 def test_tiff_write_126():
@@ -6444,6 +6528,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_134():
 # Test clearing GCPs (#5945)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_135():
 
     # Simple clear
@@ -7876,6 +7964,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_160():
 # Test setting GCPs on an image with already a geotransform and vice-versa (#6751)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_161():
 
     ds = gdaltest.tiff_drv.Create("/vsimem/tiff_write_161.tif", 1, 1)
@@ -7910,6 +8002,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_161():
 # Test creating a JPEG compressed file with big tiles (#6757)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_creation_option("GTiff", "JPEG")
 def test_tiff_write_162():
 
@@ -9252,6 +9348,10 @@ def test_tiff_write_compression_create_and_createcopy():
 # Attempt at creating a file with more tile arrays larger than 2 GB
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_tiff_write_too_many_tiles():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open(
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/transformer.py b/autotest/gcore/transformer.py
index 2be372a75de9..3d291f33b2f7 100644
--- a/autotest/gcore/transformer.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/transformer.py
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ def test_transformer_1():
 # Test GCP based transformer with polynomials.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_2():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/gcps.vrt")
@@ -98,6 +102,10 @@ def test_transformer_2():
 # Test GCP based transformer with thin plate splines.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_3():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/gcps.vrt")
@@ -126,6 +134,10 @@ def test_transformer_3():
 # Test geolocation based transformer.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_4():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/sstgeo.vrt")
@@ -154,6 +166,10 @@ def test_transformer_4():
 # Test RPC based transformer.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_5():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/rpc.vrt")
@@ -364,6 +380,10 @@ def test_transformer_5():
 # Test RPC convergence bug (bug # 5395)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_6():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/rpc_5395.vrt")
@@ -402,6 +422,10 @@ def test_transformer_7():
 # Test handling of nodata in RPC DEM (#5680)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_8():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/rpc.vrt")
@@ -448,6 +472,10 @@ def test_transformer_8():
 # Test RPC DEM line optimization
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_9():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/rpc.vrt")
@@ -504,6 +532,10 @@ def test_transformer_9():
 # Test RPC DEM transform from geoid height to ellipsoidal height
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("GTX")
 def test_transformer_10():
 
@@ -637,6 +669,10 @@ def test_transformer_11():
 # Test degenerate cases of TPS transformer
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_12():
 
     ds = gdal.Open(
@@ -834,6 +870,10 @@ def test_transformer_14():
 # beyond
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_15():
 
     ds = gdal.GetDriverByName("MEM").Create("", 6600, 4400)
@@ -933,6 +973,10 @@ def test_transformer_15():
 # (we mostly test that the parameters are well recognized and serialized)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_16():
 
     gdal.Translate(
@@ -966,6 +1010,10 @@ def test_transformer_16():
 # Test RPC DEM with unexisting RPC DEM file
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_17():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/rpc.vrt")
@@ -1018,6 +1066,10 @@ def test_transformer_no_reverse_method():
 # Test precision of GCP based transformer with thin plate splines and lots of GCPs (2115).
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_tps_precision():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/gcps_2115.vrt")
@@ -1099,6 +1151,10 @@ def test_transformer_image_no_srs():
 # Test RPC_DEM_SRS by adding vertical component egm 96 geoid
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_dem_overrride_srs():
     ds = gdal.Open("data/rpc.vrt")
     ds_dem = gdal.GetDriverByName("GTiff").Create("/vsimem/dem.tif", 100, 100, 1)
@@ -1191,6 +1247,10 @@ def test_transformer_SuggestedWarpOutput_from_options():
 # Test GCP antimerdian unwrap (https://github.com/OSGeo/gdal/issues/8371)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_transformer_gcp_antimeridian_unwrap():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/test_gcp_antimeridian_unwrap.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/vrt_read.py b/autotest/gcore/vrt_read.py
index 9ef974eac620..0d2fb068b18d 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/vrt_read.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/vrt_read.py
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 
 ###############################################################################
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True, scope="module")
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/vrtmisc.py b/autotest/gcore/vrtmisc.py
index 472f0c9bdc56..2e4a3fac2869 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/vrtmisc.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/vrtmisc.py
@@ -36,10 +36,16 @@
 import tempfile
 from pathlib import Path
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 
 from osgeo import gdal, osr
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 ###############################################################################
 # Test linear scaling
 
diff --git a/autotest/gcore/vsistdin.py b/autotest/gcore/vsistdin.py
index 1e68741873f3..4dab16e36979 100755
--- a/autotest/gcore/vsistdin.py
+++ b/autotest/gcore/vsistdin.py
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ def test_vsistdin_3():
 # Test fix for #6061
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_vsistdin_4():
     if test_cli_utilities.get_gdal_translate_path() is None:
         pytest.skip()
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/aaigrid.py b/autotest/gdrivers/aaigrid.py
index 8c1fb3f79854..aac8012327bf 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/aaigrid.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/aaigrid.py
@@ -236,6 +236,10 @@ def test_aaigrid_6bis():
 # Verify writing files with non-square pixels.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_aaigrid_7():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest("AAIGRID", "aaigrid/nonsquare.vrt", 1, 12481)
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/derived.py b/autotest/gdrivers/derived.py
index 00ef1e9ff98f..bb39e8d61632 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/derived.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/derived.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 ###############################################################################
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 
 from osgeo import gdal
@@ -159,6 +160,12 @@ def test_derived_test3():
         # Raster with zero band
         gdal.Open("DERIVED_SUBDATASET:LOGAMPLITUDE:data/hdf5/CSK_DGM.h5")
 
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+def test_derived_vrt_errors():
     for function in [
         "real",
         "imag",
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/dimap.py b/autotest/gdrivers/dimap.py
index 9758e256362d..1b4b50954e09 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/dimap.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/dimap.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 import os
 import shutil
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 
 from osgeo import gdal
@@ -41,6 +42,10 @@
 # Open and verify a the GCPs and metadata.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_dimap_1():
 
     shutil.copy("data/dimap/METADATA.DIM", "tmp")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/ecw.py b/autotest/gdrivers/ecw.py
index d0407441e7fd..000e90c1f450 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/ecw.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/ecw.py
@@ -1038,6 +1038,10 @@ def test_ecw_31():
 # It ignores the content of panBandMap. (#4234)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_ecw_32():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/ecw/jrc.ecw")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/ehdr.py b/autotest/gdrivers/ehdr.py
index 6fb4b75b747f..89876bd50c5c 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/ehdr.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/ehdr.py
@@ -153,6 +153,10 @@ def test_ehdr_7():
 # Test signed 8bit integer support. (#2717)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_ehdr_8():
 
     drv = gdal.GetDriverByName("EHDR")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/ers.py b/autotest/gdrivers/ers.py
index 701580704ac9..a879e585c3f2 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/ers.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/ers.py
@@ -140,6 +140,10 @@ def test_ers_7():
 # Test GCP support
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_ers_8():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("../gcore/data/gcps.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/gpkg.py b/autotest/gdrivers/gpkg.py
index 304d0e0b9262..5cc63adbe464 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/gpkg.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/gpkg.py
@@ -850,6 +850,10 @@ def test_gpkg_10():
 # Single band with 32 bit color table
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("tile_drv_name", ["JPEG", "WEBP"])
 def test_gpkg_11(tile_drv_name):
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/grib.py b/autotest/gdrivers/grib.py
index 66efaa6aef83..1089332651a4 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/grib.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/grib.py
@@ -1732,7 +1732,8 @@ def test_grib_grib2_write_data_encodings_warnings_and_errors():
     tests += [["data/byte.tif", ["JPEG2000_DRIVER=DERIVED"]]]  # Read-only driver
     tests += [["../gcore/data/cfloat32.tif", []]]  # complex data type
     tests += [["data/aaigrid/float64.asc", []]]  # no projection
-    tests += [["data/test_nosrs.vrt", []]]  # no geotransform
+    if gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support():
+        tests += [["data/test_nosrs.vrt", []]]  # no geotransform
     tests += [["data/envi/rotation.img", []]]  # geotransform with rotation terms
     gdal.GetDriverByName("GTiff").Create(
         "/vsimem/huge.tif", 65535, 65535, 1, options=["SPARSE_OK=YES"]
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/gta.py b/autotest/gdrivers/gta.py
index 556dec404f59..89a2423c830c 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/gta.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/gta.py
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ def test_gta_2():
 # Test writing and readings GCPs
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gta_3():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("../gcore/data/gcps.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/gti.py b/autotest/gdrivers/gti.py
index 2bab88273269..a29f282736de 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/gti.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/gti.py
@@ -820,9 +820,9 @@ def test_gti_invalid_srs(tmp_vsimem):
         gdal.Open(index_filename)
 
 
-def test_gti_valid_srs(tmp_vsimem):
+def test_gti_valid_srs(tmp_path):
 
-    index_filename = str(tmp_vsimem / "index.gti.gpkg")
+    index_filename = str(tmp_path / "index.gti.gpkg")
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "data", "byte.tif"))
     index_ds, lyr = create_basic_tileindex(index_filename, src_ds)
@@ -1019,6 +1019,10 @@ def test_gti_no_metadata_rgb(tmp_vsimem):
     check_basic(vrt_ds, src_ds)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    gdal.GetDriverByName("VRT").GetMetadataItem(gdal.DMD_OPENOPTIONLIST) is None,
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gti_rgb_left_right(tmp_vsimem):
 
     index_filename = str(tmp_vsimem / "index.gti.gpkg")
@@ -1078,6 +1082,10 @@ def test_gti_rgb_left_right(tmp_vsimem):
         assert flags == gdal.GDAL_DATA_COVERAGE_STATUS_DATA and pct == 100.0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    gdal.GetDriverByName("VRT").GetMetadataItem(gdal.DMD_OPENOPTIONLIST) is None,
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gti_overlapping_sources(tmp_vsimem):
 
     filename1 = str(tmp_vsimem / "one.tif")
@@ -1345,6 +1353,10 @@ def test_gti_overlapping_sources(tmp_vsimem):
     assert vrt_ds.GetRasterBand(1).Checksum() == 2, sort_values
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    gdal.GetDriverByName("VRT").GetMetadataItem(gdal.DMD_OPENOPTIONLIST) is None,
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gti_gap_between_sources(tmp_vsimem):
 
     filename1 = str(tmp_vsimem / "one.tif")
@@ -1380,6 +1392,10 @@ def test_gti_gap_between_sources(tmp_vsimem):
         )
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    gdal.GetDriverByName("VRT").GetMetadataItem(gdal.DMD_OPENOPTIONLIST) is None,
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gti_no_source(tmp_vsimem):
 
     index_filename = str(tmp_vsimem / "index.gti.gpkg")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/hfa.py b/autotest/gdrivers/hfa.py
index e68e2236bbe8..bbdc7eb27324 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/hfa.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/hfa.py
@@ -666,6 +666,10 @@ def test_hfa_vsimem():
 # the .img file.  (#2422)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_hfa_proName():
 
     drv = gdal.GetDriverByName("HFA")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/jp2openjpeg.py b/autotest/gdrivers/jp2openjpeg.py
index cc64df8dabf1..16e14fdc5fb9 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/jp2openjpeg.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/jp2openjpeg.py
@@ -389,6 +389,10 @@ def test_jp2openjpeg_12():
 # Check that PAM overrides internal GCPs (#5279)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_jp2openjpeg_13():
 
     # Create a dataset with GCPs
@@ -1446,6 +1450,10 @@ def test_jp2openjpeg_32():
 # Test crazy tile size
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_jp2openjpeg_33():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open(
@@ -3818,6 +3826,10 @@ def test_jp2openjpeg_mosaic():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.require_curl()
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_jp2openjpeg_vrt_protocol():
 
     (webserver_process, webserver_port) = webserver.launch(
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/jpeg.py b/autotest/gdrivers/jpeg.py
index 2dae55fe1e1d..fef684336e0f 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/jpeg.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/jpeg.py
@@ -800,6 +800,10 @@ def test_jpeg_mask_lsb_order_issue_4351():
 # Test correct GCP reading with PAM (#5352)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_jpeg_20():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("data/rgb_gcp.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/kmlsuperoverlay.py b/autotest/gdrivers/kmlsuperoverlay.py
index 11cfb79e7fa1..8816100c0e6a 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/kmlsuperoverlay.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/kmlsuperoverlay.py
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@ def test_kmlsuperoverlay_3():
 # Test overviews
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_kmlsuperoverlay_4():
 
     vrt_xml = """<VRTDataset rasterXSize="800" rasterYSize="400">
@@ -231,6 +235,10 @@ def test_kmlsuperoverlay_4():
 # Test that a raster which crosses the anti-meridian will be able to be displayed correctly (#4528)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_kmlsuperoverlay_5():
 
     from xml.etree import ElementTree
@@ -398,6 +406,10 @@ def test_kmlsuperoverlay_gx_latlonquad():
 # KML/PNG files in transparent areas
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_kmlsuperoverlay_8():
 
     # a large raster with actual data on each end and blank space in between
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/mrf.py b/autotest/gdrivers/mrf.py
index c46f39bff99f..f7a327d44156 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/mrf.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/mrf.py
@@ -203,6 +203,10 @@ def cleanup(base="/vsimem/out."):
         gdal.Unlink(base + ext)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_mrf_zen_test():
 
     expectedCS = 770
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf.py b/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf.py
index 56902f5367f1..83ab84e5f25c 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf.py
@@ -1190,6 +1190,10 @@ def test_netcdf_28(tmp_path):
 # metadata to netcdf file with SetMetadata() and SetMetadataItem()).
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_netcdf_29(tmp_path):
 
     # create tif file using gdalwarp
@@ -1451,6 +1455,10 @@ def test_netcdf_38():
 # Test VRT and NETCDF:
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_netcdf_39():
 
     shutil.copy("data/netcdf/two_vars_scale_offset.nc", "tmp")
@@ -1482,6 +1490,10 @@ def test_netcdf_39():
     assert cs == 65463
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_netcdf_39_absolute():
 
     if (
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf_multidim.py b/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf_multidim.py
index 46c347a42d99..9714899a4df0 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf_multidim.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/netcdf_multidim.py
@@ -1528,6 +1528,10 @@ def copy():
     gdal.Unlink(tmpfilename2)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_netcdf_multidim_dims_with_same_name_different_size():
 
     src_ds = gdal.OpenEx(
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/nitf.py b/autotest/gdrivers/nitf.py
index 9ca57a6a3634..582b8622d094 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/nitf.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/nitf.py
@@ -1506,6 +1506,10 @@ def test_nitf_34():
 # Test CreateCopy() writing file with a text segment.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_nitf_35():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("data/nitf/text_md.vrt")
@@ -1598,6 +1602,10 @@ def test_nitf_37():
 # Create and read a NITF file with 999 images
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_nitf_38():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/byte.tif")
@@ -1978,6 +1986,10 @@ def test_nitf_check_jpeg2000_overviews(driver_to_test):
 # Check reading of rsets.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_nitf_47():
 
     ds = gdal.Open("data/nitf/rset.ntf.r0")
@@ -1997,6 +2009,10 @@ def test_nitf_47():
 # Check building of standard overviews in place of rset overviews.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_nitf_48():
 
     try:
@@ -2038,6 +2054,10 @@ def test_nitf_48():
 # Test TEXT and CGM creation options with CreateCopy() (#3376)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_nitf_49():
 
     options = [
@@ -2759,6 +2779,10 @@ def test_nitf_68():
 # Test SetGCPs() support
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_nitf_69():
 
     vrt_txt = """<VRTDataset rasterXSize="20" rasterYSize="20">
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/pcidsk.py b/autotest/gdrivers/pcidsk.py
index d8c7f24b168c..0a4acba081f0 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/pcidsk.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/pcidsk.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_1():
 # Test lossless copying (16, multiband) via Create().
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_2():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest("PCIDSK", "png/rgba16.png", 2, 2042)
@@ -222,6 +223,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_5(tmp_path):
 # Test FILE interleaving.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_8():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest(
@@ -284,6 +286,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_10():
 # Test INTERLEAVING=TILED interleaving.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_11():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest(
@@ -297,6 +300,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_11():
     tst.testCreate()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_11_v1():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest(
@@ -310,6 +314,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_11_v1():
     tst.testCreate()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_11_v2():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest(
@@ -327,6 +332,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_11_v2():
 # Test INTERLEAVING=TILED interleaving and COMPRESSION=RLE
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_12():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest(
@@ -340,6 +346,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_12():
     tst.testCreate()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_12_v1():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest(
@@ -358,6 +365,7 @@ def test_pcidsk_12_v1():
     tst.testCreate()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("PNG")
 def test_pcidsk_12_v2():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest(
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/pdf.py b/autotest/gdrivers/pdf.py
index 283f9507a7ed..3f4a77dc46f6 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/pdf.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/pdf.py
@@ -1009,11 +1009,19 @@ def _pdf_update_gcps(poppler_or_pdfium):
     gdaltest.pdf_drv.Delete(out_filename)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_pdf_update_gcps_iso32000(poppler_or_pdfium):
     gdal.SetConfigOption("GDAL_PDF_GEO_ENCODING", None)
     _pdf_update_gcps(poppler_or_pdfium)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_pdf_update_gcps_ogc_bp(poppler_or_pdfium):
     with gdal.config_option("GDAL_PDF_GEO_ENCODING", "OGC_BP"):
         _pdf_update_gcps(poppler_or_pdfium)
@@ -1023,6 +1031,10 @@ def test_pdf_update_gcps_ogc_bp(poppler_or_pdfium):
 # Check SetGCPs() but with GCPs that do *not* resolve to a geotransform
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_pdf_set_5_gcps_ogc_bp(poppler_or_pdfium):
     dpi = 300
     out_filename = "tmp/pdf_set_5_gcps_ogc_bp.pdf"
@@ -1248,6 +1260,10 @@ def test_pdf_set_neatline_ogc_bp(poppler_or_pdfium):
 # Check that we can generate identical file
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_pdf_check_identity_iso32000(poppler_or_pdfium):
     out_filename = "tmp/pdf_check_identity_iso32000.pdf"
 
@@ -1281,6 +1297,10 @@ def test_pdf_check_identity_iso32000(poppler_or_pdfium):
 # Check that we can generate identical file
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_pdf_check_identity_ogc_bp(poppler_or_pdfium):
     out_filename = "tmp/pdf_check_identity_ogc_bp.pdf"
 
@@ -1455,6 +1475,10 @@ def test_pdf_custom_layout(poppler_or_pdfium):
 # Test CLIPPING_EXTENT, EXTRA_RASTERS, EXTRA_RASTERS_LAYER_NAME, OFF_LAYERS, EXCLUSIVE_LAYERS options
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_pdf_extra_rasters(poppler_or_pdfium):
     subbyte = """<VRTDataset rasterXSize="10" rasterYSize="10">
   <SRS>PROJCS["NAD27 / UTM zone 11N",GEOGCS["NAD27",DATUM["North_American_Datum_1927",SPHEROID["Clarke 1866",6378206.4,294.9786982139006,AUTHORITY["EPSG","7008"]],AUTHORITY["EPSG","6267"]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0],UNIT["degree",0.0174532925199433],AUTHORITY["EPSG","4267"]],PROJECTION["Transverse_Mercator"],PARAMETER["latitude_of_origin",0],PARAMETER["central_meridian",-117],PARAMETER["scale_factor",0.9996],PARAMETER["false_easting",500000],PARAMETER["false_northing",0],UNIT["metre",1,AUTHORITY["EPSG","9001"]],AUTHORITY["EPSG","26711"]]</SRS>
@@ -1721,6 +1745,10 @@ def test_pdf_jpeg_direct_copy(poppler_or_pdfium):
 # Test direct copy of source JPEG file within VRT file
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("JPEG")
 def test_pdf_jpeg_in_vrt_direct_copy(poppler_or_pdfium):
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/prf.py b/autotest/gdrivers/prf.py
index 33e253f69879..e052d9d8b844 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/prf.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/prf.py
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ def test_prf_3():
     ds = None
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_prf_4():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest("prf", "./PRF/dem.x-dem", 1, 0)
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/sigdem.py b/autotest/gdrivers/sigdem.py
index 1670399e2c6c..28c2fb0664b8 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/sigdem.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/sigdem.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 
 
 import gdaltest
+import pytest
 
 ###############################################################################
 # Create simple copy and check.
@@ -49,6 +50,10 @@ def test_sigdem_copy_check_prj():
 # Verify writing files with non-square pixels.
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_sigdem_non_square():
 
     tst = gdaltest.GDALTest("SIGDEM", "sigdem/nonsquare_nad27_utm11.vrt", 1, 12481)
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/test_validate_jp2.py b/autotest/gdrivers/test_validate_jp2.py
index ad3d7e7c22cc..734d26b7aa65 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/test_validate_jp2.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/test_validate_jp2.py
@@ -114,6 +114,10 @@ def validate(filename, inspire_tg=True, expected_gmljp2=True, oidoc=None):
 # Highly corrupted file
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_validate_jp2_2():
 
     import build_jp2_from_xml
@@ -284,6 +288,10 @@ def test_validate_jp2_4():
 # Also a RGN marker
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_validate_jp2_5():
 
     import build_jp2_from_xml
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtderived.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtderived.py
index b5fd42965881..296dfbe0916a 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtderived.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtderived.py
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 
 ###############################################################################
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True, scope="module")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtfilt.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtfilt.py
index 579a4003509f..932ae18ffe9e 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtfilt.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtfilt.py
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 ###############################################################################
 # Verify simple 3x3 averaging filter.
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtlut.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtlut.py
index 251e89ae21ff..94fb3fa87380 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtlut.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtlut.py
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 ###############################################################################
 # Simple test
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmask.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmask.py
index 13b3822176d9..b24e7915e073 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmask.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmask.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 ###############################################################################
 # Test with a global dataset mask band
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmultidim.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmultidim.py
index 1c701a6b0b54..e1dca6b93182 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmultidim.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtmultidim.py
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal, osr
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 
 ###############################################################################
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True, scope="module")
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtovr.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtovr.py
index da56dc867369..5e63a7397992 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtovr.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtovr.py
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 ###############################################################################
 # Simple test
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtpansharpen.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtpansharpen.py
index e3ba9af028d4..fb650476a0ce 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtpansharpen.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtpansharpen.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True, scope="module")
 def startup_and_cleanup():
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtprocesseddataset.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtprocesseddataset.py
index fd64c14e180e..8974fc481dd4 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtprocesseddataset.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtprocesseddataset.py
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 np = pytest.importorskip("numpy")
 pytest.importorskip("osgeo.gdal_array")
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtrawlink.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtrawlink.py
index 1f4203fc2874..d2ad48e27530 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtrawlink.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtrawlink.py
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 
 def _xmlsearch(root, nodetype, name):
     for node in root[2:]:
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtwarp.py b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtwarp.py
index a3a2b3650a31..344b761a0796 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/vrtwarp.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/vrtwarp.py
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 ###############################################################################
 # Verify reading from simple existing warp definition.
 
diff --git a/autotest/gdrivers/wms.py b/autotest/gdrivers/wms.py
index 9e7ca4da5508..02c3f8921d9e 100755
--- a/autotest/gdrivers/wms.py
+++ b/autotest/gdrivers/wms.py
@@ -568,6 +568,10 @@ def test_wms_12():
 # Test reading WMS through VRT (test effect of r21866)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @gdaltest.disable_exceptions()
 def test_wms_13():
 
diff --git a/autotest/pymod/gdaltest.py b/autotest/pymod/gdaltest.py
index 1c1677a3164b..5bedd015acd4 100755
--- a/autotest/pymod/gdaltest.py
+++ b/autotest/pymod/gdaltest.py
@@ -2199,3 +2199,8 @@ def tell(self):
 
 def vsi_open(path, mode="r"):
     return VSIFile(path, mode)
+
+
+def vrt_has_open_support():
+    drv = gdal.GetDriverByName("VRT")
+    return drv is not None and drv.GetMetadataItem(gdal.DMD_OPENOPTIONLIST) is not None
diff --git a/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_logger.py b/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_logger.py
index de9cd087b1bd..97b6ebe2711c 100644
--- a/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_logger.py
+++ b/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_logger.py
@@ -29,11 +29,17 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 ###############################################################################
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 from osgeo_utils import gdal2tiles
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 
 def test_gdal2tiles_logger():
 
diff --git a/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_vsimem.py b/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_vsimem.py
index 340e0238f7c4..deaff34fe74a 100644
--- a/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_vsimem.py
+++ b/autotest/pyscripts/gdal2tiles/test_vsimem.py
@@ -29,11 +29,17 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 ###############################################################################
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 from osgeo_utils import gdal2tiles
 
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
+
 
 def test_gdal2tiles_vsimem():
 
diff --git a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal2tiles.py b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal2tiles.py
index b3da97a4de72..a8c2159df649 100755
--- a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal2tiles.py
+++ b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal2tiles.py
@@ -43,10 +43,15 @@
 from osgeo import gdal, osr  # noqa
 from osgeo_utils.gdalcompare import compare_db
 
-pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
-    test_py_scripts.get_py_script("gdal2tiles") is None,
-    reason="gdal2tiles not available",
-)
+pytestmark = [
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        test_py_scripts.get_py_script("gdal2tiles") is None,
+        reason="gdal2tiles not available",
+    ),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(), reason="VRT driver open missing"
+    ),
+]
 
 
 @pytest.fixture()
diff --git a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal_pansharpen.py b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal_pansharpen.py
index 160b68879b94..9883e9a14ad8 100755
--- a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal_pansharpen.py
+++ b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdal_pansharpen.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 ###############################################################################
 
-
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 import test_py_scripts
 
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ def test_gdal_pansharpen_version(script_path):
 # Simple test
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_pansharpen_1(script_path, tmp_path, small_world_pan_tif):
 
     out_tif = str(tmp_path / "out.tif")
@@ -120,6 +124,10 @@ def test_gdal_pansharpen_1(script_path, tmp_path, small_world_pan_tif):
 # Full options
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_pansharpen_2(script_path, tmp_path, small_world_pan_tif):
 
     out_vrt = str(tmp_path / "out.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalattachpct.py b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalattachpct.py
index d81b173eadc4..bc27b4d39bda 100755
--- a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalattachpct.py
+++ b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalattachpct.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 ###############################################################################
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 import test_py_scripts
 
@@ -91,6 +92,10 @@ def test_gdalattachpct_basic(script_path, tmp_path, palette_file):
 # Test outputting to VRT
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalattachpct_vrt_output(script_path, tmp_path, palette_file):
 
     src_filename = str(tmp_path / "src.tif")
diff --git a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalbuildvrtofvrt.py b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalbuildvrtofvrt.py
index 19630a21727a..19b8b51fd27c 100755
--- a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalbuildvrtofvrt.py
+++ b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalbuildvrtofvrt.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 import os
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 import test_py_scripts
 
@@ -41,6 +42,9 @@
         test_py_scripts.get_py_script("gdalbuildvrtofvrt") is None,
         reason="gdalbuildvrtofvrt.py not available",
     ),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(), reason="VRT driver open missing"
+    ),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalinfo_py.py b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalinfo_py.py
index 235b40dbdc29..43bf7fe4e28e 100755
--- a/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalinfo_py.py
+++ b/autotest/pyscripts/test_gdalinfo_py.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 import os
 import shutil
 
+import gdaltest
 import pytest
 import test_py_scripts
 
@@ -154,6 +155,10 @@ def test_gdalinfo_py_6(script_path):
 # Test a dataset with GCPs
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalinfo_py_7(script_path):
 
     ret = test_py_scripts.run_py_script(
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_create.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_create.py
index 13c26b7fb58d..936ca76f9162 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_create.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_create.py
@@ -222,6 +222,10 @@ def test_gdal_create_input_file_overrrides(gdal_create_path, tmp_path):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_create_input_file_gcps(gdal_create_path, tmp_path):
 
     output_tif = str(tmp_path / "tmp.tif")
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate.py
index 446839a4055f..dad3024e4520 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate.py
@@ -420,6 +420,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_15(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 # Test -of VRT which is a special case
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_translate_16(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 
     dst_vrt = str(tmp_path / "test16.vrt")
@@ -440,6 +444,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_16(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 # Test -expand option to VRT
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("GIF")
 def test_gdal_translate_17(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 
@@ -483,6 +491,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_17(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 # Test translation of a VRT made of VRT
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("BMP")
 def test_gdal_translate_18(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 
@@ -781,6 +793,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_28(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 # Test -r
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_translate_29(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 
     dst_tif = str(tmp_path / "test_gdal_translate_29.tif")
@@ -962,6 +978,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_33ter(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 # Test NBITS is preserved
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_translate_34(gdal_translate_path, tmp_path):
 
     dst_vrt = str(tmp_path / "test_gdal_translate_34.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate_lib.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate_lib.py
index 26aa3c21a438..edd421ff449d 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate_lib.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdal_translate_lib.py
@@ -597,6 +597,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_lib_104():
 # Test GCPs propagation in "VRT path"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_translate_lib_gcp_vrt_path():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("../gcore/data/gcps.vrt")
@@ -613,6 +617,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_lib_gcp_vrt_path():
 # Test RPC propagation in "VRT path"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_translate_lib_rcp_vrt_path():
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("../gcore/data/rpc.vrt")
@@ -624,6 +632,10 @@ def test_gdal_translate_lib_rcp_vrt_path():
 # Test GeoLocation propagation in "VRT path"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdal_translate_lib_geolocation_vrt_path(tmp_vsimem):
 
     src_ds = gdal.Open("../gcore/data/sstgeo.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdaladdo.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdaladdo.py
index 29f23085d3a8..e68d90072d6f 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdaladdo.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdaladdo.py
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ def gdaladdo_path():
 # Similar to tiff_ovr_1
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdaladdo_1(gdaladdo_path, tmp_path):
 
     shutil.copy("../gcore/data/mfloat32.vrt", f"{tmp_path}/mfloat32.vrt")
@@ -230,6 +234,10 @@ def test_gdaladdo_partial_refresh_from_projwin(gdaladdo_path, tmp_path):
 # Test --partial-refresh-from-source-timestamp
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdaladdo_partial_refresh_from_source_timestamp(gdaladdo_path, tmp_path):
 
     left_tif = str(tmp_path / "left.tif")
@@ -284,6 +292,10 @@ def test_gdaladdo_partial_refresh_from_source_timestamp(gdaladdo_path, tmp_path)
 # Test --partial-refresh-from-source-extent
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdaladdo_partial_refresh_from_source_extent(gdaladdo_path, tmp_path):
 
     left_tif = str(tmp_path / "left.tif")
@@ -330,6 +342,10 @@ def test_gdaladdo_partial_refresh_from_source_extent(gdaladdo_path, tmp_path):
 # Test reuse of previous resampling method and overview levels
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("read_only", [True, False])
 def test_gdaladdo_reuse_previous_resampling_and_levels(
     gdaladdo_path, tmp_path, read_only
@@ -382,8 +398,13 @@ def test_gdaladdo_reuse_previous_resampling_and_levels(
 
 
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("GPKG")
+@pytest.mark.require_driver("GTI")
 def test_gdaladdo_partial_refresh_from_source_timestamp_gti(gdaladdo_path, tmp_path):
 
+    gti_drv = gdal.GetDriverByName("GTI")
+    if gti_drv.GetMetadataItem("IS_PLUGIN"):
+        pytest.skip("Test skipped because GTI driver as a plugin")
+
     left_tif = str(tmp_path / "left.tif")
     right_tif = str(tmp_path / "right.tif")
 
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt.py
index 27b7756ee074..2088c4626c6a 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt.py
@@ -35,10 +35,16 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal, osr
 
-pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
-    test_cli_utilities.get_gdalbuildvrt_path() is None,
-    reason="gdalbuildvrt not available",
-)
+pytestmark = [
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        test_cli_utilities.get_gdalbuildvrt_path() is None,
+        reason="gdalbuildvrt not available",
+    ),
+    pytest.mark.skipif(
+        not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+        reason="VRT driver open missing",
+    ),
+]
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt_lib.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt_lib.py
index 74e41222ed6e..2e1c0e98911d 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt_lib.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalbuildvrt_lib.py
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ def test_gdalbuildvrt_lib_2():
 # Test creating overviews
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalbuildvrt_lib_ovr(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfilename = tmp_vsimem / "my.vrt"
@@ -668,6 +672,12 @@ def test_gdalbuildvrt_lib_strict_mode():
 
 
 ###############################################################################
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalbuildvrt_lib_te_touching_on_edge(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmp_filename = tmp_vsimem / "test_gdalbuildvrt_lib_te_touching_on_edge.vrt"
@@ -794,6 +804,10 @@ def test_gdalbuildvrt_lib_nodataMaxMaskThreshold_rgba(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalbuildvrt_lib_nodataMaxMaskThreshold_rgb_mask(tmp_vsimem):
 
     # UInt16, VRTNodata=0
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem.py
index 8372008cd1b4..b42c17bff5c1 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem.py
@@ -381,6 +381,10 @@ def test_gdaldem_color_relief_cpt(gdaldem_path, tmp_path):
 # Test gdaldem color relief to VRT
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdaldem_color_relief_vrt(gdaldem_path, n43_colorrelief_tif, tmp_path):
 
     output_vrt = str(tmp_path / "n43_colorrelief.vrt")
@@ -518,6 +522,10 @@ def test_gdaldem_color_relief_nearest_color_entry(gdaldem_path, tmp_path):
 # Test gdaldem color relief with -nearest_color_entry and -of VRT
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdaldem_color_relief_nearest_color_entry_vrt(gdaldem_path, tmp_path):
 
     output_vrt = str(tmp_path / "n43_colorrelief_nearest.vrt")
@@ -584,6 +592,10 @@ def test_gdaldem_color_relief_nodata_nan(gdaldem_path, tmp_path):
 # Test gdaldem color relief with entries with repeated DEM values in the color table (#6422)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("AAIGRID")
 def test_gdaldem_color_relief_repeated_entry(gdaldem_path, tmp_path):
 
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem_lib.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem_lib.py
index af3170465c1e..76a724691d3b 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem_lib.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdaldem_lib.py
@@ -526,6 +526,10 @@ def test_gdaldem_lib_color_relief_nodata_value(tmp_vsimem):
     gdal.Unlink(colorFilename)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "colorSelection",
     ["nearest_color_entry", "exact_color_entry", "linear_interpolation"],
@@ -563,6 +567,10 @@ def test_gdaldem_lib_color_relief_synthetic(tmp_path, colorSelection, format):
     assert struct.unpack("B" * 4, ds.GetRasterBand(3).ReadRaster()) == (0, 12, 22, 32)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "colorSelection",
     ["nearest_color_entry", "exact_color_entry", "linear_interpolation"],
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalinfo.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalinfo.py
index c3857c716b0f..815be240a395 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalinfo.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalinfo.py
@@ -135,6 +135,10 @@ def test_gdalinfo_6(gdalinfo_path):
 # Test a dataset with GCPs
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalinfo_7(gdalinfo_path):
 
     ret = gdaltest.runexternal(
@@ -549,6 +553,10 @@ def test_gdalinfo_33(gdalinfo_path):
 # Test a dataset with GCPs
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalinfo_34(gdalinfo_path):
 
     ret = gdaltest.runexternal(gdalinfo_path + " -json ../gcore/data/gcps.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdallocationinfo.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdallocationinfo.py
index 575fa42c1c85..e17526f0147f 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdallocationinfo.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdallocationinfo.py
@@ -122,6 +122,10 @@ def test_gdallocationinfo_4(gdallocationinfo_path):
 # Test -lifonly
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdallocationinfo_5(gdallocationinfo_path):
 
     ret = gdaltest.runexternal(
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdiminfo.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdiminfo.py
index 9977457513c5..11fa550adb68 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdiminfo.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdiminfo.py
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ def gdalmdiminfo_path():
 # Simple test
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdiminfo_1(gdalmdiminfo_path):
 
     (ret, err) = gdaltest.runexternal_out_and_err(gdalmdiminfo_path + " data/mdim.vrt")
@@ -59,6 +63,10 @@ def test_gdalmdiminfo_1(gdalmdiminfo_path):
 # Test -if option
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdiminfo_if_option(gdalmdiminfo_path):
 
     (ret, err) = gdaltest.runexternal_out_and_err(
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate.py
index a6cf1cec7529..7b34e3282149 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate.py
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ def gdalmdimtranslate_path():
 # Simple test
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_1(gdalmdimtranslate_path, tmp_path):
 
     dst_vrt = str(tmp_path / "out.vrt")
@@ -65,6 +69,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_1(gdalmdimtranslate_path, tmp_path):
 # Test -if option
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_if(gdalmdimtranslate_path, tmp_path):
 
     dst_vrt = str(tmp_path / "out.vrt")
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate_lib.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate_lib.py
index 333f3a74e8d7..7f17d06d9fae 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate_lib.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalmdimtranslate_lib.py
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_no_arg(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -53,6 +57,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_no_arg(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_multidim_to_mem():
 
     out_ds = gdal.MultiDimTranslate("", "data/mdim.vrt", format="MEM")
@@ -67,6 +75,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_multidim_to_mem():
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_multidim_to_classic(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.tif"
@@ -84,6 +96,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_multidim_to_classic(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_multidim_1d_to_classic(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.tif"
@@ -112,6 +128,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_classic_to_classic(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_classic_to_multidim(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -171,6 +191,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_classic_to_multidim(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_array(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -252,6 +276,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_array(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_array_with_transpose_and_view(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -327,6 +355,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_array_with_transpose_and_view(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_group(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -392,6 +424,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_group(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_two_groups(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -462,6 +498,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_two_groups(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_subset(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -717,6 +757,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_subset(tmp_vsimem):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_scaleaxes(tmp_vsimem):
 
     tmpfile = tmp_vsimem / "out.vrt"
@@ -791,6 +835,10 @@ def test_gdalmdimtranslate_scaleaxes(tmp_vsimem):
     )
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalmdimtranslate_dims_with_same_name_different_size(tmp_vsimem):
 
     srcfile = tmp_vsimem / "in.vrt"
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp.py
index ee749fed657d..0df412e936ba 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp.py
@@ -383,6 +383,10 @@ def test_gdalwarp_14(gdalwarp_path, testgdalwarp_gcp_tif, tmp_path):
 # Test -of VRT which is a special case
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalwarp_16(gdalwarp_path, testgdalwarp_gcp_tif, tmp_path):
 
     dst_vrt = str(tmp_path / "testgdalwarp16.vrt")
@@ -463,6 +467,10 @@ def test_gdalwarp_19(gdalwarp_path, testgdalwarp_gcp_tif, tmp_path):
 # Test -of VRT -et 0 which is a special case
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalwarp_20(gdalwarp_path, testgdalwarp_gcp_tif, tmp_path):
 
     dst_vrt = str(tmp_path / "testgdalwarp20.vrt")
@@ -1047,6 +1055,10 @@ def test_gdalwarp_39(gdalwarp_path, tmp_path):
 # Test -ovr
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalwarp_40(gdalwarp_path, tmp_path):
 
     src_tif = str(tmp_path / "test_gdalwarp_40_src.tif")
diff --git a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp_lib.py b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp_lib.py
index 2fa922f62efc..ea24c6260b75 100755
--- a/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp_lib.py
+++ b/autotest/utilities/test_gdalwarp_lib.py
@@ -1603,6 +1603,10 @@ def test_gdalwarp_lib_128(tmp_vsimem):
 # to an invalid geometry (#6375)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_geos
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("GeoJSON")
 def test_gdalwarp_lib_129(tmp_vsimem):
@@ -2074,6 +2078,10 @@ def test_gdalwarp_lib_135h(gdalwarp_135_grid_gtx, gdalwarp_135_grid2_gtx):
     assert data == pytest.approx(115 / (1200.0 / 3937)), "Bad value"
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 @pytest.mark.require_driver("GTX")
 def test_gdalwarp_lib_135i(
     gdalwarp_135_src_ds, gdalwarp_135_grid_gtx, gdalwarp_135_grid2_gtx, tmp_path
@@ -3332,6 +3340,10 @@ def test_gdalwarp_lib_src_nodata_with_dstalpha():
 # Test warping from a dataset with points outside of Earth (fixes #4934)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not gdaltest.vrt_has_open_support(),
+    reason="VRT driver open missing",
+)
 def test_gdalwarp_lib_src_points_outside_of_earth():
     class MyHandler:
         def __init__(self):
diff --git a/frmts/CMakeLists.txt b/frmts/CMakeLists.txt
index 875eaade5385..08d3fcaec778 100644
--- a/frmts/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/frmts/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -39,9 +39,27 @@ gdal_optional_format(raw "Raw formats:EOSAT FAST Format, FARSITE LCP and Vexcel
 gdal_format(gtiff "GeoTIFF image format")
 set_package_properties(TIFF PROPERTIES PURPOSE "gdal_GTIFF: GeoTIFF image format")
 gdal_format(mem "Read/write data in Memory")
-gdal_format(vrt "Virtual GDAL Datasets")
+
+# Exception to the rule: enable the VRT driver by default, even if
+# GDAL_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS=OFF.
+if (NOT DEFINED GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_VRT AND
+    DEFINED GDAL_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS AND
+    NOT GDAL_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS)
+    message(WARNING "Enabling GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_VRT=ON, despite GDAL_BUILD_OPTIONAL_DRIVERS=OFF. You can of course override this choice by setting GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_VRT=OFF")
+    option(GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_VRT "Set ON to build Virtual GDAL Datasets" ON)
+endif()
+
+gdal_optional_format(vrt "Virtual GDAL Datasets")
+if (NOT GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_VRT)
+    # Even if we don't enable the driver (Open method), we still need to compile
+    # Most of it
+    add_subdirectory(vrt)
+endif()
+
 # Note: derived is derived of vrt
-add_subdirectory(derived)
+gdal_optional_format(derived "Derived datasets")
+
+gdal_optional_format(gti "GDAL Tile Index")
 
 # default formats
 
diff --git a/frmts/gdalallregister.cpp b/frmts/gdalallregister.cpp
index 376a5fc21199..163a77a89b26 100644
--- a/frmts/gdalallregister.cpp
+++ b/frmts/gdalallregister.cpp
@@ -329,10 +329,16 @@ void CPL_STDCALL GDALAllRegister()
 
 #ifdef FRMT_vrt
     GDALRegister_VRT();
-    GDALRegister_GTI();
+#endif
+
+#ifdef FRMT_derived
     GDALRegister_Derived();
 #endif
 
+#ifdef FRMT_gti
+    GDALRegister_GTI();
+#endif
+
 #ifdef FRMT_gtiff
     GDALRegister_GTiff();
     GDALRegister_COG();
diff --git a/frmts/gti/CMakeLists.txt b/frmts/gti/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..91bc928ea953
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frmts/gti/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+add_gdal_driver(
+  TARGET gdal_GTI
+  PLUGIN_CAPABLE
+  NO_DEPS
+  SOURCES gdaltileindexdataset.cpp
+          STRONG_CXX_WFLAGS)
+gdal_standard_includes(gdal_GTI)
+target_include_directories(gdal_GTI PRIVATE ${GDAL_RASTER_FORMAT_SOURCE_DIR}/vrt
+                                            $<TARGET_PROPERTY:ogrsf_generic,SOURCE_DIR>)
+
+set(GDAL_DATA_FILES
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/data/gdaltileindex.xsd
+)
+set_property(
+  TARGET ${GDAL_LIB_TARGET_NAME}
+  APPEND
+  PROPERTY RESOURCE "${GDAL_DATA_FILES}")
+
+if (GDAL_USE_GEOS)
+  gdal_target_link_libraries(gdal_GTI PRIVATE ${GEOS_TARGET})
+  target_compile_definitions(gdal_GTI PRIVATE -DHAVE_GEOS=1)
+endif ()
+
+if (GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_GTI_PLUGIN)
+    target_compile_definitions(gdal_GTI PRIVATE -DBUILT_AS_PLUGIN)
+endif()
diff --git a/frmts/vrt/data/gdaltileindex.xsd b/frmts/gti/data/gdaltileindex.xsd
similarity index 100%
rename from frmts/vrt/data/gdaltileindex.xsd
rename to frmts/gti/data/gdaltileindex.xsd
diff --git a/frmts/vrt/gdaltileindexdataset.cpp b/frmts/gti/gdaltileindexdataset.cpp
similarity index 99%
rename from frmts/vrt/gdaltileindexdataset.cpp
rename to frmts/gti/gdaltileindexdataset.cpp
index 388f45136164..d7d8548d3a07 100644
--- a/frmts/vrt/gdaltileindexdataset.cpp
+++ b/frmts/gti/gdaltileindexdataset.cpp
@@ -4626,7 +4626,7 @@ void GDALRegister_GTI()
     if (GDALGetDriverByName("GTI") != nullptr)
         return;
 
-    auto poDriver = std::make_unique<VRTDriver>();
+    auto poDriver = std::make_unique<GDALDriver>();
 
     poDriver->SetDescription("GTI");
     poDriver->SetMetadataItem(GDAL_DCAP_RASTER, "YES");
@@ -4659,7 +4659,10 @@ void GDALRegister_GTI()
         "default='ALL_CPUS'/>"
         "</OpenOptionList>");
 
+#ifdef BUILT_AS_PLUGIN
+    // Used by gdaladdo and test_gdaladdo.py
+    poDriver->SetMetadataItem("IS_PLUGIN", "YES");
+#endif
+
     GetGDALDriverManager()->RegisterDriver(poDriver.release());
 }
-
-/*! @endcond */
diff --git a/frmts/vrt/CMakeLists.txt b/frmts/vrt/CMakeLists.txt
index 777c49af525a..8e423afd6d3a 100644
--- a/frmts/vrt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/frmts/vrt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ add_gdal_driver(
           vrtprocesseddataset.cpp
           vrtprocesseddatasetfunctions.cpp
           vrtmultidim.cpp
-          gdaltileindexdataset.cpp
           STRONG_CXX_WFLAGS)
 gdal_standard_includes(gdal_vrt)
 target_include_directories(gdal_vrt PRIVATE ${GDAL_RASTER_FORMAT_SOURCE_DIR}/raw
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@ target_include_directories(gdal_vrt PRIVATE ${GDAL_RASTER_FORMAT_SOURCE_DIR}/raw
 
 set(GDAL_DATA_FILES
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/data/gdalvrt.xsd
-    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/data/gdaltileindex.xsd
 )
 set_property(
   TARGET ${GDAL_LIB_TARGET_NAME}
@@ -42,3 +40,7 @@ target_public_header(TARGET gdal HEADERS vrtdataset.h gdal_vrt.h)
 
 # because of use of GDALOpenVerticalShiftGrid
 set_property(SOURCE vrtwarped.cpp PROPERTY SKIP_UNITY_BUILD_INCLUSION ON)
+
+if (NOT GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_VRT)
+    target_compile_definitions(gdal_vrt PRIVATE -DNO_OPEN)
+endif()
diff --git a/frmts/vrt/vrt_priv.h b/frmts/vrt/vrt_priv.h
index ca2af63383fb..ba53e815ad5d 100644
--- a/frmts/vrt/vrt_priv.h
+++ b/frmts/vrt/vrt_priv.h
@@ -52,10 +52,10 @@ GDALTileIndexDataset CPL_DLL *GDALDatasetCastToGTIDataset(GDALDataset *poDS);
 std::vector<GTISourceDesc> CPL_DLL
 GTIGetSourcesMoreRecentThan(GDALTileIndexDataset *poDS, int64_t mTime);
 
-CPLStringList VRTParseCategoryNames(const CPLXMLNode *psCategoryNames);
+CPLStringList CPL_DLL VRTParseCategoryNames(const CPLXMLNode *psCategoryNames);
 
 std::unique_ptr<GDALColorTable>
-VRTParseColorTable(const CPLXMLNode *psColorTable);
+    CPL_DLL VRTParseColorTable(const CPLXMLNode *psColorTable);
 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/frmts/vrt/vrtdataset.h b/frmts/vrt/vrtdataset.h
index 95adb2794842..38a3bac19aec 100644
--- a/frmts/vrt/vrtdataset.h
+++ b/frmts/vrt/vrtdataset.h
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@
 
 CPLErr GDALRegisterDefaultPixelFunc();
 void GDALVRTRegisterDefaultProcessedDatasetFuncs();
-CPLString VRTSerializeNoData(double dfVal, GDALDataType eDataType,
-                             int nPrecision);
+CPLString CPL_DLL VRTSerializeNoData(double dfVal, GDALDataType eDataType,
+                                     int nPrecision);
 
 #if 0
 int VRTWarpedOverviewTransform( void *pTransformArg, int bDstToSrc,
diff --git a/frmts/vrt/vrtdriver.cpp b/frmts/vrt/vrtdriver.cpp
index 1152f22c25db..7f4b60e86c63 100644
--- a/frmts/vrt/vrtdriver.cpp
+++ b/frmts/vrt/vrtdriver.cpp
@@ -542,10 +542,12 @@ void GDALRegister_VRT()
         "   <Option name='BLOCKYSIZE' type='int' description='Block height'/>\n"
         "</CreationOptionList>\n");
 
-    poDriver->pfnOpen = VRTDataset::Open;
     poDriver->pfnCreateCopy = VRTCreateCopy;
     poDriver->pfnCreate = VRTDataset::Create;
     poDriver->pfnCreateMultiDimensional = VRTDataset::CreateMultiDimensional;
+
+#ifndef NO_OPEN
+    poDriver->pfnOpen = VRTDataset::Open;
     poDriver->pfnIdentify = VRTDataset::Identify;
     poDriver->pfnDelete = VRTDataset::Delete;
 
@@ -561,6 +563,7 @@ void GDALRegister_VRT()
         "'Number of worker threads for reading. Can be set to ALL_CPUS' "
         "default='ALL_CPUS'/>"
         "</OpenOptionList>");
+#endif
 
     poDriver->SetMetadataItem(GDAL_DCAP_VIRTUALIO, "YES");
     poDriver->SetMetadataItem(GDAL_DCAP_COORDINATE_EPOCH, "YES");
diff --git a/gcore/CMakeLists.txt b/gcore/CMakeLists.txt
index d91dc6bb4d60..74bec85331d4 100644
--- a/gcore/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/gcore/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@ if (ENABLE_PAM)
   target_compile_definitions(gcore PRIVATE -DPAM_ENABLED)
 endif ()
 
+if (NOT GDAL_ENABLE_DRIVER_DERIVED)
+  target_compile_definitions(gcore PRIVATE -DWITHOUT_DERIVED)
+endif ()
+
 add_subdirectory(mdreader)
 
 # External libs now
diff --git a/gcore/gdaldataset.cpp b/gcore/gdaldataset.cpp
index 188ef9c62fd6..90ed4a44a423 100644
--- a/gcore/gdaldataset.cpp
+++ b/gcore/gdaldataset.cpp
@@ -4683,6 +4683,7 @@ void GDALDataset::ReportErrorV(const char *pszDSName, CPLErr eErrClass,
 /************************************************************************/
 char **GDALDataset::GetMetadata(const char *pszDomain)
 {
+#ifndef WITHOUT_DERIVED
     if (pszDomain != nullptr && EQUAL(pszDomain, "DERIVED_SUBDATASETS"))
     {
         oDerivedMetadataList.Clear();
@@ -4735,6 +4736,7 @@ char **GDALDataset::GetMetadata(const char *pszDomain)
         }
         return oDerivedMetadataList.List();
     }
+#endif
 
     return GDALMajorObject::GetMetadata(pszDomain);
 }