Skip to content
Get the App

Virginia Teen Driving Guide

What parents need to know about the learn-to-drive process in Virginia: six steps, from the first class to the insurance call.

Requirements checked: October 2026, against official state licensing sources: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

or browse all 100 city guides ↓
  1. 1

    Driver’s ed in Virginia

    Requirement
    Required under 18: 36 classroom periods, 7 driving periods, and 7 observation periods (50 minutes each), plus a final road skills exam. The classroom portion may be taken online through a driver training school. A 90-minute parent/teen component is also required, and must be in person in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia).

    Online driver’s ed for Virginia

    Aceable offers state-certified online courses your teen can complete at home.

    DRVN may earn a referral fee if you enroll through this link.

    Find an online driver’s ed course
  2. 2

    Get a Virginia learner’s permit

    Minimum age
    15 years 6 months
    The test
    Vision screening and a two-part knowledge exam taken during the application appointment at a DMV customer service center (remote testing in some schools).
    What to bring
    Application DL 1P signed by a parent or guardian, one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Virginia residency, and SSN if issued (original documents only), plus a $3 permit fee and the yearly license cost.
  3. 3

    Practice driving with a parent

    Supervised hours
    45 hours, including 15 after sunset, certified by a parent or guardian
    Time on the permit
    9 months

    Track every practice hour with DRVN

    Log hours and routes as you drive, follow lesson plans for each stage, and check off skills. Free.

    Get the app
  4. 4

    Pass the road test

    Minimum age
    16 years 3 months
    The road test
    The road skills exam is the final part of the state-approved driver education program. The instructor issues a Driver Training Certificate (DTS B) that serves as a temporary license for 180 days, and the permanent license follows at a juvenile court licensing ceremony or by mail.
  5. 5

    Know the rules for new drivers

    Restrictions
    No driving from midnight to 4 a.m. (exceptions for work, supervised school/civic/religious activities, a parent or adult spouse in the front seat, and emergencies); only one non-family passenger under 21 during the first year, and up to three after that only in limited circumstances.
  6. 6

    Add your teen to your car insurance

    When
    Call your insurer as soon as your teen gets a permit. Some policies cover permit drivers automatically and others need them listed; rates usually rise once your teen is licensed.
    Save money
    Ask about good-student and driver-training discounts, and compare quotes before your teen gets the first license.

Checked October 2026 against official Virginia sources

Rules change. Confirm the details with Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles before you go.

Meeting the requirements is only the beginning.

Your state determines when your teen is legally eligible to drive. Readiness depends on the experience, judgment, and independence they demonstrate before they drive alone.

See how to evaluate readiness

Turn the required hours into useful practice.

DRVN helps parents plan practice, track driving experience, and see what their teen still needs to work on before driving alone.

See how DRVN works

Virginia city guides

Guides for the most popular Virginia cities.

Guides for other states