Behind the Wheel Lessons in Northern Virginia

DMV-certified driving instruction with road test included.

$340
Enroll Now (703) 754-4444
DMV-Certified Since 2007 ★★★★★ 4.99/5 (274 reviews) 14950 Washington St #202, Haymarket, VA Pickup at Battlefield & Gainesville HS (703) 754-4444

Behind the wheel is the hands-on driving portion of Virginia's driver training program. A DMV-certified instructor rides with you in a dual-control vehicle, teaching real-road skills over 7 appointments before administering the road skills test. Passing earns you a Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B), which, combined with your Learner's Permit, serves as your Driver's License.

Behind the Wheel Pricing

Behind the Wheel

$340

7 appointments with a certified instructor, training vehicle, road skills test, and Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B) included. No hidden fees.

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Behind the Wheel + Driver Education

$540

Both courses together. A good option for families who need the classroom course and behind the wheel driving lessons.

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Behind the Wheel Re‑Examination

$550

For students who have failed the road skills test 3 or more times. Includes 12 hours of additional driving instruction. See the DMV re‑examination requirements for details.

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Payment accepted by cash or check. See our full pricing breakdown for details on what's included.

For Teens (Under 18)

All teenagers are required by the Virginia DMV to complete behind the wheel driving lessons and pass the road skills test to get their Driver's License. To start behind the wheel, teens need a Driver Education certificate first. There are 7 appointments total, each lasting at least 1 hour and 40 minutes. At each appointment, the student will spend at least 50 minutes driving and 50 minutes observing someone else drive.

The first 6 appointments are for the driving instructor to provide practice and instruction, while at the 7th appointment the driving test is performed. When the student passes the test, the instructor will issue a Driver Training Certificate (also known as a DTS-B) for the student, which is valid for 180 days. A Learner's Permit along with the DTS-B serves as a Driver's License and doesn't become valid until the teenager is 16 years and 3 months of age and has had their Learner's Permit for at least 9 months.

After completing the course, we send a copy of your Driver Training Certificate to the DMV, where it's kept on file. Within 3 months the local Juvenile Court will send you a postcard with the date and time of the licensing ceremony where the student will receive their actual Driver's License.

For Adults (18+)

Adults 18 and older can take behind the wheel lessons without completing Driver Education first. You still need a valid Virginia Learner's Permit, but no driving log or DE certificate is required. Read our adult driving lessons guide for the full details on what adults need to get started.

Requirements for Behind the Wheel Lessons

  • A valid VA Learner's Permit
    • The Driver Training Certificate you get for completing Behind the Wheel won't be valid until you've held your Learner's Permit for at least 9 months, and the student is at least 16 years and 3 months of age.
  • A signed Driver Education Certificate of Completion. Usually, a pink sheet is given to you by your high school, or wherever you completed Driver Education.
  • A Driving Log showing at least 45 hours of driving, with at least 15 of the hours being from after sunset.

See our full Virginia behind the wheel requirements guide for details on each requirement.

What to Bring to Your First Appointment

  • Payment in the form of Cash or Check (Checks made out to "Abba Driving School")
  • A Photocopy of Learners Permit issued by the DMV
  • Your signed Driver Education Certificate of Completion. Usually, a pink sheet is given to you by your high school, or wherever you completed Driver Education.

How Students Are Graded

Students are evaluated on 50 driving maneuvers for their final Behind the Wheel road skills test. They cover a range of driving skills from parking to highway lane changes. As long as you successfully complete 40 of the 50 maneuvers, you maintain a passing score.

Students immediately fail their Behind the Wheel test if they:

  • Are the cause of a crash.
  • Commit a clear violation of the law, such as any moving violation for which the applicant could be cited.
  • Are unable to maintain control of the vehicle.

If you don't pass, read our guide on what to do after failing your test.

View all 50 driving maneuvers on the test
  • Starting - The ability to start the vehicle properly.
    • Uses proper gear
    • Demonstrates proper use of the brake
  • Backing - The ability to control the vehicle while driving in reverse.
    • Looks in rear and side-view mirrors before and during backing maneuver
    • Turns head and looks over both shoulders before putting car in reverse
    • Backs vehicle smoothly in a straight line without weaving
  • Parking - The ability to drive in a parking lot and park the vehicle.
    • Checks traffic
    • Maintains proper speed
    • Signals when necessary
    • Parks vehicle within lines
  • Stop / Yield Signs - The ability to observe and obey stop signs and other signs.
    • Stops at the correct place
    • Slows down or stops, if necessary, at a yield sign
  • Turns - The ability to control the vehicle while making a turn. The test route will include at least 2 pre-determined left turns and 2 pre-determined right turns.
    • Moves to proper lane before turning
    • Checks traffic and gives proper signal before turning
    • Maintains proper speed
    • Completes turn satisfactorily
    • Completes turn in the proper lane
  • Intersections - The ability to drive through controlled or uncontrolled intersections.
    • Checks traffic by looking both ways before entering the intersection
    • Obeys traffic signs / signals
    • Yields to oncoming traffic
    • Makes no unnecessary stops
    • Maintains proper speed
  • Curves - The ability to drive in a curve.
    • Maintains proper entrance speed
    • Maintains proper through speed
    • Maintains proper lane position
  • Lane Changes - The ability to change lanes.
    • Signals before changing lanes
    • Performs over-the-shoulder visual checks
    • Maintains steering control (does not oversteer or weave)
    • Maintains proper speed
  • Overall Driving Ability
    • Maintains the posted speed
    • Maintains the proper following distance (a time gap of 3 seconds between the student's vehicle and the vehicle ahead)
    • Does not oversteer or weave
    • Selects proper lane (does not straddle lane or frequently change lanes)
    • Demonstrates an understanding of traffic signs and regulations/use of signals
    • Gives adequate attention to what is happening and responds appropriately
    • Starts/stops smoothly

Our Driving Instructors

Abba Driving School is run by Sima Kalantarian, who has over 20 years of experience teaching behind the wheel lessons, driver education, and driver improvement courses in Northern Virginia. Every instructor on our team is DMV-certified, has at least 15 years of driving instruction experience, and receives annual background checks from the FBI.

We offer flexible scheduling seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. Pickup at Battlefield High School and Gainesville High School is always available, and may be available in other areas. Contact us for details.

Our Vehicles

All of our vehicles are clean, modern, and equipped with automatic transmissions. They pass yearly inspections from the DMV and comply with Virginia State requirements to ensure our students have maximum safety.

Behind the Wheel Driving Lessons Near You

Our office is at 14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket, VA 20169. We pick up students at local high schools and serve communities throughout Prince William and Fauquier counties.

Haymarket Home base · Pickup at Battlefield HS All services
Gainesville Pickup at Gainesville HS All services
Bristow Pickup available All services
Warrenton Fauquier County All services

Students from Centreville, Manassas, and Nokesville also train with us. If you're searching for behind the wheel lessons near you in Northern Virginia, our location in Haymarket puts you close to I-66 and US-29 for convenient access.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many behind the wheel lessons are required in Virginia?
Virginia requires 7 behind the wheel appointments for teens under 18. Each appointment lasts at least 1 hour and 40 minutes. The student spends 50 minutes driving and 50 minutes observing another student drive. The 7th appointment is the road skills test.
How much does behind the wheel cost?
At Abba Driving School, behind the wheel costs $340. That price covers all 7 appointments, a DMV-certified instructor, a clean training vehicle, the road skills test, and the Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B). There are no hidden fees. Many other Virginia driving schools charge $400 to $600 for comparable programs.
What do you need to start behind the wheel in Virginia?
You need three things: a valid Virginia Learner's Permit, a signed Driver Education Certificate of Completion (the pink sheet from your high school or driver education provider), and a driving log showing at least 45 hours of practice driving with at least 15 hours after sunset. Adults 18+ only need a Learner's Permit.
How long does it take to complete behind the wheel?
The full behind the wheel program runs over one week. Your teen will have 7 appointments during that week, each lasting at least 1 hour and 40 minutes. After passing the road skills test at the 7th appointment, we issue the Driver Training Certificate the same day.
Do you offer behind the wheel lessons near Gainesville or Bristow?
Yes. We serve students in Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, and Warrenton. Pickup at Battlefield High School and Gainesville High School is always available. Our office is at 14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket, VA 20169, just minutes from Gainesville and Bristow.

REGISTRATION   —    Behind the Wheel

Behind the Wheel Guides for Parents & Teens

Virginia Behind the Wheel Requirements Everything your teen needs to get started How to Pass the Road Test All 50 maneuvers and tips from instructors Your First Lesson What to expect and what to bring Behind the Wheel Cost in Virginia Pricing breakdown and what's included Common Test Mistakes 10 mistakes to avoid on test day Parent's Guide for Teens Timeline from permit to license Behind the Wheel vs. Driver's Ed What's the difference and which do you need? Nervous About Driving? Tips to build confidence behind the wheel Failed Your Test? What to do next and how to prepare for retake How Many Lessons? Virginia requirements and readiness signs Insurance Discounts How driving lessons lower your insurance Adult Driving Lessons Behind the wheel training for adults 18 and older Parallel Parking Guide Step-by-step tips to master parallel parking Professional vs. Parent Teaching Why professional instruction makes a difference Vehicle Requirements What your car needs for behind the wheel training

Why Families Choose Abba Driving School for Behind the Wheel

We've trained thousands of new drivers since 2007. Our instructors know the exact roads, intersections, and parking lots used on the Virginia road skills test, and they structure each of the 6 practice sessions around those real-world conditions. By the time your teen reaches the 7th appointment (test day), they've already driven every scenario the examiner will ask for.

Scheduling is flexible: seven days a week, mornings through evenings. We pick up at Battlefield High School and Gainesville High School, so parents don't have to rearrange their day. Each student gets one-on-one time with a DMV-certified instructor in a clean, modern, dual-control vehicle.

At $340 for the full program, there are no hidden fees, no add-ons, and no surprises. That price covers all 7 appointments, the training vehicle, the road skills test, and the Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B). Most students pass on their first attempt.