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 provide practice and instruction. The 7th appointment is the school-administered road skills test for eligible students. After the student passes, the instructor issues the Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B). The student must also meet Virginia's minimum-age and learner's-permit holding requirements before driving independently.
After completing the course, we send the required completion information to DMV. Follow the instructions supplied with the Driver Training Certificate and learner's permit while waiting for the permanent licensing process to finish.
For Adults (18+)
Adults 18 and older can take individual behind the wheel lessons with a valid Virginia Learner's Permit. A separate practice log or teen Driver Education certificate is not required to begin individual adult lessons. The road-test location depends on the adult's licensing path; adults who have not completed the state-approved driver education program take their road skills test at DMV.
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 practice-driving record showing at least 45 hours of supervised driving, including at least 15 hours after sunset. A parent or guardian certifies those hours as part of the completion process.
These are the teen requirements for Abba's full program. Read the Virginia behind the wheel requirements guide for more detail, or call (703) 754-4444 if you are unsure whether your documents are ready.
After Three Failed Road Skills Tests
Virginia requires additional in-vehicle instruction after three road-skills-test failures. Abba's $550 re-examination program provides the required seven 50-minute driving periods before another test attempt. Bring the documentation DMV gave you after the third failure so we can confirm the correct course and completion paperwork.
If you have failed once or twice, use the failed road test guide to focus your practice before scheduling the next attempt.
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
Abba evaluates whether students can operate the vehicle safely, observe traffic, and follow traffic laws during the school-administered final road skills test. Virginia DMV does not publish a universal numeric passing score for customer service center tests. Read our Virginia road skills test guide for the distinction between the two testing paths.
Serious safety problems that can stop a test include:
- 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, use our road-test recovery plan before the next attempt.
View the core driving skills we evaluate
- 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.