Behind the Wheel Driving School in Bristow, VA

DMV-certified driving lessons with pickup at Patriot & Gainesville HS.

Office: 14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket (minutes from Bristow) | (703) 754-4444 | DMV-Certified Since 2007 | Pickup at Patriot HS & Gainesville HS

Driving School in Bristow, VA

Abba Driving School picks up and drops off Bristow students at Patriot High School and Gainesville High School. Students from Patriot High School make up a significant share of our Bristow enrollments. Students in northern Bristow are typically closest to Gainesville HS, while those in southern Bristow are closer to Patriot HS. Pickup at other locations in the Bristow area can also be arranged.

Bristow sits in Prince William County just south of our Haymarket home base, where suburban development meets the rural edges of the county near Battlefield Heritage Park. Our office is at 14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket, a short drive north. If you live in the southern part of Bristow closer to Nokesville, contact us to check whether pickup works for your location. We offer flexible scheduling seven days a week, including evenings and weekends.

Where Bristow Students Practice Driving

Behind the wheel lessons for Bristow students cover a solid mix of road types. Here's what training looks like:

  • Bristow Road - The main corridor through the area. Students practice speed management, turning at intersections, and navigating the traffic patterns around the Bristow community.
  • Nokesville Road - A two-lane road south of Bristow with varying speed limits. Good practice for rural-style driving, sharing the road with slower traffic, and handling curves.
  • Linton Hall Road - Connects Bristow to Gainesville with heavy traffic near schools and shopping centers. Students practice lane changes, roundabouts, and right-of-way at busy intersections.
  • Residential neighborhoods - Speed management in school zones near Patriot High School, reading street signs, and practicing three-point turns in communities like Victory Lakes and Braemar.
  • I-66 highway practice - Students learn to merge, change lanes at speed, and build highway driving confidence. I-66 is accessible from multiple points in the Bristow area.

Students practice on the same roads they'll drive after getting their license. Our instructors know every intersection in the area and tailor each lesson to build confidence and skill.

What's Included

Behind the wheel is $340 for the complete program: 7 appointments with a DMV-certified instructor, a training vehicle, the road skills test, and your DTS-B certificate. The Behind the Wheel + DE bundle is $540. See the full program details and pricing breakdown.

For Teens & Adults

Virginia requires teens under 18 to complete behind the wheel and pass the road skills test to get their license. A Driver Education certificate is required first. Adults 18+ only need a Learner's Permit. See the behind the wheel overview for full details on how the program works for each age group.

Services

Driver Education

$200

The first step to getting your driver's license for teenagers and adults. This provides a 30-hour classroom of driver's ed.

More We offer a flexible schedule. Instructors will meet at our driving school office in Haymarket, or other arrangements can be made as needed. Completing this is a prerequisite before being allowed to take Behind the Wheel and receive your driver's license.
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Behind the Wheel

$340

A one week course starting on Monday and ending with the driver receiving their license on Sunday.

More The Virginia DMV requires that students have a total of 7 appointments, each lasting at least an hour and 40 minutes consisting of 50 minutes driving and 50 minutes observing another student. In the final session, the Behind the Wheel road skills test is performed and the student either passes or fails. Before taking this, the student must have a learner's permit and have already completed Driver Education .
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Driver Improvement Course

$100

An 8-hour program that teaches defensive driving. This course is often required by a court or the DMV .

More This can also be taken voluntarily to obtain 5 safe driving points . Students can expect to learn how to manage risks, distractions, aggression, and unexpected situations while driving. This class meets at our Haymarket driving school office on weekends about every other week. At Abba, we get that courses like this aren't fun to take, so we try to make it as easy as possible.
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Driver Improvement Course ‑ Online

$100

The same 8-hour defensive driving course, taken online at your own pace. Get instant access after payment.

More All testing is done online. Your course completion is posted to the DMV within 24 hours. A help desk is available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST. You must pass each chapter exam with at least 80% before moving on.
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Re‑examination / 3x Failure Course

$120

Individuals Age 18 and above do not have to take the classroom component of driver education to take the Driver's Manual course.

Individuals age 17 and under may take the Driver's Manual course if they have already completed at least 36 periods of fifty minutes or 30 hours of the classroom component of driver education. Please note: a certificate of completion for the Driver's Manual course cannot be issued unless you provide proof that you completed the 30-36 hour classroom course. Accepted documents include a DEC-1 (from a public or private school), DTS 36 (from a DMV-licensed driver training school), or a certificate from an approved curriculum for Virginia home schoolers.
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Driver's License Fast-track for Adults (18+)

Adults normally must hold their Learner's Permit for at least 60 days before they can take the Road Skills Test and receive their Driver's License. This waiting period can be skipped by completing a DMV Approved Driver Education program for adults, and Behind the Wheel. Upon completion, you will be given a certificate that can be redeemed for your license at the DMV.

REGISTRATION   —    Behind the Wheel

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start behind the wheel in Bristow?

Register online or call (703) 754-4444. Teens need a valid Virginia Learner's Permit, a signed Driver Education Certificate of Completion, and a driving log with at least 45 hours (15 after sunset). Adults 18+ only need a Learner's Permit.

Where do you pick up students in Bristow?

We pick up at Patriot High School and Gainesville High School. Students in other parts of Bristow can also arrange pickup. Our office in Haymarket is a short drive from the Bristow area.

How much does behind the wheel cost in Bristow?

Behind the wheel costs $340 at Abba Driving School. That covers all 7 appointments, a DMV-certified instructor, a training vehicle, the road skills test, and the Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B). No hidden fees.

Where do Bristow students practice driving?

Students practice on Bristow Road, Nokesville Road, Linton Hall Road, residential neighborhoods near Victory Lakes and Braemar, and I-66 for highway practice. This covers a range of road types from quiet neighborhoods to busy corridors.

Do you come to Bristow or do I need to drive to your office?

Our instructors come to the Bristow area for every appointment. We pick up at Patriot High School and Gainesville High School, and can arrange pickup at other locations in Bristow. You don't need to drive to our Haymarket office.

Can adults take behind the wheel in Bristow?

Yes. Adults 18 and older can take behind the wheel without completing driver education first. You just need a valid Virginia Learner's Permit. We pick up adults at Patriot High School, Gainesville High School, or at another arranged location in the Bristow area. Read our adult driving lessons guide for full details.

Do you offer behind the wheel on weekends in Bristow?

Yes. We schedule behind the wheel appointments seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. Evening appointments are also available. Because Bristow is close to our Haymarket home base, scheduling is flexible and slots fill consistently.

How long does each behind the wheel appointment last?

Each appointment is at least 1 hour and 40 minutes. Your teen spends about 50 minutes driving and 50 minutes observing another student drive. Bristow lessons typically cover Bristow Road, Linton Hall Road, and the residential neighborhoods near Victory Lakes and Braemar during each session.

What should my teen bring to their first lesson in Bristow?

Three things: payment (cash or check made out to "Abba Driving School"), a photocopy of their Learner's Permit, and their signed Driver Education Certificate of Completion (the pink sheet). The instructor will pick up your teen at Patriot HS, Gainesville HS, or another arranged spot in Bristow.

Do you provide the car for the road test?

Yes. All behind the wheel appointments, including the road skills test at the 7th appointment, use our training vehicle. Our cars are clean, modern, and equipped with automatic transmissions. They pass yearly DMV inspections.

What happens if my teen fails the road test?

They can retake it. If a student fails once or twice, we offer additional practice sessions before the retest. If a student fails three or more times, Virginia requires a behind the wheel re-examination ($550), which includes 12 hours of extra driving instruction. Read our guide on what to do after failing.

How do I schedule behind the wheel appointments in Bristow?

Register online or call us at (703) 754-4444. Once registered, we schedule your 7 appointments during a one-week period. Bristow is close to our Haymarket base, so instructor availability is strong.

Is behind the wheel available in the summer in Bristow?

Yes. Summer is our busiest season. Many Bristow families schedule behind the wheel during summer break so their teen can complete all 7 appointments without school conflicts. Register early in May or June for the best availability.

What's the difference between behind the wheel and driver's ed?

Driver education is the classroom course that teaches traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving principles. Behind the wheel is the in-car training where your teen actually drives with an instructor. Virginia requires both for teens under 18. Driver education must be completed before behind the wheel. See our full comparison.

Safety & Credentials

All instructors pass yearly FBI background checks and are licensed by the state of Virginia. Our school is insured and bonded, and our vehicles meet all required safety standards. Abba Driving School has been serving Bristow families from our Haymarket office since 2007. Learn more about our instructors and vehicles.

Serving Bristow, VA

Our office is located at 14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket, VA 20169, just north of Bristow.