Wondering how much behind the wheel costs in Virginia? If you’re a parent researching driving lessons for your teen, understanding what lessons cost is one of the most important steps you can take. The cost of driving lessons in Virginia varies widely depending on the school, what is included, and where you live. This complete guide breaks down behind the wheel pricing, explains what’s typically included in a program, and shows you how to get the best value for your teen’s driving education.
Abba Driving School Pricing
At Abba Driving School, we believe in transparent, straightforward pricing. There are no hidden fees, no surprise charges, and no confusing add-ons.
- Behind the Wheel: $340: Our core program that fulfills Virginia’s behind the wheel requirement for teens under 18. This is an all-inclusive package covering everything your teen needs to learn to drive, take the road skills test, and receive their certificate.
- Behind the Wheel Re-Examination: $550: Designed for students who have failed the road skills test three or more times. This program provides additional instruction and another opportunity to pass.
- Driver Education: $200: The classroom-based course covering traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving theory. Required for teens who haven’t completed driver education through their high school.
- Driver Improvement Course: $100: For drivers who need to complete a court-ordered or DMV-required improvement course.
Payment Methods: Abba Driving School accepts cash or check. This keeps our overhead low, which is one reason we can offer behind the wheel at just $340, significantly less than many other Virginia driving schools.
What Is Included in the $340 Behind the Wheel Package
When parents ask how much driving lessons cost, the real question should be: what do you actually get for that price? Many schools advertise a low starting price but charge extra for the vehicle, the test, or the certificate. At Abba Driving School, the $340 behind the wheel cost covers everything:
- 7 scheduled appointments: Each appointment is 1 hour and 40 minutes long, giving your teen extensive time behind the wheel and in the car.
- 50 minutes of driving practice per session: Your teen gets hands-on experience navigating real roads, intersections, highways, and parking situations.
- 50 minutes of observation per session: Riding along while another student drives teaches important lessons about anticipating traffic situations and recognizing common mistakes.
- DMV-certified instructor with 15+ years of experience: Your teen learns from a professional who has helped hundreds of students pass their road test.
- Clean, modern vehicle: Automatic transmission, dual controls for safety, and always passes DMV inspection.
- Road skills test at the 7th appointment: No need to schedule a separate DMV test or pay an additional testing fee. The test is built right into the program.
- Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B) upon passing: This official document is what your teen needs to get their driver’s license at the DMV.
- Pickup at Battlefield HS and Gainesville HS always included. Pickup may be available in other areas as well. Contact us for details.
- Flexible scheduling including weekends: We work around your teen’s school schedule, extracurricular activities, and your family’s availability.
- Serving Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, and Warrenton: Families throughout Prince William and Fauquier counties rely on Abba Driving School for affordable, high-quality behind the wheel instruction.
When you compare this to other driving schools in Virginia, the value becomes clear. Many competitors charge $400 to $600 or more for the same services, and some still add extra fees on top of that.
Average Behind the Wheel Costs Across Virginia
So how much do driving lessons cost at other schools in Virginia? The answer depends on where you look and what’s included.
- Package programs: Most Virginia driving schools offer behind the wheel as a bundled package, similar to Abba’s program. These packages typically range from $300 to $600+ depending on the school and location. Schools in Northern Virginia and the metro DC area tend to charge on the higher end.
- Per-hour pricing: Some schools charge by the hour rather than offering a package. Hourly rates in Virginia generally range from $50 to $80 per hour. While this may seem flexible, the total cost often adds up quickly. Virginia requires a minimum of 14 periods of 50 minutes each (7 driving, 7 observation), which means you would need at least 7 sessions. At $60 per hour, that is $420 or more before you factor in the road test or certificate.
- Hidden fees to watch for: Some schools advertise a low base price but then charge separately for things like vehicle use during the test, the road skills test itself, the DTS-B certificate, pickup and drop-off service, or weekend scheduling. These add-ons can increase the total cost by $100 to $200 or more.
Abba Driving School’s $340 behind the wheel cost is all-inclusive. There are no hidden fees, no per-hour surprises, and no extra charges for the test or the certificate. What you see is what you pay.
Professional Instruction vs. Teaching Your Teen Yourself
Some parents consider teaching their teen to drive themselves to save money. While parent-taught practice is valuable and encouraged, it’s not a substitute for professional behind the wheel instruction in Virginia.
- Virginia law requires it for teens under 18: If your teen is under 18 and wants a driver’s license, they must complete behind the wheel training through a DMV-certified driving school. There’s no self-taught alternative that satisfies Virginia’s behind the wheel requirements.
- Structured curriculum: Professional instruction follows a DMV-approved curriculum that covers all the skills your teen needs, including highway driving, parallel parking, three-point turns, and defensive driving techniques.
- Dual-control vehicle: A certified driving school uses a vehicle equipped with dual controls (a brake pedal on the instructor’s side), which provides a critical safety net during the learning process.
- Certified road skills test: The road test is administered by the instructor at the final appointment, saving you the hassle and wait time of scheduling a separate DMV appointment.
- Insurance discounts: Completing a certified behind the wheel program qualifies your teen for insurance discounts that are not available if they only practice with a parent.
Professional instruction and parent-taught practice work best together. Use the 7 behind the wheel sessions to build a strong foundation, then supplement with additional practice on your own time.
How Behind the Wheel Training Saves You Money on Insurance
One of the most overlooked benefits of behind the wheel training is the insurance discount your teen can receive after completing the program. Adding a teen driver to your car insurance policy is expensive, often increasing your premium by $1,500 to $3,000 or more per year. Completing a certified behind the wheel program can help offset that cost.
- Typical discount: Most insurance companies offer a 5% to 20% discount on your teen’s portion of the premium when they complete a certified driving course.
- Long-term savings: Even a modest 10% discount on a $2,000 annual premium increase saves you $200 per year. Over three to five years, that’s $600 to $1,000 in savings, far more than the $340 cost of the behind the wheel program itself.
- The program pays for itself: When you factor in the insurance savings, the $340 you spend on behind the wheel training pays for itself over time.
Be sure to ask your insurance provider about available discounts for completing a behind the wheel program. You’ll need the DTS-B certificate, which is included at no extra cost when your teen passes the road test at Abba Driving School.
What Affects the Total Cost of Getting Your Teen Licensed
Behind the wheel is the biggest piece of the puzzle, but it’s not the only cost involved in getting your teen their driver’s license.
- Behind the Wheel: $340: The core program that includes all driving instruction, the road test, and the certificate.
- Driver Education (if needed): $200: Required for teens who haven’t completed a classroom course through their high school. Learn more about the difference between behind the wheel and driver’s ed.
- Total for both services: $540: If your teen needs both behind the wheel and driver education, the combined cost at Abba Driving School is $540. This is still less than what many schools charge for behind the wheel alone.
- Re-examination (only if needed): $550: This applies only to students who have failed the road skills test three or more times and need additional instruction and retesting. The vast majority of students pass without needing this.
There are also a few minor costs that are separate from the driving school:
- Learner’s permit fee: Paid directly to the DMV when your teen applies for their learner’s permit.
- Driver’s license fee: Paid directly to the DMV when your teen applies for their license after passing behind the wheel.
These DMV fees are relatively small and are standard regardless of which driving school you choose.
Why Parents in Northern Virginia Choose Abba Driving School
When comparing the cost of driving lessons in Virginia, it’s important to look beyond the price tag and consider the total value. Families in Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, and Warrenton consistently choose Abba Driving School for good reason:
- Lowest price in the area: At $340 for the complete behind the wheel program, Abba is one of the most affordable options in Northern Virginia.
- Truly all-inclusive: No hidden fees for the vehicle, test, certificate, or pickup. The price you see is the price you pay.
- Experienced instruction: Our DMV-certified instructor has over 15 years of experience and a proven track record of helping students pass.
- Pickup available: Pickup at Battlefield HS and Gainesville HS is always available, and may be available in other areas. Contact us for details.
- Flexible scheduling: Appointments are available on weekdays and weekends to fit your family’s busy schedule.
Ready to get started? Register now to secure your teen’s spot in Abba Driving School’s $340 behind the wheel program. Spots fill up quickly, especially during summer and around school breaks.