Your teen’s first behind the wheel lesson can be both exciting and nerve-wracking for parents and teens alike. Whether your son or daughter just finished Driver’s Education or has been holding their learner’s permit for a few months, the idea of getting behind the wheel with a professional instructor for the first time can bring up a lot of questions. What should they bring? What will the instructor do? Will they actually drive on real roads?
The good news is that at Abba Driving School, we have been guiding first-time drivers through this exact experience for over 15 years. We know what to expect, and more importantly, we know how to make your teen feel comfortable and confident from the very first appointment. This is exactly what you and your teen need to know before that first behind the wheel lesson.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
Before your teen’s first driving lesson, make sure they have the following items ready. Your instructor will need to verify these documents before the lesson can begin, so don’t forget anything.
- Payment: Cash or a check made out to “Abba Driving School.” Payment is due at the first appointment.
- Photocopy of Learner’s Permit: Your teen must have a valid Virginia learner’s permit issued by the DMV. Bring a clear photocopy (not just the original) so your instructor can keep it on file.
- Signed Driver Education Certificate of Completion: This is the pink sheet your teen received from their school or Driver Education provider. Virginia requires that students complete Driver’s Education before starting behind the wheel training, so this document is essential.
- Comfortable shoes: Your teen should wear closed-toe shoes with a flat sole. No flip-flops, sandals, or high heels. Proper footwear makes it much easier to feel the brake and gas pedals, which is especially important during those first few lessons.
A quick tip for parents: gather these documents the night before the first appointment. It saves a lot of last-minute scrambling, and your teen can focus on the lesson itself instead of worrying about paperwork.
How Pickup Works
Abba Driving School offers pickup and dropoff for behind the wheel lessons. Pickup at Battlefield High School and Gainesville High School is always available. Pickup may also be available in other areas we serve. When you register for behind the wheel lessons, provide your preferred pickup address and we’ll let you know if it works.
We proudly serve families in Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, and Warrenton, VA.
On pickup day:
- Your instructor will arrive at the scheduled time in a clean, modern, clearly marked instruction vehicle.
- They will introduce themselves and verify your teen’s documents before getting started.
- After the lesson, your teen will be dropped off at the same location (or a different one if you arrange it in advance).
Many parents tell us pickup is one of the things they appreciate most about Abba, especially for busy families juggling school, work, and extracurricular schedules.
How Each Lesson Is Structured
Understanding the structure of each appointment can help ease a lot of the anxiety around that first behind the wheel lesson.
- Each appointment lasts at least 1 hour and 40 minutes. This is the minimum required by the state of Virginia for behind the wheel instruction.
- 50 minutes of active driving practice. Your teen will be behind the wheel, practicing skills with direct guidance from their instructor.
- 50 minutes of observation time. Your teen will sit in the back seat and observe another student drive. This observation period is incredibly valuable. Students learn a great deal by watching someone else navigate the road, and it gives them time to absorb what they have practiced.
The behind the wheel program at Abba Driving School consists of 7 total appointments. The first 6 appointments are dedicated to instruction and practice. The 7th and final appointment is the road skills test, where your teen will demonstrate what they have learned.
Each appointment builds on the last, so your teen will see steady progress from lesson to lesson. By the time they reach that 7th appointment, they will have had hours of hands-on driving experience and will be well prepared for the test.
What You’ll Learn in the Early Lessons
The first few behind the wheel lessons are designed to build a strong foundation. Your teen isn’t going to be thrown onto a highway on day one. The early lessons focus on building comfort and confidence with the basics before moving on to more challenging driving scenarios.
Vehicle Familiarization
Before your teen even turns the key, the instructor will walk them through the vehicle. They will learn where the mirrors are and how to adjust them, how to use turn signals, where the headlight controls are, and how to adjust the seat and steering wheel for a comfortable driving position. This might sound simple, but taking the time to get comfortable in the driver’s seat makes a real difference in how confident your teen feels once they start moving.
Basic Steering and Braking
Next, your teen will practice basic steering and braking techniques. The instructor will guide them through smooth acceleration, gentle braking, and proper hand positioning on the steering wheel. These are the fundamental skills that everything else builds on, so the instructor will make sure your teen is comfortable before moving forward.
Parking Lot Practice
Many first-time students start in a quiet parking lot or low-traffic area. This gives your teen a chance to get a feel for the vehicle (how it responds to steering input, how much pressure the brake pedal needs, and how to maintain a steady speed) all without the pressure of other vehicles on the road.
Progressive Skill Building
As your teen gains confidence, the instructor will gradually introduce more complex situations: residential streets, right and left turns, intersections with stop signs, and eventually busier roads. Each lesson picks up where the last one left off, and the instructor tailors the pace to your teen’s comfort level. No two students learn at exactly the same speed, and our instructors understand that. The goal is steady, safe progress, not rushing through a checklist.
By the time your teen has completed their first few appointments, they will have a solid grasp of basic vehicle control and will be ready to start tackling the skills they will need to pass the Virginia road skills test.
About Our Instructors
We know that as a parent, the most important question on your mind is: who will be in the car with my teenager? At Abba Driving School, we take instructor qualifications seriously. Our team stands out because:
- DMV Certified: Every instructor at Abba Driving School is fully certified by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. They have completed all required training and testing to teach behind the wheel instruction in the state of Virginia.
- 15+ Years of Experience: Our instructors aren’t new to this. With over 15 years of driving instruction experience, they have guided thousands of teens through their first lessons and road tests.
- Annual FBI Background Checks: Your teen’s safety is our top priority. All of our instructors undergo annual FBI background checks to ensure they meet the highest safety standards.
- Patient and Calm: Perhaps most importantly, our instructors are experienced with nervous new drivers. They know that the first lesson can be intimidating, and they are trained to create a calm, supportive, judgment-free environment. Your teen will never be yelled at, rushed, or made to feel embarrassed for making a mistake. Mistakes are part of learning, and our instructors treat them that way.
When your teen gets into the car for their first lesson, they’re not just getting a driving instructor. They’re getting a patient mentor who genuinely wants to see them succeed.
About Our Vehicles
All of our vehicles are clean, modern, and equipped with automatic transmissions and dual brake controls for safety. They pass yearly DMV inspections and comply with all Virginia state requirements. When your teen takes the road skills test at their 7th appointment, they will use the same type of vehicle they’ve been practicing in, so there are no surprises on test day.
Tips for Parents Before and During the Program
As a parent, you play an important role in your teen’s driving education, even though you won’t be in the car during lessons. Here are some practical tips to support your teen throughout the behind the wheel program:
It’s Normal for Your Teen to Be Nervous
Almost every teen is nervous before their first lesson, and that’s completely normal. Our instructors are experienced with nervous first-timers and know how to put them at ease. For detailed tips on managing driving anxiety, see our guide for nervous drivers.
The Instructor Handles Everything
You don’t need to be present for the lesson. In fact, it’s usually better if you’re not. Teens tend to focus better and feel less self-conscious when a parent isn’t watching. Trust the process: the instructor will pick your teen up, guide them through the lesson, and bring them back safely. You can use that time for yourself.
Ask What They Learned After Each Session
When your teen gets home from a lesson, ask them what they worked on. What did they find easy? What was challenging? What are they looking forward to practicing next time? This shows your teen that you are interested and supportive, and it helps reinforce what they learned during the lesson.
Practice Between Appointments
Virginia requires teens to complete 45 hours of parent-supervised driving practice (with at least 15 hours after sunset) before they can get their license. The skills your teen learns during their behind the wheel appointments are the perfect foundation for this practice. After each lesson, ask your teen what they worked on and try to practice those same skills together. Residential neighborhoods, quiet parking lots, and familiar routes are great places to start.
If you want a more detailed breakdown of what your teen needs to do throughout the entire licensing process, check out our Behind the Wheel for Teens: Parent’s Guide.
What Happens After the First Lesson?
After the first appointment, your teen will schedule their remaining 6 appointments. Most families complete the program over the course of several weeks, scheduling one or two appointments per week depending on availability. This spacing gives your teen time to practice at home between lessons and lets each session’s skills sink in before moving on to new ones.
As your teen progresses through the program, the skills become more advanced. They will work on lane changes, highway merging, navigating complex intersections, parking maneuvers (including parallel parking), and all of the other skills tested on the Virginia road skills test. By appointment 6, your teen will be doing a full practice run of the test so they know exactly what to expect.
The 7th appointment is the road skills test itself. If your teen passes (and with Abba’s thorough preparation, the vast majority do), they will receive their DTS-B certificate and be ready for the DMV licensing ceremony. That is the moment your teen officially becomes a licensed driver.
Ready to Get Started?
The first behind the wheel lesson is the beginning of an important milestone in your teen’s life. At Abba Driving School, we make the entire process as smooth and stress-free as possible, with patient, experienced instructors who know how to bring out the best in every student and pickup available in many areas.
If you still have questions or want to learn more about what the program involves, explore our other guides on Virginia behind the wheel requirements or tips for nervous drivers. When you’re ready, register for behind the wheel lessons and we’ll take it from there.