Behind the Wheel Driving School in Gainesville, VA

DMV-certified driving lessons with pickup at Gainesville High School.

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

Driving School in Gainesville, VA

Pickup and drop-off at Gainesville High School is always available for behind the wheel lessons. Our instructors will meet your teen at the school, so you don't need to worry about transportation. Students from Patriot High School and other schools in the area can also arrange pickup.

Gainesville is one of the largest areas Abba Driving School serves, and we have a strong presence here. You'll regularly see our students driving along Lee Highway and Linton Hall Road, especially near the Virginia Gateway Shopping Center. Because so many of our students live in Gainesville, scheduling is consistently easy with available time slots seven days a week, including evenings and weekends.

Where Gainesville Students Practice Driving

Our behind the wheel lessons in Gainesville give students real-world practice on the roads they'll actually be driving after they get their license. Here's what training looks like for Gainesville students:

  • Lee Highway (US-29) - Multi-lane traffic, turning movements at busy intersections, managing speed with commercial traffic. This is one of the most-driven corridors in western Prince William County.
  • Linton Hall Road - Heavy traffic near schools and shopping centers. Students practice lane changes, right-of-way at intersections, and navigating roundabouts.
  • Virginia Gateway area - Parking lot navigation, pedestrian awareness, and right-of-way in commercial areas. Good practice for the tight turns and busy entrances students will encounter daily.
  • I-66 highway practice - Merging, lane changes at speed, and highway driving confidence. I-66 runs right through the area and students need to be comfortable on it.
  • Residential neighborhoods - Speed management in school zones, reading street signs, and practicing three-point turns in communities off Lee Highway, Linton Hall Road, and near Heritage Hunt.

This mix of arterial roads, highway, and residential streets gives students a well-rounded driving education before their road skills test.

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 Gainesville?

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 Gainesville?

We pick up and drop off at Gainesville High School for every behind the wheel appointment. Students from Patriot High School and other schools in the area can also arrange pickup. Our office in Haymarket is just minutes from Gainesville.

How much does behind the wheel cost in Gainesville?

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 Gainesville students practice driving?

Students practice on Lee Highway (US-29), Linton Hall Road, the Virginia Gateway area, I-66 for highway merging and lane changes, and residential neighborhoods off Lee Highway. This mix covers multi-lane traffic, parking lots, highway driving, and quiet streets.

Can adults take behind the wheel in Gainesville?

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 Gainesville High School or at another arranged location in the Gainesville area. Read our adult driving lessons guide for full details.

Do you offer behind the wheel on weekends in Gainesville?

Yes. We schedule behind the wheel appointments seven days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. Gainesville is one of our busiest areas, so weekend slots are consistently available. Evening appointments are also offered.

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. Gainesville lessons typically cover Lee Highway, Linton Hall Road, and nearby residential streets during each session.

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

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 Gainesville High School or another arranged spot.

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 Gainesville?

Register online or call us at (703) 754-4444. Once registered, we schedule your 7 appointments during a one-week period. Because Gainesville is one of our largest service areas, availability is strong and we can usually start within a few days of registration.

Is behind the wheel available in the summer in Gainesville?

Yes. Summer is actually our busiest season. Many Gainesville families schedule behind the wheel during summer break so their teen can complete all 7 appointments without school conflicts. We recommend registering early in May or June to get your preferred dates.

Do you pick up from Patriot High School?

Yes. While Gainesville High School is our primary pickup spot in the area, we also pick up students from Patriot High School. Patriot HS is close to the Bristow/Gainesville border, and we serve students from both areas. Contact us if you attend a different school nearby.

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 Gainesville families since 2007. Learn more about our instructors and vehicles.

Serving Gainesville, VA

Our office is a short drive from Gainesville, located at 14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket, VA 20169.