Watching your teen learn to drive is one of those milestones you never quite feel ready for. One day they’re riding in the back seat, and the next they’re asking for the car keys. This guide covers everything you need to know about behind the wheel training for teens in Virginia, from getting a learner’s permit to that proud moment at the licensing ceremony when your teenager officially becomes a licensed driver.
Whether your teen just turned 15 or is already logging practice hours, this page covers every step of the process so you can feel confident and prepared as a parent.
Virginia’s Graduated Licensing Timeline for Teens
Virginia uses a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system designed to give teen drivers time to build skills under controlled conditions. This is the step-by-step timeline your teen will follow:
- Age 15 years and 6 months: Your teen becomes eligible for a Learner’s Permit. They must pass the knowledge test at a Virginia DMV office. The test covers road signs, traffic laws, and safe driving practices. Study materials are available on the Virginia DMV website.
- Complete Driver Education (classroom theory): Your teen must finish an approved 36-hour driver education classroom course. This can be done through a public school or a licensed private driving school. The classroom portion covers traffic laws, hazard recognition, and the responsibilities of being a driver.
- Begin logging 45 hours of practice driving: Once your teen has a permit, they need to accumulate at least 45 hours of supervised practice driving, with a minimum of 15 hours after sunset. A licensed adult age 21 or older must sit in the front passenger seat during all practice sessions.
- Enroll in a Behind the Wheel program: Your teen will complete 7 behind the wheel appointments with a DMV-certified instructor. These sessions teach essential driving skills and build the confidence needed to pass the road skills test.
- Hold the permit for at least 9 months AND be at least 16 years and 3 months old: Virginia requires both conditions to be met before your teen can take the road skills test and receive a license.
- Pass the road skills test (7th BTW appointment): The final behind the wheel appointment is the official road skills test. If your teen passes, the instructor issues a completion certificate on the spot.
- Receive the Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B): After passing, the driving school issues a DTS-B certificate. This document, combined with the learner’s permit, serves as a temporary driver’s license for up to 180 days.
- Attend the licensing ceremony at your local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court: Within about 3 months of passing, the court will send a postcard inviting your teen to a licensing ceremony. At the ceremony, your teen receives their actual Virginia driver’s license.
Understanding this timeline early helps you plan ahead. For a more detailed look at exactly how long each step takes and which steps can overlap, see our complete teen license timeline guide. Many parents start the behind the wheel program while their teen is still logging practice hours, which keeps things moving and avoids unnecessary delays.
The 45-Hour Driving Log: What Parents Need to Know
The 45-hour driving log is one of the most important requirements for teen driving lessons in Virginia, and it falls squarely on your shoulders as a parent.
- 45 total hours required: Your teen must log at least 45 hours of supervised driving practice before they are eligible to take the road skills test.
- 15 hours must be after sunset: Night driving presents unique challenges, and Virginia wants to make sure your teen has experience handling reduced visibility, headlight glare, and darker road conditions.
- Supervised by a licensed adult 21 or older: The supervising adult must sit in the front passenger seat at all times. This is usually a parent, but it can be any licensed driver who meets the age requirement.
- Keep a written log: Record the date, start time, end time, and type of driving for each session. The DMV may ask to see this log, and some driving schools will request it as well. Virginia doesn’t provide an official form, so a simple notebook or spreadsheet works fine.
Tips for Logging Hours Efficiently
Getting to 45 hours might sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly when you weave practice into everyday life:
- Weekend errands: Let your teen drive to the grocery store, pharmacy, or post office. These short trips add up fast and provide real-world practice with parking, turns, and traffic.
- School pickups and drop-offs: If your teen has a sibling or activity to get to, let them take the wheel during routine school runs.
- Trips to friends’ houses: Your teen is already going there anyway. Let them drive and log the hours.
- Family outings: Longer drives on weekends provide great highway and multi-lane experience.
- After-dark sessions: Dedicate a few evenings each month to nighttime practice. Even a 30-minute drive after dinner counts.
What to Practice During Logged Hours
Variety is key. Make sure your teen gets experience in different settings:
- Residential streets with stop signs and low speed limits
- Parking lots for practicing parking, backing up, and three-point turns
- Multi-lane roads and highways for merging and lane changes
- Night driving in both well-lit and rural areas
- Driving in rain or other weather conditions when it is safe to do so
- Navigating intersections with traffic lights, yield signs, and roundabouts
What to Expect from Behind the Wheel Training
The behind the wheel for teens program is the professional training component of the licensing process. At Abba Driving School, each student completes 7 appointments with a DMV-certified instructor.
Session Structure
- 7 appointments total: Each appointment lasts at least 1 hour and 40 minutes.
- 50 minutes driving: Your teen takes the wheel and practices skills with the instructor riding along, giving real-time guidance and feedback.
- 50 minutes observing: Your teen rides as a passenger while another student drives. Observation is a powerful learning tool because your teen sees common mistakes and correct techniques from a different perspective.
- First 6 sessions are for practice and skill building: These appointments cover everything from basic vehicle control to advanced maneuvers like highway merging, parallel parking, and navigating complex intersections.
- 7th session is the road skills test: If your teen is ready, the final appointment serves as the official DMV road skills test. No separate trip to the DMV is required.
Progressive Skill Development
Instructors follow a structured curriculum that builds skills progressively:
- Early sessions: Vehicle controls, steering, braking, basic turns, residential driving
- Middle sessions: Lane changes, intersections, right-of-way, speed management, parking techniques
- Later sessions: Highway driving, complex traffic situations, hazard anticipation, test preparation
Pickup and Drop-Off
Pickup at Battlefield High School and Gainesville High School is always available. Pickup may also be available in other areas. Contact us for details. You don’t need to take time off work or rearrange your schedule.
Your Role as a Parent During Behind the Wheel Training
Professional instruction gives your teen the technical foundation, but your role as a parent is equally important. You can support your teen through the behind the wheel for teens process in several ways:
- Practice between appointments: The more your teen drives between professional lessons, the faster they improve. Try to get out for practice at least a few times per week.
- Be patient: Learning to drive is stressful. Your teen will make mistakes, stall at green lights, and take turns too wide. This is normal. Stay calm and encouraging.
- Don’t yell or grab the steering wheel: Sudden reactions from the passenger seat can startle your teen and make the situation worse. If you need them to stop, calmly say “brake” instead of lunging for the wheel.
- Let the instructor teach technique: Your job is to provide supervised hours and a safe practice environment. If you have your own driving habits that differ from what the instructor teaches, follow the instructor’s guidance. They know what the DMV test requires.
- Ask what they learned after each lesson: A quick conversation after each BTW appointment reinforces what the instructor covered. Ask your teen to explain what they practiced and what they found challenging.
- Help them log their 45 hours: Keep the driving log organized and up to date. Setting a weekly goal (for example, 3 hours per week) makes it manageable and ensures your teen is ready when it’s time for the road test.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to pass a test. You’re helping your teen become a safe, confident driver who will be on the road for decades to come.
After Passing the Road Skills Test
The moment your teen passes the road skills test is a big one.
- The instructor issues a Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B): This certificate is valid for 180 days and serves as proof that your teen has completed all behind the wheel requirements.
- Learner’s Permit + DTS-B = temporary driver’s license: Once your teen has both documents, they can legally drive on their own (subject to the restrictions of Virginia’s provisional license, such as passenger limits and curfew for the first year).
- The driving school sends a copy to the DMV: Abba Driving School submits the completion records to the Virginia DMV on your teen’s behalf so the DMV has everything on file.
- The Juvenile Court sends a postcard: Within approximately 3 months of passing, your local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court will mail a postcard with details about the licensing ceremony.
- Attend the licensing ceremony: At the ceremony, a judge speaks to the new drivers about responsibility, and your teen receives their official Virginia driver’s license. It’s a meaningful event, and many families attend together.
Common Parent Questions About Behind the Wheel for Teens
Is it safe?
Yes. All instructors are DMV certified and undergo annual background checks. Our training vehicles are inspected annually and equipped with a passenger-side brake so the instructor can intervene if needed. Learn more about our instructors in our first lesson guide.
Do I need to be there during lessons?
No. The instructor picks up your teen at the scheduled location and drops them off when the session is complete. You don’t need to be present, wait in a parking lot, or follow along. Many parents appreciate this because it means the first lesson and every lesson after fits easily into the family’s schedule.
What if my teen is nervous?
Most teens are nervous before their first behind the wheel appointment, and that’s completely normal. Our instructors are experienced at working with nervous and anxious students. They start with the basics in low-traffic areas and build confidence gradually. By the third or fourth session, most students are noticeably more relaxed and in control.
How long does the whole process take?
The timeline varies depending on when your teen starts, how quickly they complete their 45 hours, and scheduling availability. From permit to license, most teens complete the process in several months. The minimum timeline is determined by Virginia’s requirement that your teen hold a permit for at least 9 months and be at least 16 years and 3 months old before taking the road test.
What’s the difference between behind the wheel and driver’s ed?
Driver education is the classroom theory course that covers traffic laws, signs, and safe driving concepts. Behind the wheel is the practical, in-car training where your teen actually drives with an instructor. Both are required for teens under 18 in Virginia. For a more detailed comparison, see our guide on behind the wheel vs. driver’s ed.
How much does behind the wheel training cost?
At Abba Driving School, behind the wheel training for teens is $340 for all 7 appointments, including the road skills test. There are no hidden fees and no surprise costs. You can register online and secure your teen’s spot today.
Your teen’s safety and success on the road start with quality instruction. If you’re ready to get your teen started, register online, all 7 sessions for $340 with no hidden fees. For more details about Virginia’s behind the wheel requirements, or to learn what your teen can expect during their first lesson, explore our other guides below.