Getting a learner’s permit is the very first step your teen takes toward becoming a licensed driver in Virginia. The process is simple when you know what to expect. This guide covers every detail: eligibility, required documents, the knowledge exam, what happens if your teen doesn’t pass, and the rules that apply once they have their permit in hand.
Whether your teen is months away from eligibility or ready to visit the DMV next week, use this page as your checklist.
Who Is Eligible for a Virginia Learner’s Permit?
Virginia law sets a minimum age of 15 years and 6 months to apply for a learner’s permit. Your teen cannot take the knowledge exam or receive a permit before reaching this age, regardless of how prepared they are.
There are no other prerequisite courses or training required before applying for the permit itself. Your teen does not need to complete Driver Education before getting a learner’s permit. However, Driver Education will be required later before they can begin behind the wheel training and ultimately earn a driver’s license. Many families choose to start thinking about Virginia Driver Education requirements early so the timeline stays on track.
Age Summary
- Minimum age to apply: 15 years and 6 months
- No prior coursework required to get the permit
- Driver Education is required later before behind the wheel training begins
Required Documents for the Learner’s Permit
Before heading to the DMV, make sure your teen has the right paperwork. Virginia requires several documents to verify your teen’s identity, residency, and legal presence. Missing even one document means you’ll need to make a second trip, so double-check everything before you leave the house.
What to Bring to the DMV
- Proof of identity: A certified birth certificate, valid passport, or another approved primary identification document. School IDs are not accepted as primary identification.
- Social Security Number (SSN): Your teen’s Social Security card or another document that displays the full SSN. The DMV uses this to verify identity in their system.
- Proof of Virginia residency (two documents): You need two separate documents showing your Virginia address. Acceptable examples include a utility bill, bank statement, lease agreement, or a piece of official mail. Both documents must show the same address. Since your teen may not have bills in their name, a parent’s documents are typically accepted along with proof of the parent-teen relationship.
- Parental or legal guardian consent: A parent or legal guardian must sign the application in person at the DMV or provide a notarized consent form. Virginia will not issue a learner’s permit to a minor without this signature. Both parents do not need to sign, but at least one parent or legal guardian must consent.
- Payment: There is a fee for the learner’s permit. Check the Virginia DMV website for the current fee amount, and bring an accepted form of payment.
DMV Appointments and Walk-Ins
The Virginia DMV accepts both appointments and walk-ins for learner’s permit testing, but wait times for walk-ins can be long, especially at busy locations. Booking an appointment through the Virginia DMV website is strongly recommended. You can schedule online at dmv.virginia.gov.
A Note About REAL ID
If your teen’s learner’s permit will also serve as their REAL ID-compliant credential, the document requirements are slightly different. A REAL ID permit requires proof of legal presence, proof of Social Security number, and two proofs of Virginia residency. Most of the documents listed above will satisfy these requirements, but check the DMV’s REAL ID checklist to be sure. Starting May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant license or permit is required for boarding domestic flights and entering certain federal facilities.
The Virginia Knowledge Exam
The learner’s permit knowledge exam is a two-part test administered at the DMV. Your teen must pass both sections to receive a permit.
Part 1: Road Sign Recognition (10 Questions)
The first section tests your teen’s ability to identify road signs by their shape, color, and meaning. There are 10 questions in this section. Your teen must answer all 10 correctly (100%) to pass this portion. There is no room for error on the sign recognition section, so make sure your teen can identify every sign in the Virginia Driver’s Manual before test day.
Part 2: General Knowledge (30 Questions)
The second section covers Virginia traffic laws, safe driving practices, right-of-way rules, and general driving knowledge. There are 30 questions, and your teen must answer at least 24 out of 30 correctly (80%) to pass.
Topics covered include:
- Speed limits in various zones (residential, school, highway)
- Right-of-way at intersections, crosswalks, and roundabouts
- Rules for passing other vehicles
- What to do at a traffic signal or flashing light
- Safe following distances
- Alcohol and drug laws related to driving
- Parking rules and restrictions
- Handling emergency situations
How to Study for the Knowledge Exam
The Virginia Driver’s Manual is the primary study resource, available for free as a PDF on the Virginia DMV website. Your teen should read the manual thoroughly, not just skim it, because many test questions come directly from its content. In addition, free online practice tests that mimic the real exam are widely available. Encourage your teen to take practice tests until they consistently score above 80%.
What Happens If Your Teen Fails the Knowledge Exam
Not every teen passes on the first attempt. If your teen fails one or both sections, they can retake the exam. The DMV allows multiple attempts, but there is an important rule to be aware of.
The Three-Failure Rule
If your teen fails the knowledge exam three times, Virginia law requires them to complete a 36-session driver education classroom course before they can attempt the exam again. This is a significant time and financial commitment, so it is worth taking the exam seriously from the start.
The 36-session course is the same classroom course required later in the licensing process, so completing it after three failures does satisfy that future requirement. However, it is far better to pass the knowledge exam without needing the course first. Thorough preparation with the Virginia Driver’s Manual and practice tests is the best way to avoid this outcome. For more details about what happens after three failures, see our guide on what to expect if your teen fails the knowledge exam three times.
Retaking the Exam
If your teen is under 18 and fails on the first or second attempt, they must wait 15 full days before retaking the exam. Adults 18 and older can attempt the test once per day. Use the waiting period as study time. Review which questions were missed, revisit those sections of the Driver’s Manual, and take additional practice tests before trying again.
After the Permit: Rules and Restrictions
Once your teen passes the knowledge exam, the DMV issues a Virginia learner’s permit. This permit allows your teen to practice driving, but it comes with several restrictions that both you and your teen must follow.
9-Month Holding Period
Virginia requires your teen to hold the learner’s permit for a minimum of 9 months before they become eligible for a driver’s license. This holding period cannot be shortened. Even if your teen completes all other requirements ahead of schedule, they must wait until the 9-month mark. Combined with the minimum licensing age of 16 years and 3 months, this means planning ahead is essential. For a complete breakdown of the timeline from permit to license, see our Virginia teen license timeline guide.
Supervising Driver Requirements
When your teen is driving with a learner’s permit, a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old must be seated in the front passenger seat at all times. This supervisor must hold a valid driver’s license. The supervising driver does not need to be a parent, but they must meet the age and licensing requirements.
Passenger Restrictions
During the first year of holding a learner’s permit or provisional license, Virginia limits the number of passengers your teen can carry:
- For the first year: No more than one passenger under the age of 21 unless they are family members. This restriction is designed to reduce distractions for new drivers.
- Exceptions: Siblings and other household family members are exempt from this limit.
Your teen must also carry the learner’s permit at all times while driving. A permit is not a license, and your teen cannot drive unsupervised under any circumstances.
What Comes After the Learner’s Permit
Getting the learner’s permit is a significant first step, but it is just the beginning of the licensing journey. Here is what comes next in the process:
Driver Education (Classroom Instruction)
After obtaining the permit, the next step is enrolling in a Virginia-approved Driver Education course. This 36-session classroom course covers traffic laws, road signs, hazard recognition, and the responsibilities of being a driver. Your teen must complete Driver Education before they can move on to behind the wheel training.
At Abba Driving School in Haymarket, VA, we offer DMV-approved Driver Education for $200. Our classroom instruction is designed to prepare your teen thoroughly, not just to pass a test but to understand the principles of safe driving that will serve them for a lifetime. Learn more about what the course covers in our Virginia Driver Education requirements guide.
Behind the Wheel Training
After completing Driver Education, your teen will move on to behind the wheel training with a DMV-certified instructor. This is the hands-on, in-car portion where your teen actually gets behind the wheel and builds practical driving skills. Virginia requires 7 behind the wheel appointments for teens, including a final road skills test. For a full breakdown of behind the wheel requirements, see our Virginia behind the wheel requirements guide.
Practice Driving With a Parent
Throughout the entire process, your teen should be logging supervised practice driving hours with you. Virginia requires 45 hours of practice driving, with at least 15 hours after sunset, before your teen can take the road skills test. The more practice your teen gets between professional lessons, the more confident and capable they will be when test day arrives.
Planning Ahead: A Parent’s Checklist
To make the learner’s permit process as smooth as possible, here is a quick checklist:
- Confirm your teen is at least 15 years and 6 months old.
- Gather all required documents (identity, SSN, two proofs of residency, parental consent).
- Have your teen study the Virginia Driver’s Manual and take multiple practice tests.
- Visit the DMV together with all documents and the required fee.
- After receiving the permit, enroll in Driver Education to keep the licensing timeline moving forward.
The permit is the gateway to everything that follows. The sooner your teen earns it, the sooner the 9-month holding period begins, and the sooner they can work toward their full license.
Start the Journey with Abba Driving School
Abba Driving School has been helping families in Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, and the surrounding Northern Virginia area since 2011. Once your teen has their learner’s permit, we are here to guide them through Driver Education and beyond. Our experienced, DMV-certified instructors make sure your teen is prepared for every step, from the classroom to the road.
Ready to take the next step after your teen’s learner’s permit? Register for Driver Education today for $200 and set your teen up for success on the road.