Driver Education
$200
Online or in-person The first step to getting your driver's license for teenagers and adults. This provides a 30-hour classroom of driver's ed.
Your Gainesville Driving School
5.0 out of 5 stars from 278+ reviews
14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket, VA 20169 | (703) 754-4444 | DMV-Certified Since 2007 | Pickup at Gainesville High School
Abba Driving School is a DMV-certified driving school in Gainesville, VA offering behind the wheel, driver education, and driver improvement to families across Prince William County. Gainesville is our largest service area and makes up a big share of our weekly schedule. We run dual in-car pickup at Gainesville High School (the newest high school in Prince William County, opened in 2021) and Patriot High School, and our Haymarket office sits about 5 minutes west on Route 29 for paperwork or in-person driver education.
We offer all three DMV-certified programs to Gainesville residents, and each is tied to a different stage of licensing. Behind the wheel in Gainesville ($340) is the in-car course with pickup at Gainesville HS and Patriot HS. Driver education in Gainesville ($200) covers the 30-hour classroom requirement online or at the Haymarket office. Driver improvement ($100) is the separate defensive-driving course for court, points, or insurance needs.
Driving School Courses
Behind the Wheel
$340
In-person only A one week course starting on Monday and ending with the driver receiving their license on Sunday.
Driver Improvement Course
$100
Online or in-person An 8-hour program that teaches defensive driving. This course is often required by a court or the DMV.
Your Gainesville Behind the Wheel Program
Timeline
1 week
Included
7 sessions, road test, DTS-B
Pickup
Gainesville High School
Pickup and drop-off at Gainesville High School is available for every appointment. The course is $340, or $540 bundled with driver education. Most students complete all 7 sessions in one week.
Students near the Bristow/Gainesville border can also pick up at Patriot High School. If your teen still needs the classroom step, see the driver education section below.
Behind the Wheel Pricing
Behind the Wheel
$340
7 appointments with a certified instructor, training vehicle, road skills test, and Driver Training Certificate (DTS-B) included. No hidden fees.
Register NowBehind the Wheel Re‑Examination
$550
For students who have failed the road skills test 3 or more times. Includes 12 hours of additional driving instruction.
Register NowPayment accepted by cash or check. See our full pricing breakdown for details on what's included.
Where Gainesville Students Practice Driving
Our Gainesville lessons are built around the road types students here actually use: commuter corridors, school traffic, shopping-center turns, interstate merging, and the approach to the Manassas DMV where most students take their road test. Here's what training looks like in practice:
- Lee Highway (US-29) - Multi-lane traffic, turning movements at busy intersections, and managing speed alongside 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, with roundabouts and a recent widening to four lanes. Students practice lane changes, gap judgment, and turn-lane decisions under real Gainesville traffic pressure.
- Virginia Gateway and Atlas Walk - Parking-lot navigation, pedestrian-heavy crosswalks at Target and the Atlas Walk retail expansion, and right-of-way in shopping-center entrances. This is practical preparation for everyday errands and weekend traffic.
- I-66 and the Route 29 interchange - Merging, lane changes at speed, and the dynamic-tolling signage on the I-66 express lanes. Students learn to read overhead signs and make entry decisions before they reach the ramp.
- School zones on Heathcote Boulevard near Gainesville HS - Flashing-light recognition, posted time windows, and the difference between active-zone speeds and regular-speed travel. Students learn to adjust before the zone, not inside it.
- Wellington Road and Gainesville District Park area - Mixed residential and commercial traffic that connects Heritage Hunt and Piedmont neighborhoods to the main corridors. Good for lane-discipline practice and reading unfamiliar intersections.
- Routes toward the Manassas DMV - Sudley Road and Prince William Parkway connect Gainesville to the DMV at 9800 Godwin Drive, which is where most Gainesville students take their road skills test. Practicing the real approach and surrounding corridors removes test-day surprises.
- Neighborhoods near Heritage Hunt, Glenkirk, Somerset Crossing, and Heathcote - Lower-speed roads for three-point turns, stopping accuracy, and scanning habits before moving back to the main corridors.
Register for Behind the Wheel
This form is the first step to reserve a spot in our one-week Behind the Wheel program.
For teen students, guardian contact information is required so we can confirm details and finalize enrollment by phone.
REGISTRATION / Behind the Wheel
Driver Education for Gainesville Students
Two options, same curriculum, same price ($200). Attend in person at our Haymarket office (about 5 minutes west on Route 29) or take the online course from home. Both are DMV-approved 30-hour programs that lead to the Learner's Permit.
Online works best for students with busy or unpredictable schedules; you log in when it fits and pick up where you left off. In-person is better for teens who want live instruction and a set classroom routine. If you are deciding between them, see our online vs. in-person comparison.
After finishing driver education, most Gainesville teens continue with behind the wheel to complete the in-car portion and take their road skills test.
Driver Education Pricing
In-Person Driver Education
$200
30-hour DMV-approved classroom course held at our Haymarket office, a few minutes from Gainesville.
Register NowOnline Driver Education
$200
The same required curriculum completed from home for Gainesville students who need schedule flexibility.
Register NowNeed behind the wheel next? See <a href="#behind-the-wheel">behind the wheel pricing above</a>.
Register for Driver Education
Register for driver education below. Online students receive login credentials within one business day.
REGISTRATION / Driver Education
After registration, you will receive an email with everything you need to start the online course.
Driver Improvement in Gainesville
Need to reduce demerit points, complete a court order, or earn safe-driving credit? Our 8-hour driver improvement course is available in person at the Haymarket office or online. The course costs $100 and is open to adults in Gainesville and all of Northern Virginia.
See full driver improvement details for scheduling and requirements, or learn about removing demerit points and court-ordered requirements.
Adult students in Gainesville, including residents of the Heritage Hunt 55+ community, can also take behind the wheel as adults without completing driver education first. Many adult learners use driving lessons to rebuild confidence after a long break from driving or to prepare for a Virginia road test after moving from out of state.
Register for the Driver Improvement Course
Choose in-person at our Haymarket office or online anytime. In-person registrations are confirmed by phone; online registrations get instant access after payment.
REGISTRATION / Driver Improvement
Enroll in the Online Course
Our online Driver Improvement Course is the same DMV-approved 8-hour program, and you can complete it at your own pace from any computer. After payment, you will receive an email with everything you need to start.
- Self-paced, available 24/7
- Results posted to the DMV within 24 hours
- All testing done online
- 100% pass rate
Have questions about the online course? Give us a call and we're happy to help.
(703) 754-4444Why Gainesville Families Choose Abba
Most driving schools treat Gainesville as one stop on a regional route. That shows up in the small details: no specific pickup point, an unfamiliar instructor, and lesson routes that follow the company's schedule instead of your teen's actual driving environment. Gainesville families notice the difference quickly.
Our setup is different in three concrete ways. First, dual pickup at Gainesville High School and Patriot High School means the closer school is always a real option, not a placeholder. Second, Mr. Wayne is the Gainesville-area instructor, so students are not handed to a rotating schedule of people who do not know the local traffic patterns. Third, lesson routes are built around the Manassas DMV test environment, not a generic Northern Virginia template, so test-day approach roads are never unfamiliar.
If you are comparing options, our Haymarket, Bristow, and Warrenton pages describe how we set up each of those areas. The Gainesville version is tuned for families who want local school pickup, a consistent instructor, and training on the same roads their teen will keep using after they get licensed.
What Gainesville-Area Families Say
"Mr. Wayne was an amazing instructor and truly made my driving school experience a great one. I was really nervous at first, but he was patient, supportive, and helped me feel calm and confident behind the wheel."
"I had an amazing experience with ABBA driving school. Mr Wayne, my instructor, was great! Not only did he teach us how to drive safely, he made it enjoyable to learn and gave us a few life lessons as well."
"I started as a nervous, inexperienced teen and felt confident driving in just 5 days. Mr. Wayne was patient, clear, and made the whole process feel a lot less scary."
★★★★★ 5.0 out of 5
Rated 5.0/5 based on 278+ reviews from families across Gainesville and Northern Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What driving courses are available in Gainesville?
Three DMV-certified programs: behind the wheel ($340), driver education ($200), and driver improvement ($100). Most Gainesville teens start with driver education, then move to behind the wheel once they have their permit. Driver improvement is separate and available to adults who need it for court, points, or insurance.
How much does behind the wheel cost?
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). Pricing is the same regardless of pickup location. The bundle with driver education is $540. See our pricing page for a full breakdown.
Where do you pick up Gainesville students?
We pick up and drop off at Gainesville High School on Heathcote Boulevard and at Patriot High School near the Bristow/Gainesville border. Gainesville HS is closest for most Gainesville neighborhoods; Patriot HS is often more convenient for south Gainesville and the Jiffy Lube Live area. Same pricing, same instructor, same program at either location.
How far is your office from Gainesville?
Our office at 14950 Washington Street #202, Haymarket is about 5 minutes from Gainesville via Route 29 (Lee Highway). For behind the wheel lessons, there's no need to drive to the office; we pick up students at Gainesville High School or Patriot High School. For in-person driver education, the short trip to the Haymarket office is straightforward.
How do I register for driving school in Gainesville?
Three ways: fill out the registration form on this page, call us at (703) 754-4444, or walk into our Haymarket office at 14950 Washington Street #202 (5 minutes from Gainesville). For behind the wheel, we will call to confirm scheduling and pickup details. For online driver education, you will receive login credentials within one business day.
Can Gainesville students take driver education online?
Yes. Gainesville students can choose online driver education if they want a self-paced option from home, or they can attend in person at our Haymarket office. Both formats cover the same 30-hour curriculum and cost $200. If you are deciding between them, see our online vs. in-person comparison.
What's the process for teens to get a license through your school?
Teens follow three steps: (1) complete driver education to get their Learner's Permit, (2) log 45 hours of practice driving with a parent, and (3) complete behind the wheel and pass the road skills test. See the full teen license timeline.
Do you offer weekend and evening appointments that fit the school year?
Yes. We run behind the wheel seven days a week, including evenings, and schedule around PWCS calendars, sports seasons, and exam weeks. Most students finish the one-week course during winter break, spring break, or early summer. Slots fill fastest in June and July; if you need a summer start date, register by mid-May. In-person driver education classes run on a rolling basis at our Haymarket office.
What roads will my teen practice on?
Lessons cover the main Gainesville corridors (Lee Highway, Linton Hall Road, I-66), shopping-center navigation around Virginia Gateway and Atlas Walk, school zones near Gainesville HS, and the approach to the Manassas DMV where the road test is administered. See the Where Gainesville Students Practice Driving section above for the full breakdown.
Can adults take driving lessons in Gainesville?
Absolutely. Adults 18+ can take behind the wheel with just a Learner's Permit. No prior driver education is required for adults, though taking driver education first lets you skip the 60-day waiting period. See our adult driving lessons guide for the adult path.
What should my teen bring to their first behind the wheel lesson?
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). Your teen will be picked up at Gainesville High School, Patriot High School, or another arranged location.
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.
Where do Gainesville students take their Virginia road test?
Most Gainesville students take their road skills test at the Manassas DMV at 9800 Godwin Drive, Manassas, VA 20110, about 15 minutes from central Gainesville via Sudley Road or I-66. At Abba, the road test is administered as the final session of the behind the wheel course, so your teen takes the test with the same instructor who trained them, in the same training vehicle they have been using all week. See how to pass the Virginia road test for the full scoring breakdown.
Are your instructors familiar with the Manassas DMV area?
Yes. Lessons routinely cover Sudley Road, Prince William Parkway, and the residential and commercial streets around the Manassas DMV, because that is where most Gainesville students take their final road test. The test day is not the first time a student sees those roads.
Which Gainesville neighborhoods do you serve for pickup?
We coordinate pickup at Gainesville High School and Patriot High School for students across Gainesville, including Heritage Hunt, Virginia Gateway, Heathcote, Piedmont, Somerset Crossing, Glenkirk, and the areas near Linton Hall Road, Lee Highway, and Wellington Road. Families in northern and central Gainesville are usually closest to Gainesville HS; families near the Bristow border or south Gainesville are often closer to Patriot HS. Call (703) 754-4444 if you want to confirm which pickup point is closest to your address.
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. Mr. Wayne is the dedicated Gainesville-area instructor, handling pickup at Gainesville High School and Patriot High School and running lessons on the corridors and school zones Gainesville students will keep using after they get licensed. Abba Driving School has been training Gainesville students 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.