Driver Education Requirements

If you are a Virginia resident under age 19, you must complete a state-approved driver education program and hold your Virginia learner's permit for at least nine months. If you are a Virginia resident, 19 years of age or older and you have never held a license issued by any state, U.S. territory or foreign country, you must hold a Virginia learner's permit for at least 30 days or show completion of a state-approved driver education program before taking the road skills test.

Q: What is the minimum age take driver education in Virginia?

15 years 6 months.

Q: Do I need to have a learner's permit to take driver education in Virginia?

No.  Students that do not yet possess a Learner's Permit may complete the 36 hours of in-class instruction, but are required to have a Virginia Learner's Permit to participate in the 14 hours of behind-the-wheel training.

Q: At what age can I obtain my Virginia Learner's Permit?

You must be 15 years and 6 months old. You do not have to have taken Driver Education to get a learner's permit. You must study the Virginia Driver Handbook and take a test at a DMV customer service center.

Q: How old should my student be to start the State Driver Education Program and what is the best way to progress through the training?

We recommend that students start Driver Education at age 15 years and 6 months, progress through the 36 hours of in-class instruction to prepare for the DMV Learner's Permit Exam which a student can take at 15 years and 6 months.  Once the in-class instruction is complete, start the behind-the-wheel portion of the training after the Learner's Permit is obtained.  It is best to stretch the training over a period of time to give each student the opportunity to absorb both the in-class and behind-the-wheel material.

The process to complete the Virginia State Driver Education Program requires the submission of specific DMV Forms from the student to the school that must be kept on file by individual driver education schools for review by the DMV.  Depending on the training that you have completed at this time, your completed training will dictate the forms that you need to submit so you can move forward with the rest of your training.  The below information applies to those persons under the age of nineteen.  Please be sure to review all parts of the below process.  

Students who wish to complete both in-class and behind-the-wheel training: 

1.  Be 15 years and 6 months

2. Create a User Account by clicking Account Log-in

3. Select your in-class training session and purchase.  This will load into your User Account your desired in-class training session and your seven (7) unreserved two-hour behind-the-wheel training sessions.

4. Attend all in-class training with your issued Classroom Instruction Attendance Roster [DMV DTS-17] issued to you by I Drive Smart. 

5. Once all in-class instruction is completed and the student is in possession of a valid Virginia Learner's Permit, begin to schedule your behind-the-wheel training.  All behind-the-wheel training must be recorded on your issued Student In-Car Instruction/Observation Record [DMV DTS-14]. Be sure to completely review the I Drive Smart Behind-the-Wheel Terms .    

6. Once all in-class and behind-the-wheel training is completed and appropriately documented - submit all forms to the I Drive Smart office for document review. Once all forms are successfully audited, the student will be issued a  Virginia Driver Training Certificate [DMV DTS-B] verifying completion of the driver education program by mail.  

     Students who wish to complete just the behind-the-wheel training:  
 

1. Be 15 years and 6 months and in possession of a valid Virginia Learner's Permit. 

2. Create a User Account by clicking Account Log-in.

3. Purchase a block of seven (7) two-hour behind-the-wheel training sessions from the I Drive Smart web site.  At the time of purchase the sessions will remain locked until the below document is submitted to the office as required by Virginia Law. 

4. Provide to I Drive Smart proof of all In-class Training by submitting to the I Drive Smart office your original Virginia State Public School [DMV DEC-1] verifying all in-class training completion. Once the [DMV DEC-1] is received in the office, all behind-the-wheel training sessions will be made available for scheduling.  All behind-the-wheel training must be recorded on your issued Student In-Car Instruction/Observation Record [DMV DTS-14]. Be sure to completely review the I Drive Smart Behind-the-Wheel Terms before scheduling.

5. Once all behind-the-wheel training is completed and appropriately documented - submit all forms to the I Drive Smart office for document review. Once all forms are successfully audited, the student will be issued a Virginia Driver Training Certificate [DMV DTS-B] verifying completion of the driver education program by mail.  
   
   To learn more about the requirements and recommendations for new drivers in Virginia, visit: Virginia DMV >>