Virginia Driver's Ed: Required or Optional?

Short answer: yes. Driver education is mandatory in Virginia for applicants under 18. No course completion certificate, no license.

Practice hours on top of driver’s ed

Driver’s ed and supervised practice are two different requirements in Virginia. You’ll need 45 hours behind the wheel with a licensed adult, 15 of them after dark. The course doesn’t count toward those hours.

More on the hour requirement: Virginia permit hours.

What the requirement looks like

If you’re under 18, you need a state-approved course. That typically means 30+ hours of classroom work and several hours of in-car instruction with a licensed teacher. Online courses count in many cases, but check with your local DMV to make sure the program you pick is on the approved list.

Driver education required for license applicants under 18.

What’s in the course

Classroom or online instruction covers traffic laws, sign recognition, and defensive driving principles. You’ll also learn about the consequences of DUI, texting while driving, and road rage. If the program includes in-car training, expect 6 to 10 hours behind the wheel with an instructor. Cost varies: $200 on the low end for online-only, up to $800 for programs with driving time included.

Don’t lose track of your hours

Moda records every practice session. Time, conditions, day or night. It runs a tally against what Virginia requires and builds the DMV form for you. Beats a spreadsheet.

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