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Virginia Permit Hours: Requirements, Night Rules, and Tracking
Getting your license in Virginia means logging 45 supervised driving hours — 30 during the day and 15 after dark. Most families take 9 months to finish. Some do it faster. Here’s what you need to know.
Virginia permit requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total supervised hours | 45 |
| Daytime hours | 30 |
| Night hours | 15 |
| Minimum permit age | 15½ |
| Minimum hold period | 9 months |
| Supervisor minimum age | 21 |
| Driver education required | Yes |
Night driving rules in Virginia
In Virginia, night driving counts from sunset to sunrise. The hours shift with the seasons. In December, sunset might be as early as 4:30 PM. In June, it could be past 8:30 PM. That seasonal swing matters — winter is actually the easier time to knock out night hours because darkness comes early.
Plan to start your evening sessions about 30 minutes before sunset. That way you get comfortable in fading light before it goes fully dark. 15 hours sounds like a lot, but at 1-2 sessions per week you’ll be done within a couple months.
Supervisor requirements
Your supervising driver must be at least 21 and hold a valid license.
They need to sit in the front passenger seat, stay alert, and be ready to grab the wheel if needed. No scrolling, no napping, no backseat supervising. If you get pulled over and your supervisor doesn’t meet the requirements, that session might not count — and you could both get a citation.
Driver education
Virginia requires a state-approved driver education course. This includes classroom instruction and usually some behind-the-wheel time with a certified instructor. You’ll need to complete it before or during your permit period.
Driver’s ed isn’t just a checkbox. The classroom covers rules you won’t learn from your parents — right-of-way edge cases, what to do at railroad crossings, how to handle emergency vehicles. Take it seriously.
How to plan your 45 hours
You have a 9-month hold period in Virginia. If you spread your hours evenly, that’s about an hour a week. Totally doable.
Here’s what a realistic schedule looks like:
| Timeline | Sessions per week | Session length | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed (23 weeks) | 2 | 1 hour | ~23 weeks |
| Moderate (12 weeks) | 3-4 | 1 hour | ~12 weeks |
| Aggressive (8 weeks) | 5-6 | 1 hour | ~8 weeks |
Most families land somewhere in the moderate range. The key is consistency. Two sessions a week for six months beats cramming 10 hours into a single weekend. You learn more, retain more, and your supervisor won’t burn out.
Night hours are 33% of your total. Don’t save them all for the end. Mix in one evening session per week from the start and you’ll have them done well before the rest of your hours.
How Virginia compares to other states
Virginia’s 45-hour requirement puts it right around the middle of the pack. The most common requirement across all states is 50 hours (30 states use it).
Neighboring comparison: Wyoming requires 50 hours — 5 more than Virginia. On the other end, Alaska only requires 40 hours.
See all state requirements for a complete comparison.
Tracking your driving hours
Nobody enjoys tracking driving hours on paper. Entries get missed, pages get lost, and at the end of six months you’re guessing how many night hours you actually have. Moda tracks every session automatically — start time, end time, day vs. night, weather conditions, distance driven. When you’re done, it generates your state’s DMV form so you don’t have to fill anything out by hand.
Calculate your remaining hours or estimate your night hours to see where you stand.
How many supervised driving hours does Virginia require?
Virginia requires 45 total supervised driving hours. 15 must be at night and 30 during the day.
What counts as night driving in Virginia?
Night driving in Virginia is defined as sunset to sunrise (varies by season and location). You need 15 hours of night driving to qualify for your license.
How long do I need to hold my permit in Virginia?
You must hold your learner’s permit for at least 9 months in Virginia before you can take your road test.
How old do you have to be to get a learner’s permit in Virginia?
You can apply for a learner’s permit in Virginia at age 15½.
Who can supervise a permit driver in Virginia?
Your supervising driver must be at least 21 years old with a valid license.
Does Virginia accept a digital driving log?
Most DMV offices accept printed driving logs. Moda generates a PDF in Virginia’s required format that you can print and bring to your road test appointment.
Is driver’s ed required in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires a state-approved driver education course for applicants under 18. This is in addition to the supervised driving hours.
How long does it take to finish 45 driving hours?
At 2-3 sessions per week, most families finish in 15 to 23 weeks. Some move faster with daily sessions, but spreading practice out leads to better skill retention.
Calculate your remaining hours
Enter the hours you've already completed to see what's left.