VIRGINIA DRIVER’S Education Online

Virginia Online Driver Education

Getting Your Virginia Driver's License as a Homeschooled Student

Virginia has a specific driver education process for students who are educated at home. If you are under 18, you must complete a state-approved driver education program and hold your learner's permit for at least nine months before receiving a driver's license. Your parent or guardian must also certify that you completed at least 45 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours after sunset. (Virginia DMV)

You can apply for a Virginia learner's permit when you are 15 years and 6 months old. To receive a driver's license, you must be at least 16 years and 3 months old and meet the applicable driver education, permit-holding, and supervised-driving requirements. (Virginia DMV)

For homeschooled students, Virginia permits the classroom portion to be completed through an approved correspondence course. The parent or legal guardian may also apply for authorization to provide the in-car portion. (Virginia DMV)

Your Virginia Licensing Path

The process generally follows this order:

• Learner's permit: Apply at age 15 years and 6 months, submit the required documents and fees, complete the vision screening, and pass the two-part knowledge exam. (Virginia DMV)
• Driver education: Complete the required state-approved driver education program.
• Supervised driving: Complete at least 45 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours after sunset, with the required parent or guardian certification. (Virginia DMV)
• Driver's license: After holding the learner's permit for at least nine months and meeting the other requirements, complete the licensing process at age 16 years and 3 months or later. (Virginia DMV)

Step 1: Get Your Virginia Learner's Permit

You can apply for a Virginia learner's permit once you reach 15 years and 6 months. The application is handled at a Virginia DMV customer service center. (Virginia DMV)

For the application, you will need the required identification and residency documents, proof of your Social Security number when applicable, the required fee, and written parental or guardian consent if you are under 18. You must also complete a vision screening and pass Virginia's two-part knowledge exam. (Virginia DMV)

A learner's permit allows you to practice driving with a qualified licensed driver beside you. The supervising driver generally must be at least 21, or at least 18 if the person is your legal guardian or sibling. (Virginia DMV)

Prepare for the Knowledge Exam

The Virginia knowledge exam has two parts and covers information you need to know before driving. DMV recommends studying the Virginia Driver's Manual and using its sample knowledge exam to prepare. (Virginia DMV)

Your learner's permit is only the beginning of the process. You still have to complete the required driver education and supervised driving requirements before you can receive a driver's license.

Step 2: Complete the Classroom Driver Education

Virginia's driver education program includes 36 classroom sessions, with each session lasting 50 minutes. The full program also includes seven driving sessions, seven observation sessions, and a final road skills examination when completed through the standard driver training structure. (Virginia DMV)

For homeschooled students, the classroom portion can be completed through one of the correspondence courses listed by the Virginia DMV. DMV's homeschool page specifically distinguishes the classroom component from the in-car component. (Virginia DMV)

After completing the classroom portion, keep the required original proof of completion. It is needed when applying for authorization to provide parent-taught in-car instruction.

The 90-Minute Parent/Teen Component

Students under 18 generally must complete an additional 90-minute parent/teen driver education component as part of the classroom curriculum. The course covers subjects such as parental responsibilities, juvenile driving restrictions, and the dangers associated with impaired driving. (Virginia DMV)

There is an important location-based requirement. Students in Planning District 8, which includes Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park, must complete the component in person with a parent or guardian. Outside Planning District 8, the component may be completed in person or online, with parent or guardian attendance strongly encouraged but not required according to the HS-1 instructions. (Virginia DMV)

Students who are at least 18, emancipated minors, and certain unaccompanied minors are exempt from the 90-minute component. (Virginia DMV)

Step 3: Apply to Teach the In-Car Portion

Virginia allows an eligible parent or legal guardian of a homeschooled minor to provide the in-car driver education. However, the parent must first receive DMV authorization. (Virginia DMV)

The application uses Form HS-1, Home-Schooled In-Car Driver Education Parental Authorization Application. A separate HS-1 submission is required for each child. (Virginia DMV)

The application must include:

• The completed HS-1 form
• Proof that the student is homeschooled, such as the required notification to the school division superintendent or a letter from the superintendent or designee
• The original proof of completion of the classroom portion of driver education

The materials are mailed to the DMV Driver Training Work Center in Richmond. (Virginia DMV)

Do not begin parent-taught in-car instruction until the required DMV authorization has been obtained.

Step 4: Complete In-Car Training and Supervised Practice

After receiving authorization, the parent or legal guardian can provide the in-car portion of the homeschool driver education program.

Virginia's driver education structure includes seven driving sessions and seven observation sessions, with each session lasting 50 minutes. (Virginia DMV)

Separate from those instructional sessions, a student under 18 must complete at least 45 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours after sunset. The parent, guardian, or foster parent must certify the required practice hours on the driver education completion documentation. (Virginia DMV)

Keep track of your practice carefully so your parent or guardian can accurately certify the required hours.

Step 5: Complete the Road Skills and Licensing Requirements

Before receiving a Virginia driver's license, an applicant under 18 must complete a state-approved driver education program, hold the learner's permit for at least nine months, and have the required 45 hours of supervised driving certified by a parent or guardian. (Virginia DMV)

The minimum licensing age is 16 years and 3 months. Once you have satisfied the applicable requirements, you can complete the road skills testing and licensing process. (Virginia DMV)

Virginia also has a special rule for homeschooled students who fail the Driver General Knowledge or Behind the Wheel road skills test three times. A fourth attempt requires successful completion of a driver education course. (Virginia DMV)

Virginia Teen Driving Restrictions

Getting a driver's license does not mean all teen driving restrictions disappear. Virginia imposes specific rules on drivers under 18.

Curfew Restrictions

Drivers under 18 generally cannot drive between midnight and 4:00 a.m. Exceptions include certain trips to or from work, supervised school-sponsored or qualifying organizational activities, driving with a licensed parent or qualifying adult in the front passenger seat, and emergencies. (Virginia DMV)

Passenger Restrictions

During the first year of holding a license, a driver under 18 generally may carry only one passenger under 21, unless accompanied by a licensed parent or qualifying adult acting in place of a parent in the front passenger seat.

After the driver has held the license for one year, up to three passengers under 21 may be permitted in specified circumstances, including travel to or from school-sponsored activities, when a licensed driver age 21 or older is in the front seat, or in an emergency. Family members are not counted under these passenger restrictions. (Virginia DMV)

Cell Phone Restrictions

Virginia prohibits drivers from using cellular phones or other telecommunications devices while driving, regardless of whether the device is handheld. The permitted exception is for a driver emergency when the vehicle is lawfully parked or stopped. (Virginia DMV)

Virginia Auto Insurance Requirements

Virginia's minimum liability insurance requirements for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 are:

• $50,000 for injury or death of one person
• $100,000 for injury or death of two or more people
• $25,000 for property damage (Virginia DMV)

If the vehicle used for driving practice is required to be insured, make sure the coverage meets Virginia's applicable requirements before beginning instruction.

Why the Homeschool Process Matters

Virginia treats the classroom and in-car portions of homeschool driver education as separate parts of the process. Completing classroom instruction alone does not authorize a parent to begin teaching the in-car portion.

The parent or guardian must submit the HS-1 application with the required homeschool documentation and original classroom completion proof before providing the parent-taught in-car instruction. (Virginia DMV)

Following the correct order helps families avoid starting the in-car portion before the necessary DMV authorization is in place.

Prepare for Your Virginia Knowledge Exam

Before applying for your learner's permit, study the Virginia Driver's Manual and use the DMV's sample knowledge exam to become familiar with the test format and subject matter. (Virginia DMV)

You will need to pass the two-part knowledge exam and complete the required vision screening when applying for your learner's permit. (Virginia DMV)