State Requirements

Driver education programs are available to students, adults and out-of-school youths. The program must present 36 classroom periods (with alcohol safety, drug abuse awareness and aggressive driving components) and 14 in-car instruction periods 7 (50 minute) driving and 7 (50 minutes) observation.

Learner's Permit Information

You may get your learner's permit when you reach 15 years and 6 months of age. It will allow you to operate a motor vehicle when a licensed driver (21 years old) is seated beside you. The driver accompanying you may be 18 years of age if he or she is your legal guardian, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother or stepsister and hold a valid driver's license.

If you are age 19 or over:

If you have not previously held a driver's license, you must, Present a driver education completion certificate showing successful completion of a state-approved driver education program, or Show proof that you have held a learner's permit at least 30 days before taking the road skills test. You must hold a learner's permit for 30 days or more or show completion of a driver education program.
Take your driver education certificate to any DMV customer service center and take the road skills test. You may take the road skills test no more than three times in any three-month period.

If you are under age 18:

If you are between age 16 years, 3 months and age 18, your driver education certificate and a valid learner's permit allow you to drive without a licensed driver beside you provided you have held your learner's permit for nine months and the certificate is signed by a parent or legal guardian.

You must hold the learner's permit for at least nine months or until you turn 19 before you can receive your driver's license.

Your parent/guardian must also certify that you have driven at least 45 hours, 15 of which occurred after sunset.

You will receive a certificate when you successfully complete the required state-approved driver education program. This will exempt you from road skills testing by DMV.

New curfew laws prohibit drivers under age 18 who hold a learner's permit or driver's license from driving midnight to 4 A.M. If you hold a driver's license you may drive during these hours: In case of an emergency, when traveling to and from work or a school-sponsored event, when accompanied by a parent or other adult.

You are restricted to carrying no more than one passenger under age 18 with you when you drive. Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members.

Before you can receive your driver's license, you must: Hold your learner's permit nine months, be at least age 16 and 3 months and successfully complete driver education.

State requirements, flexible schedules available serving Burke, Springfield, Alexandria, Mclean, Fairfax and Centreville.