How Many Supervised Practice Hours Does a Virginia Teen Need?

Virginia requires supervised driving experience before a teenager can obtain a driver's license. This guide explains the total driving hours, nighttime requirements, documentation, and how these hours fit alongside approved driver education.

Quick answer: Virginia drivers under 18 must complete at least 45 hours of supervised driving practice, including 15 hours after sunset, before getting a driver's license. The 15 after-sunset hours are included in the 45-hour total. A parent, foster parent, or legal guardian must certify the completed practice on the driver education completion certificate.

Virginia's supervised driving requirements at a glance

  • Total guided practice: At least 45 hours.
  • After-sunset practice: At least 15 hours of the total 45 hours.
  • Certification: Parent, foster parent, or guardian signature and required DMV identification information.
  • Documentation: Keep a detailed practice log using Virginia's official 45-Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide.
  • Other licensing conditions: Approved driver education and a learner permit held at least nine months for under-18 applicants.

These requirements are separate from the classroom and professional in-car instruction included in a Virginia-approved driver education program. Completing an online classroom course alone does not satisfy the 45-hour practice requirement.

Six steps to complete Virginia's 45 supervised driving hours

  1. Obtain a valid learner permit. A Virginia teen may apply beginning at age 15 years and six months after meeting the required knowledge, vision, identity, and parental-consent conditions.
  2. Plan practice with a qualified supervisor. Follow Virginia's learner-permit supervision rules. When the permit holder is younger than 18, the supervising driver generally must be a licensed adult age 21 or older; certain qualified family members age 18 or older may supervise.
  3. Start with basic vehicle control. Practice steering, braking, turning, signs, intersections, and low-traffic conditions before moving to higher-speed roads.
  4. Include at least 15 hours after sunset. Document these sessions separately in the practice log. The nighttime hours are included in, not added to, the 45-hour total.
  5. Keep a detailed driving log. Record dates, daytime and nighttime time driven, skills practiced, and a supervising parent's or guardian's initials. Use the Virginia Department of Education's official parent/teen guide.
  6. Complete the certification. A parent, foster parent, or legal guardian signs the driver education completion certificate and supplies the required Virginia DMV license or identification number when the student completes the licensing process.

Do Virginia's 15 nighttime hours count toward the 45 total?

Yes. A teen who completes 30 hours in daylight and 15 hours after sunset has met the minimum hour breakdown, provided every practice session meets the applicable supervision and documentation rules. Fifteen nighttime hours are not an extra requirement added on top of 45.

Are the 45 hours the same as professional behind-the-wheel instruction?

No. Virginia's regular state-approved teen driver education includes a professional in-car component. The Virginia Department of Education's parent/teen guide describes seven hours of instructor-led in-car training and seven hours of observation. Families must also complete and certify the separate 45 hours of supervised practice.

The teen must complete the driver education and licensing requirements that apply to their enrollment path. Read Does Virginia Require Driver Education for Teens? for the broader requirements.

How should families document the driving hours?

Virginia's 45-Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide includes a practice log with space for dates, driving duration, day or after-sunset practice, skills, and supervisor comments. Keep records as each session occurs rather than trying to reconstruct them from memory later.

The parent or guardian's certification is part of the licensing application. Virginia law warns that false statements on the certification can have legal consequences.

Does a teen get a license as soon as 45 hours are completed?

No. A Virginia applicant younger than 18 must also complete approved driver education, hold the learner permit for at least nine months, satisfy the minimum licensing age of 16 years and three months, and complete the required road-skills process. The 45 hours are an important part of eligibility, but not a substitute for the other steps.

Explore NDT's Virginia Teen Driver Education Options

National Driver Training offers Virginia teen driver education coursework for eligible homeschool students. Other students may have options through participating driving schools. NDT coursework does not replace the required 45 hours of supervised practice or separate in-car training requirements.

Check NDT Virginia Teen Course Eligibility

Not a homeschool student? Review Virginia teen course options and confirm the correct approved enrollment path before purchasing.

Frequently asked questions about Virginia supervised driving practice

How many supervised driving hours does Virginia require for teens?

Virginia requires drivers under 18 to complete at least 45 hours of supervised driving practice, including 15 hours after sunset, before licensing.

Are the 15 nighttime hours included in the 45 hours?

Yes. The 15 after-sunset hours are part of the 45-hour total, not additional hours.

Who certifies a Virginia teen's supervised driving hours?

A parent, foster parent, or legal guardian must sign the driver education completion certificate to certify the practice hours and provide their Virginia DMV license or identification number.

Can a teen complete all 45 practice hours in a driving school?

The 45-hour requirement is a parent- or guardian-certified supervised practice requirement. A driving school's required professional in-car instruction and observation are separate parts of approved driver education.

Does completing 45 practice hours mean a Virginia teen can get a license immediately?

No. Under-18 applicants must also hold a learner permit for at least nine months, complete state-approved driver education, reach the minimum licensing age, and meet the remaining DMV requirements.

Do the 45-hour requirements change on January 1, 2027?

No. Virginia DMV continues to require applicants younger than 18 to document 45 supervised hours, including 15 after sunset. The January 2027 changes primarily affect first-time applicants ages 18 through 20.

Related Virginia driver education resources

Official Virginia sources

Content reviewed October 28, 2026. Confirm current requirements with Virginia DMV before applying for a license.