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Online Driver Training Schools

An online driver education school is defined as a driver training school that is licensed by the The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide online driver education courses.

Online driver education courses are available to juveniles and adults. These courses are approved by the Department of Education and have the same course content as classroom-based driver education courses. In order to obtain your driver's license, you must also complete the behind-the-wheel instruction.

About Online Driver Training School Courses

The program consists of at least 30 hours of instruction, and includes components about alcohol safety, drug abuse awareness, aggressive driving, distracted driving, pedestrian and bicycle safety, handicapped parking, fuel efficient driving practices, motorcycle awareness and organ and tissue donation awareness as required by law.

You must be at least 15 years and 6 months old to take the online driver education course. All individuals who elect to take the classroom component of the driver’s education course online must take the online course through a DMV licensed online driver training school.

In order to benefit from the course, you must be able to work independently and be comfortable with using a computer.

90-Minute Parent/Teen Component

This additional minimum 90-minute parent/student driver education component is part of the in-classroom portion of the driver education curriculum and emphasizes parental responsibilities regarding juvenile driver behavior, juvenile driving restrictions and the dangers of driving while intoxicated and underage consumption of alcohol, as required by Virginia Code §22.1-205.

Students under age 18 in Planning District 8 (counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park) must participate in this component, along with a parent or guardian, as part of the in-classroom portion of the driver education curriculum. The course must be completed in person.

Students under age 18 outside of Planning District 8 may be required by their school division to participate in this component, along with their parent or guardian, as part of the in-classroom portion of the driver education curriculum. The course can be completed in person or online. To find which school divisions require the completion of this additional component, refer to School Divisions Requiring 90-Minute Parent/Teen Component.

Find an Online Driver Training School

Prior to registering for the course, verify that the school has a test site located in your area. To find driver schools offering online driver education, refer to Listing of Online Driver Training Schools.

Final Exam

The final exam for the online driver training course must be administered at an approved classroom location and monitored by a DMV licensed driver training school instructor associated with the driver training school. The test may be taken only once per business day.

After you have completed the online driver’s education course and are ready to take the final examination, contact the driver training school that offered the online driver education course to schedule the date, place and time of the final examination.

Testing must be conducted at the scheduled test site. Any changes in testing site must be mutually agreed upon by student, parent (if student is under age 18) and instructor. DMV does not maintain schedules for testing.

Taking the Final Exam

On the day of testing, you must bring the following to the test site:

  • Photo identification (DMV issued identification card, school issued identification card, valid passport or military identification)
  • Proof of completion of the online driver education course (form DTS 36)
  • If you are under age 18, a completed "Parental Consent for Online Driver Education Examination" (DTS 62)
  • If you are under age 18, proof of completion of the 90-minute parent/teen component (if required)

The online driver training school will provide a computer for testing.

After Completing the Final Exam

After you have completed the final exam, you and the instructor must sign the "Online Driver Education Examination Monitor Record" (DTS 63), indicating the time-in and time-out of the test site.

If you have passed the final examination, you will receive a certificate of completion from the Online Driver Education Curriculum Vendor (form DTS 36). You must present the certificate to the driver training school conducting the behind-the-wheel instruction component of the driver’s education course as proof of completion of the classroom component. If you have failed the final examination, you must retake the examination another day.

Additional Information

DMV is committed to promoting transportation safety through the certification of quality driver training programs. For information about the laws governing driver training schools, refer to the Virginia Driver Training School Regulations.

If you have comments or concerns about this course, call our toll-free number: 1-877-885-5790.