How many practice hours do you need in Virginia?
In Virginia, a learner driver must log 45 hours of supervised driving practice—including 15 at night—before applying for a license.
Virginia learner permit requirements
- Minimum permit age: 15½
- Supervised practice required: 45 hours total, 15 at night
- Permit hold period: 9 months
- License eligibility age: 16 years 3 months
- How hours are certified: Form DTS-101 — 45-hour driving log (15 at night) signed by a parent or guardian.
Virginia requires 45 hours of supervised driving with at least 15 at night, certified on form DTS-101. Applicants under 19 must also complete a state-approved driver-education course.
Requirements change and have exceptions. Always confirm the current rules with the Virginia DMV before applying.
Virginia's graduated licensing stages
Drive with a licensed adult 21+; log 45 hours (15 at night) over 9 months.
Issued after 9 months and driver ed; night and passenger limits apply.
Provisional restrictions are removed.
Driving restrictions for new Virginia drivers
Drivers under 18 can't drive between midnight and 4 a.m. unless driving to or from work, a school activity, a religious event, or an emergency.
For the first year, drivers under 18 may carry only one passenger under 21; after that, up to three — unless a licensed adult 21+ is present or the passengers are family.
Drivers under 18 may not use any wireless device while driving, even hands-free.
Log every Virginia practice hour automatically
DriveMint tracks each supervised drive with GPS, separates day and night hours, and generates a DMV-ready report—so you can prove all 45 hours without a paper logbook.
Virginia driving practice FAQs
How many driving hours do you need in Virginia?+
Virginia requires 45 hours of supervised driving practice, including 15 hours at night, before a teen can apply for a license.
How many night hours does Virginia require?+
15 of the 45 required hours must be at night — one of the highest night proportions in the country.
How long is Virginia's permit hold period?+
9 months minimum, and you must be at least 16 years and 3 months old to get the provisional license.
Requirements in other states
Compare practice hours in all 50 states side by side, or read what actually counts as a night driving hour.