The Virginia 45-hour driving log

What the 45 hours mean

• At least 45 hours of behind-the-wheel practice while holding your permit.
• At least 15 of those hours after sunset.
• It applies only if you're under 18 when you apply for your license.
• It's on top of the 7 driving sessions in your driver education course.

Where the log comes from

DMV's parent guide says the Department of Education's 45-Hour Parent/Teen Driving Guide includes suggested practice sessions, coaching tips and a 45-hour driving log. You fill in the log and give it to your teen's driver education instructor. The guide is also on the Department of Education's website, and DMV's teen driver page links to it.

Who signs, and where

The parent or guardian signs the driver education completion certificate and adds their driver's license or ID card number. That signature is the certification. From January 1, 2027, the driving school sends the certificate to DMV, and DMV won't accept it from you directly.

The 90-minute parent/teen session

In Northern Virginia (Planning District 8: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park), teens and a parent must also attend a 90-minute in-person session on teen driving laws and the dangers of impaired driving.