Frequently Asked Questions
How old must I be to get a learner's permit?
15 years and 6 months old
If your teen wants to go driving with his or her learner’s permit, there must be a licensed driver at least 21 years of age seated next to him or her at all times. The driver accompanying your teen must be legally permitted to drive and be alert to assist your teen. There are exceptions. The driver supervising your teen’s driving may be as young as 18 years of age if he or she is your teen’s brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or first cousin. Of course, the person accompanying your teen must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If your teen wants to go driving with his or her learner’s permit, there must be a licensed driver at least 21 years of age seated next to him or her at all times. The driver accompanying your teen must be legally permitted to drive and be alert to assist your teen. There are exceptions. The driver supervising your teen’s driving may be as young as 18 years of age if he or she is your teen’s brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or first cousin. Of course, the person accompanying your teen must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
What is the Graduated Licensing System?
Under the system, all novice drivers must undergo through the 3 licensing levels:
Learner's Permit – learning to drive
Provisional License - includes restrictions
Full License – no restrictions at 18 years old
As a permit holder, beginning drivers must drive with his/her supervising driver. He/she then moves up and completes the provisional licensing process until full license status is attained at 18 years old.
Learner's Permit – learning to drive
Provisional License - includes restrictions
Full License – no restrictions at 18 years old
As a permit holder, beginning drivers must drive with his/her supervising driver. He/she then moves up and completes the provisional licensing process until full license status is attained at 18 years old.
What happens when my child receives the provisional License from Green Light?
The provisional license certificate valid for 180 days. If you are under age 18, your driver's license will be sent to the judge of your local juvenile and domestic relations court. The court will notify you by mail about when and where you and your parent, custodial parent or legal guardian must appear to receive your license. If you are age 18 on the date of your court licensing ceremony, your parent, custodial parent or legal guardian does not need to accompany you.
DMV can deny or suspend driving privileges for persons under age 18 if the juvenile meets one or more of the conditions below. Questions about this law may be directed to DMV.
DMV can deny or suspend driving privileges for persons under age 18 if the juvenile meets one or more of the conditions below. Questions about this law may be directed to DMV.
- The juvenile is found delinquent by a court,
- The juvenile is in need of supervision,
- The juvenile is involved in an alcohol or drug-related offense, or
- The juvenile needs court-assigned services or programs such as counseling.
What are the restrictions for a provisional license?
Virginia's driving restrictions are not meant to penalize teen drivers, but to help them stay safe while they gain valuable driving experience. Studies have found that these restrictions work to reduce the number of car crashes among young drivers.
Curfew Restrictions
If you are under age 18, Virginia law prohibits you from driving midnight to 4 A.M. except when driving:
If you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 21, unless accompanied by a licensed parent, or other adult acting in place of a parent, in the front passenger seat. However, after you have held your license for one year, you may carry up to three passengers under age 21 in the following situations:
(Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members)
Violations of either the curfew or passenger restrictions can result in the suspension of your driver's license.
Cellular Telephone/Wireless Telecommunications Device Restrictions
Virginia's cellular telephone law prohibits the use of cell phones while driving, regardless of whether such device is or is not hand-held.
You can only use a cell phone or any other telecommunications device for a driver emergency and the vehicle must be lawfully parked or stopped
Curfew Restrictions
If you are under age 18, Virginia law prohibits you from driving midnight to 4 A.M. except when driving:
- to or from a place of business where you are employed;
- to or from an activity that is supervised by an adult and is sponsored by a school or by a civic, religious, or public organization;
- with a licensed spouse age 18 or older, parent or another adult acting in loco parentis who is occupying the front passenger seat,
- in case of an emergency, including responding to emergency calls as a volunteer firefighter or rescue squad personnel.
If you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 21, unless accompanied by a licensed parent, or other adult acting in place of a parent, in the front passenger seat. However, after you have held your license for one year, you may carry up to three passengers under age 21 in the following situations:
- Travel to and from a school-sponsored activity;
- A licensed driver 21 or older is in the front passenger seat; or
- In case of an emergency.
(Passenger restrictions do not apply to family members)
Violations of either the curfew or passenger restrictions can result in the suspension of your driver's license.
Cellular Telephone/Wireless Telecommunications Device Restrictions
Virginia's cellular telephone law prohibits the use of cell phones while driving, regardless of whether such device is or is not hand-held.
You can only use a cell phone or any other telecommunications device for a driver emergency and the vehicle must be lawfully parked or stopped
May I miss the first day of class?
No. Students are required to start the driver education course on the first day of class.
May I miss classes?
Students are allowed to miss classes. However, under DMV guidelines, you must make up all missed classes within 9 months. Do not miss more than 2 days of classroom instruction, equivalent to 8 hours, otherwise, you will start all over, and must retake all units.
How do I make up missed a class(es)?
Number of students may not exceed 25 per classroom/per session (presently enrolled or making up). On the first day of class, we will know the actual number of enrollees. Call on the second day (Day 2) of the next cycle. If a seat is available, you will be given a seat number. Note: Making up missed classes during summer months may not be easy due to the large number of enrollees.
How soon can I do behind-the-wheel driving?
First, you must have a valid learner's permit. After finishing the 30 hours of classroom instruction, you or your parents may start the 25 hours of preliminary driving with parent/mentor is strongly encouraged. Then contact Green Light Driving School to register for behind the wheel instruction.
What is behind the wheel instruction?
The Virginia law states that It must also include 14 in-car instruction periods, seven periods of driving, and seven periods of observation. The student can complete the in-car instruction periods at Green Light Driving School LLC.
The in-car driver education teacher will administer your teen’s final road test. If your teen successfully passes the test, the school will issue him or her a completion certificate. The certificate, combined with your teen’s learner’s permit, acts as a valid driver’s license for 180 days. Your child must drive a minimum, of 45 hours,15 hours of which occurred after sunset.
The in-car driver education teacher will administer your teen’s final road test. If your teen successfully passes the test, the school will issue him or her a completion certificate. The certificate, combined with your teen’s learner’s permit, acts as a valid driver’s license for 180 days. Your child must drive a minimum, of 45 hours,15 hours of which occurred after sunset.
Learn more about specific driving regulations from the DMV website.