Behind the Wheel

Behind the Wheel is last BIG step in becoming licensed to drive. 

Students drive with the instructor for seven days to review everything they have learned this far and test their road skills knowledge. This isn't instruction, it is review. 

Over the seven days you will cover distance driving (maintaining speed and attention), mountain driving (appropriate breaking going into turns/accelerating coming out of turns, coasting, maintaining a constant speed on changing terrain), city driving (protected turns, stop signs and lights on city blocks, pedestrian crossings, narrow roads, parallel parking) highway driving (merging, ramps with acceleration lane and without, maintaining speed, changing lanes). We also cover busy parking lots, major roads and off road recovery.

I don't understand Virginia and how to get a license.  It's ok, we are still figuring out all their ever changing rules too! But there are some pretty good policies that apply to most kids under the age of 18, At 15 and 6 months you can get your learners permit from DMV. You have to pass 100% of the questions about the signs and almost all of the general knowledge questions. The signs come first, and you don't get to move on if you don't pass that part. So study up! This is also around the age that most public school kids are taking their half year class in Drivers Education. If you are enrolled in private school you will take this class privately or online. Public school students will get a Green Card when they complete the class and kids who take it privately for the most part will get a Certificate of Completion. Concurrently, you will probably be practicing driving. There are 45 hours to practice. Once ALLLLLL of that is done you have moved to the final stage and are ready for Behind the Wheel. 

Can I drive as soon as I get my license? You can drive alone without someone in the passenger seat when 1-your parents/guardians give you permission 2-on or after your eligibility date. Just finishing Behind the Wheel doesn't matter. It doesn't make you eligible sooner. PLEASE NOTE: If you get pulled over/caught driving before you are eligible without a person of age in the passenger seat, you run the risk of having your license suspended until you are 18!! That's right, losing it before you even have it! Please don't do all this hard work for nothing.

When do I get my real license? In approximately 90 days from your eligibility date (NOT the date you finished driving but your eligibility date) you will receive an invitation from the court, in the county where you live, to come and receive your permanent license. You will need to have the temporary license TR issued and the learners permit. These will be surrendered to the court in order for you to get your permanent license. Plan on this ceremony taking about an hour.