Can You Take Driver's Ed Online in Virginia?

Only if your student is currently homeschooled. Virginia is one of the few states that has not authorized online driver education for students who attend public or private high school. The classroom portion of driver's ed can be completed online through a Department of Education approved correspondence course, but that option is limited to students enrolled in a homeschool program acknowledged by their division superintendent.

If your teen attends a public or private school, they will need to complete driver education through their school or a DMV-licensed driving school instead. Knowing that before you enroll saves you a purchase you cannot use.

Who Qualifies

The requirement is that the student is currently enrolled in home instruction. Being homeschooled in the past does not carry over.

The Graduated-Homeschooler Trap

This one catches families out and is worth stating plainly. Once a student has graduated from homeschooling, they lose access to both the approved correspondence courses and the parent-taught in-car components, even if they are still under 18 and still need driver education for their license.

A student in that position has to complete both the classroom and in-car portions through a public school, private school, or a licensed driver training school. So if your teen is nearing the end of their homeschool program and has not started driver's ed, timing matters. Starting before graduation preserves the option.

The 90-Minute Component, and Why the Online Route Helps

Every Virginia student under 18 must complete an additional 90-minute parent/teen driver education component alongside the classroom curriculum. A parent has to be present for it.

Here is where the homeschool correspondence route offers a real advantage. Families in Planning District 8, which covers Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park, are generally required to complete that 90-minute session in person when using a DMV-licensed private driving school.

When using a Department of Education approved parent-taught correspondence course, students may complete the 90-minute component online regardless of which district they live in. For a Northern Virginia family, that removes a scheduling obligation that is otherwise difficult to work around.

What Comes After the Classroom Course

Finishing the online course is one piece of a longer sequence. For a student under 18, Virginia also requires holding a learner's permit for at least nine months before a driver's license can be issued, plus the behind-the-wheel portion.

Homeschool families can teach the in-car component themselves, provided the parent holds a valid Virginia driver's license and the required DMV paperwork is filed. That paperwork includes the parental authorization application and the in-car certificate, which the DMV publishes as the HS series of forms. Worth downloading early rather than at the end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my teen take driver's ed online if they go to public school?

No. Virginia has not authorized online driver education for public or private school students. They will need to complete it through their school or a licensed driving school.

Does my student need to be currently homeschooled?

Yes. The student must be actively enrolled in a homeschool program acknowledged by the division superintendent. Previously homeschooled students do not qualify.

What if my teen already graduated from homeschooling?

They lose eligibility for the correspondence course and parent-taught in-car instruction, and must complete driver education through a school or licensed driving school instead.

Do we still have to do the 90-minute parent session?

Yes, for students under 18. Using an approved parent-taught correspondence course allows you to complete it online no matter which district you live in, with a parent present.

Can a parent teach the behind-the-wheel portion?

Yes, for homeschool students, provided the parent holds a valid Virginia driver's license and the required DMV forms are submitted.

The Bottom Line

Online driver education in Virginia is available to currently homeschooled students only. If that describes your teen, the online route also lets you complete the 90-minute parent/teen component online even in Planning District 8, which is a meaningful convenience. If your teen attends public or private school, or has already graduated from homeschooling, the online course is not an option and you will need a school or licensed driving school.

DriverEdToGo offers the Virginia-approved online Driver Education course for $55.00 for homeschooled students, meeting the state's minimum permit and licensing requirements. It is completed entirely online at your own pace from any device, and you have 180 days from registration to finish and earn your certificate.