Virginia Driver Improvement FAQ

Licensed by Virginia DMV

Driver Improvement FAQ

Everything you need to know about our Virginia DMV-approved online Driver Improvement course.

Courts often mandate this course after a traffic violation — completing it can reduce or dismiss fines and satisfy your court order. The Virginia DMV may also require it to obtain, prevent the suspension of, or reinstate your license. You can also take it voluntarily once every 24 months to earn 5 safe driver points and improve your driving record. Many insurance providers offer a premium discount upon completion as well.
Yes — EZ Drive Virginia is state-approved by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Our course meets all requirements for point reduction, fine reduction, insurance discounts, and voluntary safe driving points. You can verify our license directly on the Virginia DMV website.
All Virginia drivers are eligible to enroll once every 24 months for voluntary safe driver points. You’ll generally need a valid Virginia driver’s license with no outstanding violations or suspension. Drivers who have been court- or DMV-mandated may qualify even without a currently active license.
No — all Virginia residents are eligible for the online Driver Improvement Course regardless of age. Just keep in mind that the 5 safe driver point benefit can only be earned once every 2 years.
The Virginia DMV requires the Driver Improvement Course to be a minimum of 8 hours. Our course is exactly 8 hours — no fluff, no padding — so you meet the state requirement efficiently and get back on the road.
Not at all. The course is 100% self-paced — you can finish it in a single day or spread it out over several weeks. Your progress is automatically saved every step of the way. If you have an upcoming court date, we do recommend completing it as soon as possible.
The course is broken into eight chapters covering: alcohol- and drug-impaired driving, aggressive and reckless driving, handling driving emergencies, highway safety, Virginia traffic laws, driving in poor weather conditions, sharing the road with other vehicles and pedestrians, and defensive driving techniques.
Yes — you must pass a 50-question final exam with a score of 80% or higher. There’s no need to stress though: you get unlimited retakes (one attempt per day), and the course gives you helpful feedback on any question you miss so you can learn and improve before your next attempt.
The only way to fail is to not finish. Every quiz and the final exam can be retaken as many times as you need — you always get feedback on what you missed. As long as you work through the material, you will complete the course successfully.
Your certificate is emailed to you immediately after you pass the final exam. We also submit your completion record directly to the Virginia DMV electronically within 24 hours — no mailing, no paperwork on your end.
Voluntary enrollment is limited to once every 24 months to earn the 5 safe driver point benefit. If you’ve been court-ordered to take the course, there is no frequency limit — you can take it as often as the court or judge requires.
Yes — the course works on any modern device including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. No downloads, plugins, or special software required. All you need is a current web browser and an internet connection.
The standard 8-Hour Driver Improvement Course is $60. If you need the full RADEP program for a reckless or aggressive driving conviction, the 12-Hour RADEP Course is $120 and includes both the 8-hour and 4-hour portions bundled together. If you have already completed an 8-hour course elsewhere and only need the RADEP addition, the standalone 4-Hour RADEP Add-on is $70.
We accept all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Payment is processed securely at checkout before you begin the course.
Yes — you can start the course immediately after enrolling and complete it in as little as one day if needed. Once you pass the final exam, your completion is submitted electronically to the Virginia DMV within 24 hours. We strongly recommend starting as early as possible to ensure your record is updated well before your court date.
RADEP stands for Reckless/Aggressive Driver Education Program. It is an additional 4-hour course required by Virginia courts for drivers convicted of reckless or aggressive driving — on top of the standard 8-hour Driver Improvement Course, for a combined 12-hour requirement.

If your violation was a standard moving violation (speeding, running a red light, etc.), you most likely only need the 8-hour course. If you were convicted of reckless or aggressive driving, check your court order to confirm exactly what is required before enrolling.
The course does not erase existing demerit points. What it does do is add 5 positive safe driver points to your record when taken voluntarily, which can help offset negative points. The net effect on your record depends on your current point balance. If your goal is to satisfy a court order or DMV requirement, the course fulfills that requirement regardless of your point total.
Your progress is automatically saved and you can return to the course at any time — there is no pressure to finish in one sitting. If you have a court or DMV deadline, we recommend completing the course well in advance to allow time for your record to be updated.
Refunds are available if requested before you begin the course. Once you have accessed the course material, we are unable to issue a refund per Virginia DMV guidelines. If you have questions about your specific situation, please reach out to our support team and we will do our best to help.

Virginia DOE Approved

Homeschool Driver’s Ed FAQ

Everything you need to know about our 30-hour Virginia DOE-approved online homeschool driver’s education course.

In order to get a Virginia learner permit you need to be at least 15 years and 6 months old. You will need to pass a vision exam and a two-part knowledge exam at your local DMV. Our course will prepare you for the knowledge exam and also includes practice exams that you can take as many times as you would like.

You will also need proof of identity, your social security card or number, and proof of legal Virginia residence.

When applying for your learner permit you will simultaneously be applying for your future driver’s license and will pay the application fee for both at the same time. If your parent will be administering the behind-the-wheel driving training you will also need to complete the HS-1 form for Virginia home-schooled in-car driver education parental authorization.
Yes. If you as the parent will be administering the behind-the-wheel driving training you will need to complete the HS-1 form for Virginia home-schooled in-car driver education parental authorization.

You will also need a letter from the school division superintendent or designee acknowledging that your child is home-schooled. A copy of the notification you sent to the school division of your intent to home-school your child will also suffice.
All Virginia residents are eligible to take online driver’s education. However, only approved home-schooled students can take the EZ Drive VA Online Driver’s Education course.

Students enrolled in public or private schools can also take driver’s education online but they are required to do so through their local driving school or their high school, and must complete their driving lessons with a certified instructor.
You can get your learner permit at any Virginia DMV office that issues permits and licenses. Check the DMV Customer Service Center Locator to find the location nearest you.
Yes — if you are under the age of 18 your parent or guardian will need to sign your learner permit application.
In Virginia, drivers under the age of 18 must hold their learner permit for at least 9 months and must be at least 16 years and 3 months old before they can obtain their driver’s license.

If you are over the age of 18, you only need to hold your permit for 30 days. However, if you present proof of a completed state-approved driver’s education program, you can get your license before the 30-day period is reached.
When you apply for your learner permit, you will also apply and pay for your driver’s license. After completing your online education and all driving requirements, you will visit your DMV to take the road skills driving test.

After passing your driving test, the DMV will mail your license to your local judge or court, who will notify you by mail regarding when to appear and exchange your learner permit for your license.
The course is divided into 12 modules that must be completed in order. Throughout the modules, you will learn about:
- Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving
- Aggressive driving
- Driving emergencies
- Highway safety
- State traffic laws
- Driving in poor weather
- Night driving
- Sharing the road
- Defensive driving techniques
- And more!
Yes. You will need to pass a 50-question final exam with a score of 80% or better. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions, and if you are unsuccessful on your first attempt, you are allowed unlimited retakes. After each attempt you will be provided with all the correct answers and feedback on the questions you missed — so technically, you are guaranteed to pass eventually!
The only way to fail the course is by refusing to complete it. You are allowed to take all quizzes and the final exam as many times as needed, and you’ll always be shown the correct answers with constructive feedback.

However, you can fail the two-part knowledge exam at the DMV and the road skills driving test. Prepare for the knowledge exam by reviewing at least Module 1 — and preferably the entire course. Use the practice exams as many times as you like.

Be sure you are comfortable and confident driving before you attempt the road skills test. Practice, practice, practice — and you should pass with no problem!
The 30-Hour Virginia Homeschool Driver’s Education course is $75. This includes all 12 modules, unlimited practice exams, and the parent/teen course — everything your student needs to complete the state-required online education.
In addition to the online coursework, your child must complete all of the following before applying for their driver’s license:
- The In-Car Maneuvers Observation Record (CSMA 19)
- 7 fifty-minute periods of driving (covering at least 50 miles total)
- 7 fifty-minute periods of observation — your child may observe you driving using the lesson plans in the training module
- No more than 2 periods of instruction in any 24-hour period (1 driving period and 1 observation period)
- At least 45 additional hours of driving, of which at least 15 hours must occur after sunset
We recommend keeping a detailed driving log to track all hours and periods as you go. Your online course includes a parent/teacher guide with further details.
While on a learner permit, your student must always be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old, seated in the front passenger seat. Cell phone use while driving is prohibited, even hands-free.

Once your student receives their provisional driver’s license, additional restrictions apply — including limits on passengers and nighttime driving. We recommend reviewing the Virginia DMV’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) guidelines for the full current rules.
After completing all 12 modules and passing the final exam, your student will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate, along with proof of completed behind-the-wheel driving hours and the required DMV forms, will be needed when your student visits the DMV to take their road skills driving test.

After passing the driving test, the DMV will mail your student’s license to your local judge or court, who will notify you when to appear and exchange the learner permit for the full license.
The course is fully self-paced with no required session minimums. Your student’s progress is saved automatically after every section, so they can pick up right where they left off. We recommend working through the course at a steady pace alongside the required behind-the-wheel practice hours — the two go hand in hand.
Yes — you can track your student’s progress through the course dashboard, which shows completed modules, quiz results, and how many of the 30 hours have been logged. This makes it easy to stay on top of where your student is and coordinate your behind-the-wheel practice sessions accordingly.

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