Military Families and Driver Education
Q. We are a military family, and I don’t have a Virginia driver’s license. Can I teach my child to drive?
A. Military homeschooling families in Virginia teaching driver education do not need to obtain a Virginia driver’s license if their current license is valid. Homeschool families can teach the behind-the-wheel portion of driver’s education; the DMV form requires that parents of resident families hold a valid Virginia driver’s license.
Military families should do the following:
- Fill out the form using information from their current license.
- Write a cover letter explaining that they are military.
- Supply a copy of the driving record from the current valid state license.
- Mail the information and the other required documents for behind-the-wheel training to the main DMV office in Richmond as described on our website for driver’s education.
DO NOT take the forms or letters to a local DMV. They have no authority to make exceptions. It should take one to three weeks to process.
If you are denied, please contact HEAV at military@heav.org for assistance.
Department of Motor Vehicles
Commercial Licensing Work Center
P. O. Box 27412
Richmond, VA 23269-0001
Obtaining a Driving Record from the Issuing State
1. The DMV
Request an official copy of your driving record in person or by mail through the DMV of the state that issued your driver’s license.
The DMV does not provide expedited processing for driving records, so order it early.
You can receive an unofficial copy of your driving record instantly online.
Depending on your state, requesting your official driving record can cost about $10. Unofficial copies cost less.
Paying in person: DMV offices only accept cash, checks, money orders, or ATM/debit cards.
They do not accept credit cards.
2. Auto Insurance Agents
Auto insurance agents also have access to your driving report.
Agencies can review your information and provide an unofficial driving report.
Ask your insurance agent for a free copy of your official driver’s record. (Not all can provide that, but it’s worth asking.)
3. Online Third-Party Vendors
This is the fastest, but also the most expensive and often less reliable option.
Reports may be less accurate than driving records from the DMV or insurance providers.
Verify whether the vendor can obtain an official report beforehand.
Q. We are a military family, and I don’t have a Virginia driver’s license. Can I teach my child to drive?
A. Military homeschooling families in Virginia teaching driver education do not need to obtain a Virginia driver’s license if their current license is valid. Homeschool families can teach the behind-the-wheel portion of driver’s education;The DMV form requires resident families’ parents to hold a valid Virginia driver’s license.
Military families should fill out the form with the information from their current license and write a cover letter explaining they are military. They should include any additional information from their current valid state license. Mail the information and the other required documents for behind-the-wheel training to the main DMV office in Richmond as described on our website for driver’s education.
DO NOT take the forms or letters to a local DMV. They have no authority to make exceptions. It should take one to three weeks to process.
If you are denied, please contact HEAV at military@heav.org for assistance.
Regards,
Yvonne Bunn
HEAV Government Affairs Senior Advisor
