TEXAS DRIVER’S Education Online

Texas Online Driver Education

Texas Teen Driver Education: What You Need to Know

Texas uses a Graduated Driver License program to give teen drivers time to build knowledge and driving experience before receiving unrestricted driving privileges. You can begin the classroom portion of driver education at age 14, apply for a learner license at 15, and become eligible for a provisional license at 16 after meeting the required education, practice, testing, and holding-period requirements.

For teens under 18, Texas requires an approved driver education course as part of the licensing process. Texas provides different ways to complete driver education, including instruction through a licensed driver education school, public-school driver education, and Parent-Taught Driver Education.

Your Texas Licensing Path at a Glance

• Start driver education: You may begin the classroom portion at age 14.
• Get your learner license: You must be at least 15 and meet Texas education, testing, identification, and school-enrollment requirements.
• Practice driving: Hold your learner license for at least six months and complete the required behind-the-wheel instruction and supervised practice.
• Get your provisional license: At 16 or older, complete the remaining requirements and pass the driving skills test.
• Move beyond provisional restrictions: The provisional restrictions apply while you are under 18.

Choose the Texas Driver Education Path That Fits Your Family

Texas allows teens to complete driver education through more than one approved pathway. The main distinction is how the required driving instruction is provided.

Parent-Taught Driver Education

With Parent-Taught Driver Education, an eligible parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian can teach the teen's driving instruction after meeting the applicable Texas requirements. The parent instructor must obtain the official PTDE Program Guide from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before beginning the program.

The classroom portion still comes from an approved driver education course provider. Parent-taught instruction does not eliminate the state's education or driving requirements.

Teen Driver Education Through a Licensed School

A teen can also complete driver education through a licensed driver education school. The classroom portion and required in-car instruction must meet Texas requirements, while the additional supervised practice hours are completed with an eligible supervising adult.

Whichever approved pathway you choose, the goal is the same: complete the required education and driving experience so you can progress through Texas's graduated licensing process.

How to Get a Texas Learner License

Step 1: Complete the Required Driver Education

You can begin the classroom phase at age 14. Texas requires approved driver education for teens under 18, and you will need the appropriate Texas driver education certificate when applying for your learner license.

The specific classroom requirement depends on the driver education method you choose. Texas TDLR materials describe the Block Method as requiring completion of the classroom phase before obtaining the learner license, while the Concurrent Method permits the learner-license process after the required initial classroom hours.

Step 2: Apply for Your Learner License at 15

Once you are at least 15 and have met the applicable driver education requirement, you can apply for your Texas learner license through the Department of Public Safety.

You should be prepared to provide the documents DPS requires, which can include:

• Your Texas driver education certificate
• Proof of identity and lawful presence
• Proof of Texas residency
• Your Social Security number
• A high school diploma, GED, or required Verification of Enrollment and Attendance documentation
• Evidence of passing the knowledge exam when it was not completed through your driver education course
• Parental or guardian authorization when required
• Any other documents or information requested by DPS

You must also complete the vision examination, provide biometric information, have your photograph taken, and pay the applicable fee.

Step 3: Practice With Your Learner License

A Texas learner license allows you to practice driving, but it does not allow you to drive by yourself. A licensed adult who is at least 21 years old must be in the front passenger seat while you are driving.

Your learner license generally must be held for at least six months before you can qualify for a provisional license if you are under 18. A suspension during the learner period can extend the required holding period.

Complete Your Behind-the-Wheel Training and Practice

Getting your learner license is only one part of becoming licensed. You also need to complete the required in-car instruction and supervised driving practice.

Texas requires:

• 7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction
• 7 hours of in-car observation
• 30 additional hours of supervised driving practice
• At least 10 of those 30 practice hours must take place at night

The additional 30 hours are monitored by a parent or guardian and must be completed with an eligible adult who is at least 21 years old and meets the applicable Texas requirements.

These requirements are designed to give you experience applying what you learned in driver education to actual driving situations.

Complete ITTD Before Your Driving Test

Before taking your Texas driving skills test, you must complete the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) program if you are required to complete it as a teen driver.

ITTD is a free program provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety that addresses the dangers of distracted driving. The program must be completed after the required behind-the-wheel driver education and before the skills examination. Its certificate is valid for 90 days, so you should complete ITTD close enough to your driving test that the certificate remains valid.

You must provide proof of completion to the testing entity before taking the skills examination.

Get Your Texas Provisional License

You may qualify for a Texas provisional license when you are at least 16, have held your learner license for at least six months, and have completed the required driver education, behind-the-wheel training, supervised practice, ITTD, and driving test.

When you apply, DPS requires the applicable driver education certificate and other documentation. If you take the driving test through an authorized third-party provider, the testing results must be submitted according to DPS procedures. If you take the test at a DPS driver license office, you must meet the vehicle registration and insurance requirements for the test vehicle.

Texas Provisional License Restrictions

A provisional license lets you drive independently, but restrictions apply while you are under 18.

Generally, you may not:

• Drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m., except for qualifying work, school activities, or emergencies
• Carry more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member
• Use a cell phone or other wireless communication device while driving, including hands-free use, except in an emergency

These restrictions are part of Texas's Graduated Driver License system and are intended to limit higher-risk driving situations for new teen drivers.

Parent-Taught Driver Education in Texas

Parent-Taught Driver Education gives qualifying families another way to complete the driving portion of a teen's education.

Before beginning, the parent instructor must obtain the official PTDE Program Guide from TDLR and meet the applicable eligibility requirements. TDLR explains that PTDE has the same education and driving requirements as driver education completed through a licensed school or public school.

The parent instructor is responsible for following the PTDE requirements and working with the approved course provider and Texas agencies throughout the process.

Texas Auto Insurance Requirements

Texas requires drivers to maintain financial responsibility for accidents they cause. Most drivers meet this requirement by carrying liability insurance.

The state's minimum liability limits are:

• $30,000 for bodily injury to one person
• $60,000 for bodily injury per accident
• $25,000 for property damage per accident

This minimum is commonly called 30/60/25 coverage.

Online Texas Driver Education With Teendrivingcourse

Teendrivingcourse.com offers Texas online driver education options, including teen driver education and Parent-Taught Driver Education. Its current Texas information states that its online teen course satisfies the Texas classroom requirement and identifies Texas TDLR approval information for its programs.

Before enrolling, make sure you select the Texas program that matches the licensing pathway you intend to follow. Your online classroom course is only one part of the overall process; you must also complete the applicable in-car instruction, supervised practice, licensing requirements, and testing required by Texas.

Texas Permit Test and Driver Education

The Texas licensing process includes a knowledge examination. Depending on the driver education method and course you complete, the knowledge test may be completed as part of the driver education process or at the DPS office. DPS requires evidence of passing the knowledge examination when it was not already completed through the classroom portion.

Review your course materials and the current Texas Driver Handbook as you prepare for the knowledge test. Always follow the current instructions from the Texas Department of Public Safety when scheduling your licensing appointment and testing.