Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Ed FAQs

Questions about Parent-Taught Drivers Ed in Texas (FAQs)

How to Get Your Texas Drivers License with a Parent-Taught Course

Getting your Texas learner license and first-time drivers license is incredibly exciting…but it can be a bit overwhelming, too! I Drive Safely has you covered with an easy how-to guide outlining all of the steps you’ll need to take—from signing up for your Texas parent-taught drivers ed course to finally holding that new Texas drivers license in your hand.

• STEP 1: Register your parent/guardian to become your instructor for the parent-taught driver education program
• STEP 2: Begin your I Drive Safely parent-taught drivers ed course
• STEP 3: Take your permit exam online with I Drive Safely. Go to your local DPS office to take your vision test, and receive your learners license!
• STEP 4: Continue your parent-taught drivers ed course, and begin your behind-the-wheel instruction
• STEP 5: Complete your I Drive Safely drivers ed course
• STEP 6: Complete your Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) course
• STEP 7: Take your driving exam at the DPS!

STEP 1: Register your parent/guardian to become your instructor for the parent-taught driver education program.

• The instructor should verify they have a driving record in good standing.order copy of you driving record to confirm eligibility to be an instructor.
• The instructor can be a parent, stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian and must meet the following requirements:
• • Must have a valid Texas drivers license for the last three years. Active U.S. military personnel and their spouse may participate as instructors if they hold a valid license from their state of permanent residence or last duty station for the preceding three years.
  • The instructor must have fewer than 6 points on his or her driving record.
  • Cannot have a conviction (including a probated sentence) of criminally negligent homicide or driving while intoxicated.
  • Must have a license that has not been suspended, revoked, or forfeited in the past three years for traffic–related violations.
  • May not be disabled due to mental illness. Questions as to mental stability will be forwarded to the Medical Advisory Board for determination
• Request Your Parent Taught Program Guide by visit the TDLR website.
• Complete the request form and submit the $20 payment to TDLR.
• You will receive your Parent Taught Program Guide in minutes!

STEP 2: Begin your I Drive Safely Texas parent-taught drivers ed course.

Once you complete the first 6 hours of your course, you will receive a 6-hour permit qualification certificate (DE-946E) via email. Wait to continue your course until you complete Step 3!

STEP 3: Take your permit exam online with I Drive Safely. Go to your local DPS office to take your vision test, and receive your learners license!

You will need to bring the following documents with you when applying for your drivers permit:

• Your 6-hour permit qualification certificate (DE-964E)
• Proof of identity (such as a birth certificate)
• Social Security card
• Proof of Texas residency/domicile
• Proof of vehicle registration and insurance
• Completed forms from your parent-taught driver education program guide:
• • Application for Texas driver license (DL-14A)
  • Verification of enrollment and attendance (VOE) form
  • PTDE Program Receipt
• $16 permit fee

You will have 3 opportunities within 90 days to successfully pass your written exam and vision test.

STEP 4: Continue your parent-taught drivers ed course, and begin your behind-the-wheel instruction.

In order for your Texas learner license to remain valid, you must continue with your Texas drivers ed course. Make sure to fill out the driver training logs provided in the Parent Taught Course as you complete your behind-the-wheel instruction. These logs document the amount of time you spend training.

NOTE: You must complete 44 hours of documented behind-the-wheel training, 10 of which must be at night.

STEP 5: Complete your I Drive Safely Drivers Ed course.

After you’ve passed your final exam, we’ll send you a certificate of completion via your chosen delivery method so you can finally earn your Texas drivers license.

Step 6: Complete your Impact Texas Teen Driving (ITTD) Course

As of September 1, 2015, Texans age 16-24 looking to earn their Texas drivers license must also complete a new course from the Texas DPS before taking their road test. Called the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) Program, this free online streaming video course spans 2 hours and is broken into 8 modules that you can view on your own time. Take your time and watch it at your leisure, or power through it and complete the course in one short spurt.

STEP 7: Take your driving exam at the DPS!

You must hold your learner license for a minimum of 6 months and be at least 16 years old before you can get your first-time Texas drivers license. When you’re ready, make sure to bring the following documents to the DPS:

• • Your learner license
  • Your I Drive Safely certificate of completion
  • PTDE Program Receipt
  • Verification of enrollment and attendance (VOE) form
  • Proof of Texas residency/domicile
  • Your vehicle’s proof of registration and insurance
  • $16 provisional license fee

After you have passed your driving skills exam, you will be issued your provisional Texas drivers license! Congratulations!

Questions about Parent-Taught Drivers Ed in Texas (FAQs)

Course Information

Course Information

1. Who needs to take Texas drivers ed? Is there an age requirement?

In Texas, individuals who are between the ages of 14 and 17 are required to take a driver education course to obtain a learner’s permit. The Texas Parent Taught Drivers Ed (PTDE) program is one option for fulfilling this requirement. Individuals must be at least 14 years old to begin the classroom portion of the PTDE, and they must be at least 15 years old to apply for a learner’s permit.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) oversees the driver education requirements in the state, and they have specific guidelines that must be followed. It’s recommended to check with the TDLR or a licensed driving school for the most up-to-date information on age requirements and other eligibility criteria for Texas drivers ed.

2. How does I Drive Safely’s Texas parent-taught drivers ed work?

The TDLR requires that the drivers ed course be at least 24 hours, and stipulates that it can’t be completed in fewer than 5 days. Our course is designed so that students are only able to learn for a maximum of six hours a day, which includes up to two hours of behind-the-wheel instruction per day. This ensures they are truly learning the content and not just clicking through to the end as fast as possible. The information in our course is broken up into units, each covering a specific topic regarding driving in Texas. After your teen completes each unit, they’ll be given a short multiple-choice quiz. At the end of the course, they will be given a 10-question final exam. They will successfully complete the course by passing with an 70% or greater. 

3. What’s the difference between the Texas parent-taught drivers ed course and the Texas TDLR-approved drivers ed course?

In parent-taught drivers ed, the class is led by the parent (or another qualified adult). Your teen will complete 24 hours of online instruction and 44 hours of in-car driving lessons with the parent instructor. You could choose to do the 7 hours of observation and 7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with a local driving school. A parent or qualified adult would still need to do the 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving practice with your teen.   

Instructor-led Drivers Ed

Our DPS/TDLR-approved instructor-led drivers ed course is offered online through our partner brand DriversEd.com. With this course, the student takes the 24

-hour course online (same as parent-taught drivers ed), then they do the 7 hours of observation and 7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with a driving instructor (instead of a parent instructor). A parent or qualified adult would still need to do the 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving practice with the teen.  

4. How do I qualify to be an instructor for Parent-taught drivers ed in Texas?

For parent-taught drivers ed, the driving instructor can be any of the following:

• Parent
• Stepparent
• Grandparent
• Step-grandparent
• Foster Parent
• Legal guardian
• A parent, legal guardian, or a judge of a court with jurisdiction over the student can designate a person to instruct the course who is at least 25 years old and have seven years of driving experience

The instructor must have held a valid Texas driver license for the past three years. If the instructor held an out-of-state drivers license, they will need to provide a copy of their driving record from the last three years. Order a copy of you Driving Record to confirm eligibility to be an instructor.

5. Does your online drivers ed course satisfy Texas DPS requirements?

Yes – our online course is DPS/TDLR-approved and meets all of the state’s requirements needed to get your Texas learners permit.

6. How long will it take me to finish the course?

You may work on our Texas online drivers ed course at your own pace; keep in mind, however, that the state of Texas prohibits participants from finishing the course in less than 5 calendar days.

7. What if I don’t pass the Texas online drivers ed final exam?

No worries. You’re allowed to take the final as many times as you need to pass.

8. How soon will I receive my certificate of completion?

As soon as you complete the course, we will send you your certificate of completion via email.

9. How do I apply for a Texas learner license?

There are a few things you’ll need to get your Texas learners permit.

• AGE: You must be between 15 and 18 years old to apply for your permit.
• 6-Hour Permit Qualification Certificate
• Application for Texas Driver License, DL-14a
• DE-964 Permit Certificate
• Behind the Wheel Instruction Log
• The required fee for Instruction Permit Issuance
• Proof of registration and insurance (if you own the vehicle)
• Proof of identity
• PTDE Program Receipt

• Do I receive a certificate of completion for the ITTD course?

Yes; upon completion you will be sent a certificate that must be presented at the time of your road test. It’s important to note that your certificate expires in 90 days; if you fail to take your road test within that time, you will be required to complete the course ITTD again.

10. What is Roadside Assistance?

At I Drive Safely, we are passionate about creating safe drivers, and it’s with your safety in mind that we teamed up with Allstate Roadside Services to provide I Drive Safely students with three months of free roadside assistance. A great deal and peace of mind? It doesn’t get much better than that.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for your I Drive Safely Drivers Ed or Defensive Driving course.
2. During checkout, be sure to opt in to your free trial of Roadside Assistance. This will set you up with one free month of roadside assistance. Please keep in mind that this enrollment opportunity is only available during checkout – don’t miss out! After your trial ends, your card will be charged $5/month, and you can cancel at any time.
3. Hit the road with peace of mind knowing you are covered with emergency roadside assistance.

What you’ll get:

• Roadside coverage available 24/7, anywhere in the United States
• Anyone in the I Drive Safely driver’s family can use it!
• Digital tools to help you get the right service fast
• Towing, fuel delivery, lockout service, and more!
• For more information about the benefits involved, check out our terms and conditions page.

Got more questions? Contact our dedicated I Drive Safely Roadside Assistance line:

Phone: 888-292-0599

Email: roadside@idrivesafely.com

11. I have questions about my Roadside Assistance. Who should I contact?

Contact our dedicated I Drive Safely Roadside Assistance line:

Phone: 888-292-0599

Email: roadside@idrivesafely.com

If you need to use your Roadside Assistance Benefits, contact Allstate Roadside Services directly at 1-855-520-3691.

12. How do I cancel my Roadside Assistance?

If you would like to cancel your Roadside Assistance, simply contact our dedicated Roadside Assistance agents.

Phone: 888-292-0599

Email: roadside@idrivesafely.com