Texas Drivers Ed Book Online

Start Earning Your License with Texas Teen Drivers Ed for Ages 14+. Our online Texas teen drivers ed course is the most convenient and effective way to learn the rules of the road and earn your Texas drivers license! Required by the DPS for teens 14 to 17 years old, Texas teen drivers education prepares you for the knowledge test and in-car lessons. Jan 01, 2019  How Texas Online Drivers Education Works In 2019. While some minor changes took place since last year, Texas online drivers education requirements have remained about the same. Fortunately, Texas is just about the most friendly state when it comes to home-based drivers ed. Sep 15, 2018  Texas Senate Bill 1317 specifies that adult driver education is only for adults; you must be 18 years old to enroll in the course. Can I take a Defensive Driving course instead of the Adult Driver Ed course? Texas Defensive Driving is a driver safety course used to dismiss a traffic ticket or lower your insurance premiums. Adults between the. The Texas Driver’s Handbook is an essential tool for anyone preparing to apply for a learners permit or a first time drivers license. The handbook will also benefit current residents of Texas whose drivers license has been expired for an extended period of time (more than two years) and new Texas residents that need to get a Texas license. Texas law requires persons under 18 to successfully complete a state-approved course in driver education as part of Phase I of the Graduated Driver Licensing process. Driver Education combined with parental involvement and supervision is the key to keeping new drivers safe on the road. Download the official TX DMV driver’s manual PDF or view online Whether you are getting a learners permit or a drivers license you know just how important being a licensed driver is to your future. All residents of Texas looking to become licensed drivers must.

To complete Driver's Ed in Texas, you must:
  • Be at least 14 years old.
  • Finish 32 hours of classroom instruction.
  • Complete 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving practice.

Ready to learn more? Keep reading!

Driver's education is an invaluable resource for anybody who wants to be a smarter, safer, and more responsible driver. Driver's Ed teaches the importance of traffic safety and road awareness and it can also be an excellent refresher for those who are more seasoned drivers.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) requires the completion of Driver's Ed in order to obtain your first driver's license if you're 24 years old or younger.

Texas Drivers Ed Book Online Indiana

Texas Driver's Ed Eligibility Requirements

Once you turn 14 years old, you can start the classroom phase of a TX driver's education course, but you'll have to wait until you're 15 years old to apply for your learner's permit.

New to Texas?

If you're new to Texas and already took teen Driver's Ed at your school in your previous state, it may be possible to transfer those credits to Texas.

You'll need a letter from your previous school written on their letterhead that confirms the amount of hours you completed in the classroom and behind the wheel.

If you have any questions about making a transfer, please call (512) 424-2600.

Don't Forget an Online Practice Test

An ideal compliment to your Driver's Ed course is preparing for a Texas DPS written exam with an online practice test. These industry-leading study helpers have been developed from content sourced directly from the TX Driver Handbook. It's like having the answers before you take the test!

About Your Texas Driver's Ed Course

In Texas, Driver's Ed is mandatory if you are a first-time driver 24 years old and younger. Depending on your age, you will have different requirements for Driver's Ed.

Under 18 Years Old

If you're under 18 years old, your Driver's Ed course must include:

  • At least 32 hours of classroom instruction. This must be completed over at least 16 days.
  • 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training. These hours include:
    • 7 hours of in-car observation.
    • 10 hours of night driving.

NOTE: The required 32 hours of classroom instruction may vary depending on your course provider.

18 to 24 Years Old

If you're 18 through 24 years old, your Driver's Ed course must include:

  • 6 hours of classroom instruction (can be completed online).
  • 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training; not required if enrolled in an adult Driver's Ed course. These hours include:
    • 7 hours of in-car observation.
    • 10 hours of night driving.

You are also required to take an Impact Texas Driver course.

The road to your license starts here

Online Driver's Ed for

Our course helps you learn quickly and easily, using state-specific questions and easy-to-understand answers.

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  • Save 80% off traditional drivers ed
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Types of Driver's Ed in Texas

In Texas, there are driver's education courses for both teens and adults.

Teen Driver's Ed

Teen Driver's Ed can be taken:

  • Through a traditional driver's education course offered by a licensed driver training school (this can be online or in person).
  • At your public school.
  • At home throughparent-taught driver education (PTDE).

Your qualified instructor must:

  • Have a driver's license in good standing.
  • Have less than 6 points on their driver record.
  • Have never been convicted of or received a sentence for DUI, DWI, or a criminally negligent homicide.
  • Not be disabled due to a mental illness.

NOTE: If your instructor has lived outside of Texas during any part of the last 3 years, they must provide the TX DMV with a certified abstract driver record from their previous state when you apply for a driver's license.

Adult Driver's Ed

If you're between 18 through 24 years old, you have the choice between one of the following Texas driver's education options:

  • Adult Driver's Ed classroom instruction (can also be taken online).
    OR
  • Traditional driver's education, which includes behind-the-wheel training.

See “ About Your Driver's Ed Course' above for details on each of these options.

You are also required to take an Impact Texas Driver course.

Impact Texas Drivers

The Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program is a DPS-required educational program that helps motorists understand the impacts of distracted driving. The program is split into 2 categories depending on your age and what sort of driver's education course you took. Read on for details on the program.

Impact Texas Teen Drivers

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) is a free, 2 hour video that some drivers must view before taking their driving skills exam. You must view this video if:

  • You are 15 through 17 years old and have complete a teen driver's education course or a PTDE.
  • You are 18 through 24 years old and have completed a teen driver's education course.

After viewing the video, you will be e-mailed an ITTD certificate of completion. The certificate must be printed out and presented at your driving skills test within 90 days of completion or you must start the program over.

To register for and view the ITTD program, visit the state's Impact Texas Drivers website.

Impact Texas Young Drivers

Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD) is a free, 1 hour video that some drivers must view before taking their driving skills exam. You must view the ITYD video if:

  • You are 18 through 24 years old and older who have completed the adult driver's education course.
  • You are 25 years old or over and may or may not have completed the driver's education course.

After viewing the video, you will be e-mailed an ITYD certificate of completion. The certificate must be printed out and presented at your driving skills test within 90 days of completion or you must start the program over.

To register for and view the ITYD program, visit the state's Texas Impact Drivers website.

After Driver's Ed – What's Next?

Once you complete your Texas Driver's Ed course, your course provider will provide you with a Certificate of Completion (Form DE-964) that you'll need to bring to a Texas DPS office when you apply for your learner's permit.

You'll have to wait until you turn 15 years old to apply for your TX learner's permit. For more information, refer to our Drivers Permits in Texas page.

Forms

DE-964
Driver Education Certificate
Submit this certificate to DPS after completing an approved teen driver education course as part of applying for your Texas driver's license. Must be obtained from your driver education provider. Not available online.

This form is provided by your state's agency/department.

Please select one of the below to continue:

Email the link to this form

Related Tasks & Topics

- Appointments

- Change of Address

- Lost License

- New License

- REAL ID

- Renew License

- Take a Practice Test

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Take your DriversEd.com State-Approved Course Online and Ace Your DMV Exam!

1. Enroll in an Online Drivers Education Course

Drivers ed online courses are available to first-time drivers in Texas who wish to maximize convenience and fulfill state requirements. Texas drivers education course completion is required to obtain a learners permit within the state and begin behind-the-wheel training. DMV.com's trusted partner for online driver's education is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. DriversEd.com is America's #1 online driving school and offers courses that meet all of the local TX requirements, including the written test required by the DPS and providing you with a free permit license certificate upon completion. After enrolling in our recommended course, you will be able to enjoy all of the advantages of traditional drivers ed on your own schedule and on any computer or mobile device.

2. Parent-Taught Drivers Education

First-time driver classes can also be completed via parent-taught instruction, so long as permission is obtained from the Department of Public Safety. Requirements for these driving classes are the same as those for driving classes online in Texas, and the results of course completion are also the same. Completion of the instructional portion of the parent-taught driving course will result in the issuance of a learners permit. Furthermore, the parent-taught course includes in-car instruction as well. These behind-the-wheel driving lessons cannot commence until the student obtains this driving permit. Thereafter, when the student driver is at least 16 years old and has held the permit for a minimum of six months, he or she can apply for a full drivers license.

3. Traditional In-Person Courses

If drivers ed online courses are not an option for you, traditional driving classes with approved instructors are also available in Texas. First time driving with instructors can be inconvenient for students, as these courses are only offered in certain locations and at certain times of the day. Thus, most students prefer to enroll in online driving courses, because of the inflexibility of traditional driving schools in Texas.

Take your DriversEd.com State-Approved Course Online and Ace Your DMV Exam!

All state motorists who are younger than 24 years of age are required to take a Texas drivers education course before obtaining a license to drive for the first time. Fortunately, the classes are available in a variety of forms and price ranges. For instance, first-time motorists can learn skills from their parents, undergo a program in high school, sign up for a drivers ed online course or attend classes at a local third-party institution.

The prices, lengths and general curriculum of a TX drivers ed course will vary depending on which provider you opt for. However, there are general information that is provided by the majority of these programs. In any case, it is important for the course of your choice to be approved by the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS). To learn more about classroom-based and online drivers ed courses available in Texas, read the sections below.

Who needs to take drivers ed in Texas?

Both the teen drivers ed course and the adult drivers education program are required for first-time motorists in Texas. The teen course is required for students between 14 to 17 years of age, while the adult course is required for drivers who are older than 18 years of age but younger than 25 years of age.

Additionally, motorists who already have their license but are younger than 18 years of age must undergo a Texas driver ed class. Then, they will be issued a provisional license to drive. Furthermore, while young drivers may enroll in TX drivers education at 14 years of age, they may not qualify for a learner’s permit until their 15th birthday.

Types of Drivers Ed Classes in Texas

There are three kinds of driver education programs in Texas that are accepted by the Department of Public Safety (DPS): a traditional in-classroom program, a driving classes offered in public schools and parent-taught drivers ed. In any case, DPS-approved programs are available both in person or as online drivers ed courses, suiting the preferences of each student on a case-by-case basis.

Texas Online Drivers Ed vs. In-Person Courses

If you are planning to attend a third-party drivers ed school in Texas, you may be torn between deciding on a classroom or online course. While there are some advantages to attending a classroom course, most students find the flexibility of online courses works better in their schedule. Some of the key differences between the two types are detailed below.

Traditional Drivers EdOnline Drivers Ed
More expensiveLower cost
Scheduled courseCompleted on your timeline
Classroom-basedCan be accessed from any device with an internet connection
Drivers ed test must be taken at a DPS branchOfficial test included in online course

What will you learn in a Texas drivers ed school?

First-time motorists in Texas are allowed to attend classes or learn to drive from their parents, so the information covered in drivers education classes can vary widely depending on each type of course. However, the TX Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has a set of standards that new drivers must be aware of. Overall the following required topics must be covered in all TLDR-approved DMV drivers ed courses:

  • State traffic laws.
  • Safe driving habits.
  • The penalties for aggressive driving and driving under the influence.
  • The meanings of common road signs.
  • Vehicle maintenance.

Texas Drivers Education Requirements

All adult drivers ed classes in Texas must be six hours long. Moreover, teen driver classes are required to be at least 32 hours long. In the case of parent-taught programs, these hours are extended even further.

Texas Drivers Ed Online Rules

It is important to note that all first-time motorists must complete the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program. That is because a certificate proving the completion of this course is required for applicants to qualify to take a skills test or apply for a driver’s license in the state. Overall, there are two ways to complete the ITD requirement.

First, there is a two-hour video included within the Impact Texas Teen Driver course. Secondly, there is the free one-hour video on distracted driving featured on the Impact Texas Young Drivers program. Once a driver has received an ITD certificate of completion, he or she has 90 days to pass the skills test and apply for a driver license.

Benefits of a Texas Driver Education Course

The clearest benefit of TX drivers ed is that it helps new motorists get their learners permits and progress to obtaining a proper license. However, there are many additional benefits to taking a drivers education course, including:

  • High school credit. Students who take high school drivers ed earn school credit for attending the class.
  • Insurance discounts. Young drivers who attend Texas drivers education schools tend to be safer motorists. Consequently, various auto insurance companies offer insurance discounts to drivers who completed a course.
  • A safe way to learn to drive. Taking a drivers ed course gives students a safe place to learn to drive. As such, many schools step up obstacles courses to teach students about operating a vehicle in a mistake-proof environment.
  • More likely to pass the DMV exams. Routine studying guarantees that a student is more likely to pass the written and skills tests than if they had taken them unprepared.

How to Enroll in a Texas Driver Ed School

When deciding whether to take an adult drivers ed online or in person, you do not need to report to the Texas DPS. However, you will need to select an education plan from an approved list. It is important to note that even parent-taught courses require parents to purchase an approved course from the TX Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

Texas Drivers Ed Book Online

Parent-Taught Drivers Ed

In order to enroll in a parent-taught drivers ed (PTDE) program in Texas, you must download the PTDE packet from the state TDLR, as well as purchase an approved PTDE course online. Overall, parents, grandparents or legal guardians are responsible for filling out the affidavits included in the PTDE packet. Moreover, parents or guardians must be present at the DMV for a young driver to apply for a license.

Third-Party School

To enroll at a driver’s ed school, you must either find a DPS-approved online course or an in-classroom course provider near you. Generally, most providers allow you to enroll online. However, classroom courses will require you to select the specific classes you will attend, as well as their times and dates. Alternatively, online providers such as DriversEd.com only require a name, email and payment method before you can begin your course.

High School Drivers Ed

Texas Drivers License Handbook

If a teen driving school is offered through your high school, you may enroll in the class via the school’s online or through a guidance counselor. In general, drivers ed programs are offered as electives. Thus, you will be responsible for deciding if a particular program suits your class load.

Free Texas Driver Handbook

Texas DMV Drivers Ed Certificates

All DPS-approved drivers education schools in Texas provide official certification of completion. This document must be presented to the state DPS for applicants to obtain a license or permit. Additionally, students are encouraged to save a copy of the certificate for their own records.

Overall, TX requires proof of drivers education completion for new state residents applying for a license. Therefore, in the event of relocation, a certificate proving the completion of a drivers ed course may be required to apply for a new state license.

Certain providers, such as DriversEd.com, issue a certificate completion for free for all students. Moreover, this program mails the certificate on a priority basis within one business day, so that students may apply for their license as soon as possible.

Drivers Ed for New Texas Residents

If first-time motorists between 18 and 24 years of age relocate to Texas, they may take an adult drivers ed online class. Alternatively, drivers younger than 25 years of age who are relocating to TX are required to provide proof they completed a drivers ed course in a different state. In the case of new residents who are older than 25 years of age, it is important to note that they must complete the ITD requirement in order to get a new Texas-issued driver’s license.

Motorists younger than 18 years of age who relocate to the state must attend a Texas teen driving school, even if they have a valid license from another state. Therefore, teen drivers may not transfer their license to TX. Instead, the driver will be required to provide proof he or she completed a drivers ed course and apply for a learner’s permit. Furthermore, they will be required to complete the ITD requirement and hold the permit for six months before being granted a provisional license.

Texas Online Driving School Adult

Texas Drivers Ed vs. Traffic School

When enrolling in Texas drivers ed online classes, it is important to distinguish it from traffic school. While drivers ed is intended to help first-time drivers get a license, traffic school and defensive driving courses are for residents who already hold a driving credential. TX drivers ed covers the important topics that students need to know for their written and road skills tests, whereas traffic school is a state-required program that may lower auto insurance costs or reduce the penalty for traffic tickets.

Texas Drivers Ed Book Online

Texas Driver Education Fees

Drivers ed prices in Texas vary depending on the particular type of program or course provider. For example, if your school does not offer drivers ed, or if you would rather take a class with a licensed driver education school, fees will vary based on the program you attend.

Last updated on Friday, May 17 2019.

Sources

  1. Choosing a Driver Education Course from Texas.gov
  2. Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program from Texas.gov