Frequently Asked Questions

You need a current valid Texas driver's license with at least 3 years of driving history, no DWI conviction in the past 7 years, no license suspension or revocation in the past 3 years, and fewer than 6 points on your license. DPS checks your record when your teen applies for their learner license and again for their provisional license.

A stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian can serve as the instructor under the same requirements as a parent. If none of them are eligible, a parent can designate another adult who is at least 25 years old with 7 or more years of driving experience.

You'll need to get a current Texas driver's license first, but your out-of-state or international driving history counts toward the 3-year experience requirement. You'll need an official driving record from the issuing state or country, translated into English if international.

It depends on the timing. You cannot have a suspension, revocation, or forfeiture for traffic violations in the past 3 years. If more than 3 years have passed since reinstatement and you have no other disqualifying offenses, you should be eligible. For DWI convictions, the lookback is 7 years.

Yes. One instructor can teach multiple students. Each teen needs their own course enrollment ($60) and their own PTDE Packet from TDLR ($20 each). Driving hours are logged separately for each student.

Your parent or legal guardian can designate another eligible adult -- like an aunt, uncle, or family friend -- as the instructor. That person must be at least 25 years old with 7 or more years of driving experience and meet all the standard requirements. If no one is available, the alternative is enrolling in an instructor-taught course at a traditional driving school.

Yes. Every parent-taught student must purchase a PTDE Packet from TDLR for $20. This is a state requirement regardless of which course provider you use. The packet is delivered by email instantly. Our $60 course fee is separate.

Yes. After your teen completes the first 6 hours (Lesson 1), they take our in-course DPS written exam -- 30 questions, 70% to pass, 60-minute time limit. Pass it and you can download the Learner License Certificate immediately. No separate written test at the DPS.

The Learner License Certificate is available as soon as your teen finishes 6 hours and passes the written exam. The Provisional Driver License Certificate unlocks after completing all 24 classroom hours, subject to a short state-mandated pacing period. Both are instant PDF downloads -- print and bring to the DPS.

Yes. The PTDE packet must be received before you can begin the behind-the-wheel phase. The good news: TDLR delivers packets by email instantly, so you can order it and start the course the same day.

There is no set expiration -- you get access from the day you purchase with no deadline to complete. Most families finish the 24 hours of classroom instruction in 2-4 weeks, but your teen can go faster or slower. The behind-the-wheel hours are logged separately over 6+ months.

Practice quizzes can be retaken unlimited times. The in-course DPS exam has a 24-hour cooldown after a failed attempt, then your teen can try again at no extra cost. Most students pass on the first or second try.

No. DE-964 certificates do not expire. However, the learner permit itself is valid for 2 years from the date it's issued at the DPS. If it expires before your teen gets their provisional license, they'll need to reapply for the permit.

Texas requires 44 total behind-the-wheel hours: 7 hours of instruction, 7 hours of observation, and 30 hours of practice (at least 10 at night). Daily limits apply -- instruction is capped at 2 hours per day, observation at 4 hours per day (combined instruction + observation cannot exceed 4 hours per day), and practice at 2 hours per day. Plan on spreading these out over several months.

Yes. All 44 driving hours must be completed after your teen receives their learner license from the DPS. Hours logged before the permit date do not count. Get the learner license first, then start logging.

The 14 hours of instruction and observation must be supervised by the designated instructor listed on your PTDE Packet. The remaining 30 practice hours can be supervised by any licensed driver who is at least 21 and has held their license for at least one year -- a grandparent, other parent, or family friend all qualify.

Our course includes a built-in digital driving log that automatically enforces daily limits and tracks progress toward all 44 hours. Log entries in 15-minute increments right from your dashboard. The parent instructor can also log hours directly using the Parent Dashboard link.

Yes. You can use any properly insured vehicle that can be legally operated with a Class C license. Many families switch between cars depending on the skill being practiced. Just log the hours accurately.

You do not need to be a professional. The course walks you through the full process, and the built-in driving log keeps you on track with all the hour requirements. Start with low-traffic areas like parking lots and neighborhood streets, then work up gradually.

Our course is $60 one-time -- no subscriptions, no hidden fees. You'll also need the PTDE Packet from TDLR ($20) and standard DPS application fees for the learner license and provisional license. Total out-of-pocket is under $120.

We offer a full refund within 30 days of purchase, as long as no certificate has been issued. Contact support and we'll process it promptly -- no hoops to jump through.

Any device with a web browser -- phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. Your teen's progress syncs automatically, so they can start on a computer and pick up on their phone.

Many insurers offer a discount for completing state-approved driver education. The DE-964 Provisional Driver License Certificate your teen earns after finishing the full course is your proof of completion -- send a copy to your insurance agent to check eligibility.

Yes, but some hours may not transfer. Practice hours (the 30 hours with any licensed adult) carry over. However, Texas law requires the 14 instruction hours and remaining classroom hours to each be completed under one program -- so previous instruction hours from a driving school won't count toward your PTDE program.