Help Category: Behind The Wheel

This log is used to mark the 7 Hours of In-Car Observation and 7 Hours of Behind-the-Wheel Training with your designated instructor.

This log is used to mark the 30 hours of practice with any person 21 years of age or older that has had their license for at least a year.

Yes, if you prefer, your teen can complete the 14 hours of in-car observation and behind-the-wheel instruction with a licensed commercial driving school instead of the designated Parent Instructor after completing the ParentTaught.com online classroom portion. Here’s how:

Steps to Transfer BTW Instruction to a Driving School

1. Complete ParentTaught.com Classroom Hours: The student must complete all twelve ParentTaught.com online course lessons (1-12) and earn both the Learner License DE-964 Certificate and the Provisional Driver License DE-964 Certificate.
2. Obtain a Transfer Certificate:
   • Log in to the ParentTaught.com course.
   • Navigate to the “Resources” tab on the course page.
   • Select the “Transfer to a driving school” option.
   • Enter the name and address of the driving school you are transferring to.
   • A DE-964 Transfer Certificate will be emailed to you. Print this certificate.
3. Provide Certificate to Driving School: Give the printed DE-964 Transfer Certificate to the chosen commercial driving school. They will then provide the 14 hours of in-car observation and behind-the-wheel instruction.
4. Complete Remaining Requirements: Even if a driving school provides the 14 hours of instruction, your teen must still:
   • Complete the 30 hours of supervised practice driving (including 10 night hours) with a qualified licensed adult (this is typically still done with a parent/guardian).
   • Hold their Learner License for at least 6 months (unless they turn 18 sooner).
   • Complete the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) program within 90 days of their driving test.
5. Take the Driving Test: Pass the driving test at the DPS or an approved third-party skills testing provider to get their Provisional Driver License.

Important Note: You still need a designated Parent Instructor listed on your PTDE Program Guide Packet from the TDLR, even if you plan to use a commercial driving school for the 14 hours of formal instruction. The PTDE program framework requires this.

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NO, you are not allowed to drive alone with a Texas Learner’s Permit!

You must drive with an adult that is at least 21 years old that has their license!

No, you can begin driving after you get your learner’s permit. The course is structured as ‘Concurrent’ which means that you can drive (with an adult) with your Learner License. There are different ways of completing everything, here are some examples, pick whichever works best for your situation!

• Complete a Lesson one day & drive the next day
• Complete all the Lessons & then start driving
• Complete your driving hours & then complete the Lessons

After your teen obtains their Learner License from the DPS, they can begin the required behind-the-wheel (BTW) driving hours. A total of 44 hours must be completed and logged.

Breakdown of the 44 BTW Hours

The 44 hours are divided into two main categories:

1. Instruction & Observation (14 Hours Total) – With Designated Parent Instructor

These 14 hours must be supervised by the official Parent Instructor listed on the PTDE Program Guide Packet.

• In-Car Observation (7 hours): The student sits in the passenger seat observing while the Parent Instructor drives and demonstrates specific driving points.
  • Daily Limit: A maximum of 4 hours of observation can be logged per day.
• Behind-the-Wheel Instruction (7 hours): The student drives while the Parent Instructor is in the passenger seat, providing instruction and guidance.
  • Daily Limit: A maximum of 2 hours of BTW instruction can be logged per day.

Combined Daily Limit for Instruction/Observation: A maximum of 4 hours total (combining observation and instruction) can be logged per day with the Parent Instructor.

2. Behind-the-Wheel Practice (30 Hours Total) – With a Qualified Licensed Adult

These 30 hours are for additional supervised practice.

• Supervisor Requirements: The student drives with a passenger who is at least 21 years old and has held a valid driver license for a minimum of one year. This can be the Parent Instructor or another qualified adult.
• Night Driving: At least 10 of these 30 practice hours must be completed at night (defined as 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise).
• Daily Limit: A maximum of 2 hours of practice driving can be logged per day.

Logging Your Hours

You can log these driving hours using:

• The online driving log tool within the ParentTaught.com course (found in the “Complete Driving Hours” step).
• Or, by hand using the official TDLR paper forms:
  • 14-Hour Instruction and Observation Log (DL-91B)
  • 30-Hour Practice Log

The completed driving log (either printed from our tool or the filled-out paper forms) must be presented to the DPS when applying for the Provisional Driver License.

For more details and resources, including lesson plans for the instruction hours, please refer to the “Complete Driving Hours” step in the ParentTaught.com course.

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You can begin driving once you have obtained your Texas Learner’s Permit. Remember you will need to have someone in the passenger seat that is at least 21 years old and has a valid driver license