The 44-Hour Requirement
Texas requires 44 total hours of supervised behind-the-wheel time before a teen can get their provisional license. These hours are tracked on two separate driving logs, each with its own rules about who can supervise and how many hours count per day.
The two logs are the 14-hour instruction log (DL-91B) and the 30-hour practice log. Together they add up to 44 hours. The 10 required night hours are part of the 30-hour log — they are not in addition to the 44 total.
14-Hour Instruction Log (DL-91B)
This log covers formal instruction with the designated parent instructor — the person named on your TDLR packet. No one else can supervise these hours. The 14 hours are split into two equal parts:
- 7 hours of observation — the student rides in the passenger seat and watches the parent instructor drive. This teaches route planning, hazard awareness, and decision-making before the student takes the wheel.
- 7 hours of behind-the-wheel — the student drives with the parent instructor in the passenger seat providing guidance.
Daily limits
- Maximum 2 hours of driving instruction per day
- Maximum 4 hours combined (instruction + observation) per day
With the daily caps, it takes a minimum of 4 days to complete the 14-hour instruction log.
30-Hour Practice Log
The 30-hour practice log is more flexible. Any adult age 21 or older with a valid driver's license held for at least one year can supervise — it does not have to be the designated instructor. This means the other parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or any other qualifying adult can take your teen out to practice.
Rules for the 30-hour log
- Supervisor must be 21+ with a valid license held for 1+ year
- Maximum 2 hours counted per day
- At least 10 hours must be at night
- All driving must be between 5:00 AM and 11:00 PM
With the 2-hour daily cap, it takes a minimum of 15 days to complete the 30-hour practice log.
Night Driving Requirement
At least 10 of the 30 practice hours must be driven at night. Texas defines "night" as 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. These 10 hours are part of the 30-hour total, not extra hours on top of it.
Night driving is an important skill. Reduced visibility, headlight glare, and fatigue all create challenges that new drivers need to practice handling. Start with well-lit streets and work up to darker roads as your teen gains confidence.
The Real Timeline
Here is the part that catches most families off guard: even if you finish all 44 hours quickly, your teen cannot get their provisional license until they have held the learner permit for at least 6 months and are at least 16 years old.
For example, if your teen gets their permit at age 15 and a half, they would need to wait until they turn 16 (6 months later). If they get their permit at 15, they would wait the full 6 months and then still need to reach their 16th birthday. The 6-month clock starts from the date on the permit, not the date you started the course.
This waiting period is actually a good thing. Use it to spread out driving practice across different conditions — rain, highway driving, heavy traffic, parking lots, night driving. The more varied experience your teen gets before solo driving, the safer they will be.
Logging Your Hours
Every driving session needs to be recorded with the date, start time, end time, total hours, and the supervising adult's signature. DPS requires the 30-hour practice log when you apply for your provisional license. The DL-91B (14-hour instruction log) is recommended to bring as well. Keep both logs accurate and complete.
Round to the nearest 15-minute increment (0.25 hours). A 45-minute session is logged as 0.75 hours. Do not inflate hours — inconsistent or suspicious logs can delay your license application.
Our course includes a built-in digital driving log that tracks your hours, enforces the daily limits, and exports a PDF you can print and bring to DPS. You can also use the paper forms included in your TDLR packet — the DL-91B for the 14-hour instruction log and the separate form for the 30-hour practice log.