Texas Driving Logs Explained (DL-91B & 30-Hour Log)

Confused about the 14-hour log vs 30-hour log? You're not alone. Here's everything you need to know about tracking your teen's driver education hours.

Form Guide

The #1 Source of Confusion

Parents often confuse the two logs or don't understand the hour requirements. There are TWO different logs for TWO different types of instruction. Read on to understand the difference.

The Two Logs at a Glance

DL-91B

14-Hour Instruction Log

14 Hours
Observation + Instruction
  • 7 hours in-car observation (watching parent drive)
  • 7 hours behind-the-wheel instruction
  • Official parent instructor only
  • Included in your PTDE packet

30-Hour Practice Log

Behind-the-Wheel Practice

30 Hours
Additional Practice
  • Supervised driving practice
  • 10 hours must be at night
  • Any adult 21+ with valid license (1+ year)
  • Included in your PTDE packet

Total Hours: 44 Behind-the-Wheel

The 44 hours of behind-the-wheel time breaks down as follows:

7
Observation Hours
(DL-91B)
7
Instruction Hours
(DL-91B)
30
Practice Hours
(30-Hour Log)

Night Driving Requirement

Of the 30 hours of practice driving, at least 10 hours must be at night. Night is defined as 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.

Daily Limits (Important!)

Texas has strict daily limits on how many hours can be logged. Hours exceeding these limits will not count!

DL-91B (14-Hour Log)

  • • Max 4 hours total per day
  • • Max 2 hours BTW instruction per day
  • • Minimum 4 days to complete

30-Hour Practice Log

  • • Max 2 hours count per day
  • • Minimum 15 days to complete
  • • All driving: 5 AM – 11 PM only

Who Can Supervise?

DL-91B Hours (14 hours)

Only the official parent instructor listed on your PTDE packet can supervise these hours. No exceptions.

30-Hour Practice Hours

The parent instructor OR any adult who is 21 years or older and has held a valid driver license for at least 1 year.

How to Fill Out Your Logs

After each driving session, record the following information:

Date: The date of the driving session
Start/End Time: When you started and finished driving
Total Hours: Calculate and record the total time for that session, rounded to the nearest 15 minutes (0.25-hour increments)
Day or Night: Mark whether it was daytime or nighttime (30 min after sunset)
Skills Practiced: Brief description: parking, highway driving, turns, etc.
Supervisor Signature: The supervising adult signs each entry

Log every session immediately — don't try to reconstruct entries from memory days later. DPS may question logs that look too uniform or have suspicious patterns.

Signatures Are Required

The supervising adult must sign each individual entry after the session ends. Unsigned entries will not be accepted at DPS. The 30-hour practice log is required at your provisional license visit. The DL-91B (14-hour instruction log) is recommended but not officially required by DPS.

Tips for Success

Log Immediately

Record each session right after driving. It's easy to forget details later.

Keep It Honest

Don't inflate hours. DPS can verify and dishonesty can delay your teen.

Respect Daily Limits

Hours over the daily limit won't count. Spread practice over many days.

Mix Conditions

Practice in rain, heavy traffic, highways, parking lots—variety builds confidence.

Store Safely

Keep the logs in a folder with other PTDE documents. You'll need them at DPS.

Use Our Online Tool

ParentTaught.com includes an online driving log tool that prints official logs.

Digital Driving Log

Our course includes a built-in digital driving log that tracks your hours automatically and exports to PDF. It enforces the daily limits and 15-minute increments so you don't have to worry about formatting errors.

If you prefer paper forms or need replacements, you can re-download your TDLR packet (including the DL-91B and practice log) at the TDLR Packet Lookup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to DL-90A and DL-90B forms?

The DL-90A and DL-90B forms were phased out. Texas PTDE now uses the DL-91B (14-hour log) and a 30-hour practice log, both included in your PTDE packet from TDLR.

Where do I get the driving log forms?

Both logs are included in your PTDE packet when you purchase it from TDLR ($20). You can also use the online driving log tool in the ParentTaught.com course, which prints official logs.

Can the observation hours be done before getting the permit?

Observation is part of the behind-the-wheel phase, which begins after your teen obtains a learner permit. Both observation and instruction hours on the DL-91B should be logged after the permit is issued.

Can someone other than the parent instructor supervise driving?

For the DL-91B hours (14 hours), only the official parent instructor can supervise. For the 30-hour practice, any qualified adult 21+ with a valid license (1+ year) can supervise.

What if I lose my log?

You can re-download your PTDE packet (including blank logs) from the TDLR website using your receipt number. Reconstruct completed entries as accurately as possible.

Get Your Driving Logs

The DL-91B and 30-hour practice log are included in your PTDE packet from TDLR.

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