How to Sign up Online for Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education

Written by Staff Writer

If your teen is like most, they can't wait until they're able to get a driver's license. What if you taught them yourself? Is that even possible? In Texas, the answer is yes!

Learn what you need to do to help your teenager get their learner's permit, pass the knowledge and skills tests and become responsible motorists.

What Is Parent-Taught Driver's Ed?

State law requires that young applicants seeking a driver's license complete at least 32 hours of classroom instruction before earning a driver's license. Teenaged motorists must also complete 44 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel instruction after earning a learner's permit.

As a parent or guardian, you can take charge of the driver education process. Parent-taught driver's ed (PTDE) is a state-approved way for parents to teach their teens to drive while meeting all the Texas state licensing requirements.

Your teen learns (and you teach) at a pace that's comfortable for both of you. After the classroom portion of the program, you will also sit beside them in the car to supervise and log the required practice hours. After your log has been completed and verified, your teen can log into our system, take the final exam and graduate from the course. It's that easy.

Parent-Taught Driver Education Options

Students in the Lone Star State can pick from several driver education systems. High school students can opt for in-class instruction during the school day. Minors can also enroll in driving lessons with a professional instructor or go solo with a self-guided online program.

But online, parent-led education combines the best features of all the other choices. Students who choose PTDE get the convenience of online lessons and flexible scheduling, the wisdom of an experienced instructor and the comfort of dealing with a trusted parent or guardian.

Our Texas Parent-Taught Driver's Ed course is available to teens aged 14-17. Students who are 14 can complete the first six hours of lessons and prepare for the learner's permit exam. However, students must be at least 15 years old to get a learner's permit and begin behind-the-wheel instruction.

How to Enroll in a Texas Parent-Taught Driver's Ed Program

Texas state law requires parents or guardians to request approval to serve as a driving instructor. Prospective teachers must submit an application to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). After your application is approved, you can enroll your child in a TDLR-approved Texas Parent-Taught Driver Education program.

You are only eligible to serve as an instructor if you are the student's:

  • Parent (biological or adoptive)
  • Step-parent
  • Grandparent
  • Step-grandparent
  • Foster parent
  • Legal guardian

Instructors must also be model motorists. You may be disqualified if your driving record shows any of the following:

  • A conviction for criminally negligent homicide
  • DWI conviction in the last seven years
  • Suspension or revocation in the last three years
  • Two or more at-fault accidents in the last three years
  • Three or more moving violations in the last three years

Candidates must have held a valid license for at least seven years, including at least three continuous years in the state of Texas.

The Paperwork

Being your child's teacher means taking on some crucial paperwork — in addition to the eligibility application discussed above. Over the course of the 32 hours of online lessons, 44 hours of supervised practice and the licensing application, you will need the following forms and documents:

  • Identification for Teacher and Student: You will need a variety of documents to prove your identity to the satisfaction of the state. That includes everything from birth certificates and Social Security cards to recent mail.
  • The Parent-Taught Driver's Ed Packet: The PTDE guide provides a detailed overview of the program, including how to apply for a student license, the core course requirements and behind-the-wheel practice scenarios.
  • Driving Log and Parent-Taught Driver's Ed Affidavit: Teachers must spend at least 44 hours in an approved vehicle monitoring and logging the student's practical driving experience. You will be expected to turn in a sworn document verifying that you satisfied this requirement before your student can get a provisional driver license.

Several steps in the process also require a government-mandated fee. Be prepared to pay an application fee when seeking authorization to teach and when your student applies for their license.

Learn with Us

Learning to drive is a major milestone in a teen's life. We are a TDLR-approved provider of online driver education. We make it simple for you to prepare your teenager for their first driver's license. Training with TexasDrivingSchool.com is:

  • Convenient: When you’re the teacher, you don't have to shuttle your child to the driving school — you're already there! There are no classrooms, just you and your student. With our online parent-taught drivers ed, your child can learn wherever and whenever you choose. Lessons are available from any internet-connected device, 24/7.
  • Quick and Easy: It doesn't take a lot of time for your child to be proficient at driving and able to pass both the permit exam and the knowledge test. They will be able to qualify for their learner's permit in as few as six hours (after completing module one and passing the permit exam). The entire classroom portion is just 32 hours long.
  • Affordable: You don’t have to pay for professional instruction, classroom attendance or even gas to attend lessons. Our online PTDE program even includes a complimentary study guide and free access to the Texas state permit test.
  • Flexible: Everyone learns differently. That can be a problem in a traditional classroom setting. The instructor may be going too fast or too slow for your teen, hampering their ability to retain the necessary information. Nobody knows your student better than you do. Teach at the perfect pace for your aspiring driver.
  • Safe: You want your teen to be fully prepared before they climb behind the wheel alone. A parent-taught education puts you in charge of your student’s safety. You can be sure your child knows all the rules and practices the necessary skills to stay safe on the road.

Texas allows parents to share the journey to a teen's first driver's license. You can serve as your child's trusted guide and guardian as they prepare to explore the open road for the first time. Sign up for our online Texas Parent-Taught Driver's Ed course today to become your teen's state-approved driving instructor!