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1. How does online drivers ed work?

It's simple. Create an account by choosing a username and password. You can pay right away or you can take up to 20% of the course before you make up your mind. Either way you'll be on the road to satisfying your Texas drivers education requirement.

Your course is available to you online 24/7. That means you can log in and out whenever you want and from any computer that has Internet access! When you log back in, we'll take you back to the exact place you left off. Doesn't that sound better than spending your weekends in a classroom?

At the end of the course there will be a final exam. Don't worry though—you can take it as many times as you need in order to pass, and once you do, you'll be able to print out your DPS-recognized Certificate of Completion from your online account.

2. How do I get my drivers license?

1. Begin a DPS-approved Texas drivers ed course

Texas requires all new drivers under 18 to take drivers education. In order to apply for their Texas learners permit / instruction permit, all applicants under 18 must first complete at least 6 hours of a 32-hour DPS-approved Texas drivers education course.

The Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education (PTDE) program is an alternative to the conventional drivers education class. Through this program, teens between the ages of 14 and 17 take the theory part of their drivers education online and parents can provide the behind-the-wheel training.

Our LearnersPermit.com online Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education Course is approved by the Texas DPS. It follows the concurrent method, meaning it has two concurrently taught components, both of which are supervised by a parent or guardian.* It consists of:

  • 32 hours of online coursework on the rules of the road and driver safety
  • 14 hours of in-car driving lessons instruction

Course Enrollment Requirements

  • To enroll in Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education, all Texas drivers education students must send in the DL-92 request form along with a $20 fee to the Texas DPS. A Parent-Taught Drivers Education Packet will then be sent out by the DPS.
  • The instructor can be a parent, stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian and must meet the following requirements:
    • Must have a valid Texas drivers license for the last three years. Active U.S. military personnel and their spouse may participate as instructors if they hold a valid license from their state of permanent residence or last duty station for the preceding three years.
    • Cannot have a conviction (including a probated sentence) of criminally negligent homicide or driving while intoxicated.
    • Must have a license that has not been suspended, revoked, or forfeited in the past three years for traffic-related violations.
    • May not be disabled due to mental illness. Questions as to mental stability will be forwarded to the Medical Advisory Board for determination.

Please Note:
It is the responsibility of the instructor
to check both their criminal and driver records prior to requesting the packet. The DPS will not check the instructor's record until the issuance of the instruction permit or provisional drivers license to the student.

If at that time it is determined that the instructor has a prohibited conviction, the student's instruction permit or provisional drivers license will be denied and all prior classroom or behind-the-wheel/in-car instruction credit is invalid.

After completing the first 6 hours of PTDE coursework, the student can then apply for the instruction permit in order to begin in-car instruction. From here, the PTDE course will consist of concurrent behind-the-wheel instruction and online coursework.

*Parents or students interested in taking the block method of Parent-Taught Drivers Education (in which the theory part of drivers education is taught first and separate from the behind-the-wheel training) should contact us for details.

2. Study for the Texas learners permit / instruction permit test

In order to get the learners permit and eventually the Texas drivers license, everyone no matter how old must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. 70% of test-takers fail on their first try and end up returning to the DMV.

A proven way to increase your chances of passing your learners permit test is with up-to-date online Texas DPS practice permit tests. Randomly generated questions test your driving knowledge and prepare you for the real deal.

Fifty online practice permit tests come free with our Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education Course.

3. Apply for the Texas learners permit / instruction permit

Apply for your instruction permit at the Drivers License Office that you indicated in your DL-92 application.

To be eligible for the Texas instruction permit, you must:

  • Be at least 15 years old.
  • Submit an Application for Texas Drivers License, DL-14A.
  • Pay the required fee for Instruction Permit Issuance.
  • Show proof of Liability Insurance (if you own the vehicle).
  • Show proof of identity.
  • Show proof of Social Security number.
  • Submit a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance in School Form (TEA form GEA-043R93).
  • If taking the Parent-Taught Drivers Education Program, submit the following:
    • Parental Driver Education Affidavit, DL-90A
    • Classroom Instruction Record, DL-91A (proof of completion of objectives for the first 6 hours of the Parent-Taught Education Program)
  • If taking non-parent-taught drivers education, submit a Certificate of Drivers Education, DE—964 Classroom (proof of completion of objectives for the first 6 hours of drivers education)
  • Pass a vision test.
  • Pass the written instruction permit test. There are 30 multiple choice questions and you'll need a 70% minimum score to pass.

Once you pass the written permit test, you'll be issued an instruction permit.

4. Practice driving under supervision

Once you have your instruction permit, if you're under 18, you'll need to practice driving under supervision for at least 6 months. Remember, you can only drive when a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old is seated next to you.

Your instruction permit must remain valid during the entire 6 months before you can earn your Provisional License. If your instruction permit is suspended or revoked during this period, upon the completion of the suspension period, the remaining 6 month period must be completed before you can be issued a Provisional License.

5. Take the driving test for your Texas drivers license (optional)

If you have completed the Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education Program, a driving skills test is not mandatory. Once the student has turned 16 and held an instruction permit for at least 6 months, the parent or guardian participating in the Parent-Taught Drivers Education Program has the option to either:

  • Waive the driving skills test, OR
  • Require the student to pass the driving skills test administered by DPS prior to issuing a Class C drivers license.

If the parent instructor wishes the student to pass a skills test, he/she should make an appointment at the Drivers License Office that was designated in the DL-92 application.

Provisional License
Once the applicant has held a valid instruction permit for a minimum of 6 months, has turned 16 years old for a Class C license (or 17 for a Class A or B), and has completed both the classroom and driving portions of drivers education, he or she is eligible to graduate to a Provisional License.

Provisional License Restrictions
A Provisional License holder:

  • May not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger in the vehicle under 21 years old who is not a family member.
  • May not operate a vehicle between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related activity or because of a medical emergency.
  • May not operate a vehicle while using a wireless communication device, such as a cell phone.

After the 6 month period, the Provisional License Restrictions will automatically end.

3. Who must take Texas drivers education?

If you're between 15 and 18 years old and planning to obtain a Texas learners permit (instruction permit), you'll need to complete a DPS-approved drivers education course.

LearnersPermit.com's online course fulfills the Texas DPS drivers education requirement for the Parent-Taught Drivers Education Program (see below). But no matter how old you are, if you want to learn about driving in Texas and plan to obtain a Texas drivers license, you can take this course.

4. Does the LearnersPermit.com course satisfy DPS requirements?

Yes. Our course is DPS-approved and is equivalent to the regular 32-hour in-class drivers education course. View DPS Course Approval #108.

5. What is the Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education (PTDE) Program?

The Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education (PTDE) program became law in 1997 as an alternative to drivers education in a conventional school setting. This program allows teens to take their drivers education course online (with DPS-approved providers) and allows parents to provide the in-car training.

In order to participate in PTDE, the parent must first submit a Request for Parent-Taught Drivers Education Packet from the DPS.

IMPORTANT: The student may not begin the LearnersPermit.com Texas online course until the parent has received an official PTDE packet from the DPS. By law, any instruction, online or in-car, that occurs prior to the receipt of this packet will not count toward the required instruction time.

6. Do you offer the Concurrent Method of PTDE or the Block Method?

Our Texas course is set up for the Concurrent Method of PTDE. This means that after you complete 6 hours of the online course, you'll receive a Certificate of Partial Completion which allows you to take the written instruction permit exam at the DPS. After you get your instruction permit, you can continue with the online course and the behind-the-wheel training with your parent.

If you're interested in doing the Block Method of PTDE, please contact our customer support at 1-888-651-2886.

For more information about the Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Education Program, please see the DPS website.

7. What is the difference between drivers education and drivers training?
  • Drivers Education: a course that teaches you the rules of the road, vehicle safety, and everything that you need to know before you get behind the wheel for the first time. In Texas, every new driver under 18 years old must take a 32-hour drivers education course before applying for the learners permit. LearnersPermit.com provides a DPS-approved drivers education course.
  • Drivers Training: the in-car driving lessons that you take with a licensed driving instructor. In Texas, if you are under 18, you must take 14 hours of drivers training (7 hours behind the wheel and 7 hours of in-car observation.) However, if you are participating in the Parent-Taught Drivers Education program, your parent can provide the 14 hours of drivers training. See explanation of PTDE above.
8. How much does the course cost?

The cost for the Texas PTDE online course is $169. (February special $149)

9. Can I test drive the Texas course?

Of course! You can take up to 20% of the course before you will need to make a payment in order to continue with the course.

10. How long will it take for me to finish the course?

By Texas law, the PTDE course (concurrent method) takes a minimum of 24 days at a pace of no more than 2 hours per day. Apart from that the pace is up to you. You can log in and out whenever you want and we'll keep track of where you left off last.

11. Is the participation of a parent or guardian required?

This course is part of the Texas Parent-Taught Driver Education program. This means that a parent must supervise the student's progress in the online course and take an active role in the process of learning to drive.

12. How do I access the 50 free practice permit tests?

After you pay for the course, your free practice permit tests will be accessible in your account.

13. When will I receive my Certificate of Completion?

Once you've completed the first 6 hours of your online drivers ed, you'll be able to print a Certificate of Partial Completion that is needed in order to sit for your instruction permit test.

Then once you've passed the final online exam at the end of the course, you'll be able to print a Certificate of Completion for your records.

14. How can I change the delivery method of my Certificate of Completion?

You can change your delivery method online in your account or by calling us at 1-877-410-2454.

15. How do I get a duplicate copy of my Certificate of Completion?

To reprint your Certificate of Partial Completion, log in to your account, click Course Review, and then click Certificate of Partial Course Completion (under Day 3). To reprint your Certificate of Course Completion after you have graduated, log in and click the Print Certificate button in My Account.

16. Will I need to take drivers training after I take this course?

No. If you are taking the LearnersPermit.com Texas course, then you are participating in PTDE and your parents can provide the necessary 7 hours of in-car driving lessons and 7 hours of in-car observation.

17. Will I need to take a high school drivers ed class in addition this course?

No. The LearnersPermit.com Texas PTDE course gives you everything you need to complete drivers education.

18. What's included in the LearnersPermit.com course fee?

The $169* course fee includes everything you need to complete your drivers education course online as well as your DPS-recognized Certificate of Completion. (* February special $149)

19. How do I pay for the course?

Once you create an account, you can pay online using VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or PayPal. You can also pay by credit card over the phone by calling our customer service at 1-877-410-2454.

Please note that prepaid debit/gift cards issued by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc., cannot be used online. Please call us, and we'll be happy to process your payment.

If you would like to pay by check or money order, please mail your payment along with your username to:

LearnersPermit.com
Attn: Billing Dept.
P.O. Box 61203
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-1203

20. Is it safe to use my credit card online?

LearnersPermit.com always uses the latest in security technology to protect your Internet transactions. And to ensure your privacy, your credit card number is never kept on file.

21. What is the refund policy for the Texas drivers education course?

While we're confident that you'll enjoy the LearnersPermit.com Texas program, if for some reason you would like a refund, you can request one, subject to the refund policy set forth below.

LearnersPermit.com will issue a full tuition refund:

  • If students cancel enrollment prior to completing the first three days of class (the first module of the course). All tuition moneys paid on or before that time will be refunded within thirty calendar days of the student leaving the program.

LearnersPermit.com will not issue refunds:

  • Once the student has completed Day 3 of the course curriculum.

To request a refund, please contact us toll free at 1-877-410-2454.


More questions? Comments?

Give us a call or email us. We'd love to hear from you.

Phone: 1-877-410-2454 (toll-free)

Email: info@learnerspermit.com