Texas Drivers License Instructions

DMV got you confused? Check out our easy instructions for earning your Texas drivers license.

1. Begin a DPS-approved Texas drivers education course

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

3. Apply for the Texas learners permit / instruction permit

4. Practice driving under supervision

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

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5

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 DriversEd.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 behind-the-wheel driving 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 TX 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 TX 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. Rememeber, 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 TX 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.

DriversEd.com is a privately held company and is in no way associated with the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other government agency. DriversEd.com does not claim any responsibility for the accuracy of the drivers license information posted within or for the business practices associated with any other schools listed on the DriversEd.com site. For up-to-date information, please consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles or vehicle registration agency. Also, DriversEd.com is not liable for any information or claims posted within third party links.