Teaching their teens to drive is a rite of passage for many Texas parents, but the process is still often nerve-wracking for both parties. In Texas, you can opt to do Parent Taught Driver Education (PTDE) to meet the requirements for a driver's license. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available that make teaching your teen to drive as straightforward and stress-free as possible. 

If you’re a concerned parent, don’t worry. We’ve got your back. DriversEd.com is one of the best resources for helping Texas teens learn how to drive with their parents in the passenger seat.

Tips for Getting the License Process Started

The first step in the process is to review the Texas PTDE Getting Started Guide. This will help you confirm your eligibility and make sure you understand the process. 

To teach PTDE, you must be the student’s parent, step-parent, grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian and have had a valid Texas driver’s license for the last three years. Parents whose license has been revoked or suspended for traffic-related offenses within the past three years are ineligible, as are any parents with six or more current points on their license or a DWI conviction in the last seven years. 

Next, you'll need to complete the Parent Taught Driver Education Course Application. if you submit the application online, you'll be able to download the packet right away. 

Tips for Supporting Your Teen Through Their Driver’s Ed Course

As your teen gets ready to learn to drive, it’s important that they have a solid understanding of the rules and concepts taught in their driver’s ed course. As a parent, you can play a crucial role in helping your teen absorb and retain this information. Here’s how. 

1. Regularly Discuss Course Content

After each course chapter, have a discussion to ensure your teen understands the key concepts. Ask questions and clarify any doubts they may have.

2. Create Study Aids Together

Work with your teen to make flashcards or other study aids. This collaborative effort can make studying more enjoyable and effective.

3. Practice Online Quizzes

Encourage your teen to take online practice tests to reinforce their learning. This helps identify areas that need more focus. 

Tips for Teaching Positive Driving Behaviors

When you start teaching your child to drive, your duties extend beyond making sure they know how to back up and parallel park. The following tips will help you cover the essentials so your teen is fully prepared to get a license.

1. Talk to Your Teen About Defensive Driving

As a parent, you already know that much of driving safely involves watching out for the other guy, and it’s an important lesson to impart to your teenager. Talk to your teen about defensive driving practices and how to spot issues before they occur. 

2. Lead by Example

Before they can get their license, Texas requires teen drivers to spend seven hours in the passenger seat observing their instructor. But the truth is, your teens are always watching. A study by Liberty Mutual found that parents who engage in dangerous behaviors — such as speeding, multi-tasking, and texting while driving — were likely to have teens who mimicked their actions. So keep yourself, and your teen, safe by always demonstrating good driving habits and leading by example. 

3. Keep Your Cool

Riding in the car with a new teen driver can be a nerve-wracking experience, but as your teen’s driving instructor, it’s critical to keep your cool. Being visibly stressed out or shouting will only make matters worse. In fact, overreacting is likely to erode your teen’s confidence and make the entire process harder.

So, take a deep breath, then gently explain to your child what they did wrong and how to improve the next time around. And if you need to, pull over and take a break to avoid an unnecessary blow-up.  

Tips for Driving Practice

If there’s a mantra for teaching your teen to drive, it’s “practice, practice, practice.” Texas requires 30 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel driving, with 10 being done at night. But this is the bare minimum. The more time your teen spends in driver training, the better. To make sure your child is prepared for real life behind the wheel, follow these three tips. 

1. Venture Out to Busier Roads

Too many parents make the mistake of only taking their teens driving on local, low-traffic roads. For teens to really understand the ins and outs of driving and traffic safety, they must drive on highways and in heavy traffic. 

2. Spend Time Driving at Night

Supervised night driving is part of the process. While teens are only required to spend 10 hours driving at night before getting their license, more after-dark experience is always better. 

3. Have Them Drive in Inclement Conditions

It’s best to stay off the road when the weather is bad, but your teen still needs to learn how to safely navigate less-than-ideal conditions. Driving in inclement weather is a part of life, and it’s something your teen should ideally experience with a parent by their side.

Take the Next Step in Your Teen’s Driving Education

Teaching your teen to drive offers unique opportunities to bond and instill safe driving practices. By taking an active role in your teen’s driving training, you’ll set them up with a strong foundation for their future on the road.

Take the first step in guiding your teen toward becoming a confident, responsible driver. Sign up for DriversEd.com’s Parent-Taught Driver’s Education course today. 

Updated 8/5/24