TX Parent Taught Driver Education
Texas PTDE Course Overview
Approved Course
Safe2Drive's Parent Taught Driver Education (PTDE) course is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). It allows a parent or legal guardian to become an instructor for their teen's driver education. Additionally, a parent, legal guardian, or a judge of a court with jurisdiction over the student can designate a person to instruct the course who is at least 25 years of age, does not charge for the course, and has at least 7 years of driving experience. PTDE requires both online classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel driver training.
IMPORTANT: You and your teen MUST have your Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide before starting the Parent Taught Driver Education course. As per DPS rules, if you begin the course without the guide, none of that instruction time will count toward your requirement, and you will have to start the course over.
Don't waste your time! Please only start the course if you have your guide.
Benefits for Parents and Teens
- Provides a complete ALL-INCLUSIVE TDLR-approved 32-Hour Parent Taught Course ONLINE
- Provides easy step-by-step registration process
- Allows parents to teach their teen TX driver's education online with an approved lesson plan
- Allows teens to earn a learner license and qualify for a driver license
- Allows teens to take their Knowledge Test online, instead of at the DPS
- Provides 24/7 online access, and excellent customer support
- Provides engaging lessons and interactive exercises
- Keeps track of student progress
IMPORTANT: There are eligibility requirements for the teen to take the course, and for the parent or qualifying adult to be an instructor. Please ensure that you both meet all the requirements. If an instructor is found to be ineligible, the teen will be required to start the process over again, which means he or she must:
- Find a new instructor who is eligible.
- Pay another $20 to order a new Parent Taught Driver Education Program Guide.
- Start the course over from the beginning.
- Pay a $10 fee, if you have already completed the first 6 hours.
How It Works
- The parent and teen register for the Texas Parent Taught Driver Education course.
- The parent requests and obtain the PTDE Program Guide by filling out the online form and making payment. Download the guide and read through it.
The parent can check the status of the guide order online here and even download the guide there if he or she has been approved!
- The teen begins the course and completes the first six hours of instruction.
- The teen will choose if they want to take the Knowledge Test online with us now or at the DPS later. The teen should study the Texas Driver Handbook to prepare for the exam.
- The teen will be issued a Six-Hour Completion Certificate.
- The teen will continue with the remaining 26 hours of online Parent Taught instruction.
- After receiving a learner license, the teen must complete 7 hours of in-car observation and 7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, following the behind-the-wheel training guide (which is included for free!).
- The teen will complete the additional behind-the-wheel practice sessions (during which 10 hours must be completed at night).
The entire program requires a minimum of 76 hours to complete. It consists of:
- 32 hours of online instruction (MUST NOT be completed in fewer than 6 calendar days)
- 44 hours of driving training, which includes:
- 7 hours each (for a subtotal of 14 hours) of In-Car observation and Behind-The-Wheel Instruction
- 30 hours of additional behind-the-wheel practice sessions (in which 10 hours must be completed at night)
- After completing the minimum hours of classroom instruction and driver training, and holding a learner license for 6 months, the teen can apply for a driver license.
Note: The 32 hours of online TX Parent Taught Driver’s Ed instruction must not be completed in fewer than 6 calendar days (maximum 6 hours of instruction per day). The in-car observation
and behind-the-wheel instruction must not be completed in fewer than 4 calendar days (maximum of 4 hours per day, with no more than 2 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction per day).
If doing in-car instruction and online instruction in the same day, you must not exceed a total of 6 hours per day, with no more than 2 hours spent on behind-the-wheel instruction.
We will guide you through all of these steps as you progress through the course.