Texas drivers education consists of a variety of programs you can choose from: private or commercial driver ed instructors, the parent-taught program, driver education for adults, traditional or online courses, but all driver training instructors, schools and course providers part of Texas drivers education, either private or commercial, must be approved by the Driver Training Division and the Texas DPS (Department of Public Safety).
In order to earn your drivers license you must be 16 years old and have held your learner’s permit for six months, so the majority of teen students begin their Texas driver education course after turning 15, thus allowing them plenty of time to drive with a parent before turning 16.
Before signing in to any Texas drivers education program, take into consideration the latest amendments and laws regarding driving regulations and conditions:
- as of September 1, 2009, according to the 81st Texas legislature, which enacted the Less Tears More Years Act, new drivers in Texas drivers education programs are required more driving experience prior to obtaining a license. Young drivers must receive an additional 20 hours of driving time, thus increasing the required driving hours from 14 to 34. These hours must be certified by a parent or guardian before a teenager may proceed to phase 2 of Texas’ Graduated Driver Licensing program, and must include at least ten hours at nighttime. This is applicable to both parent taught and traditional TEXAS DRIVERS EDUCATION courses.
- also, Driving Bill 2730, effective since September 1, 2009 specifies that all drivers under 18 years old must complete a driving test, meaning that once you complete a Texas drivers education program, you have to take a drivers test at your local DPS office in order to receive your drivers license;
- if a student registered for the Parent-Taught Driver Education Course 101 prior to November 1, 2009 and is in progress, the Texas DPS (Department of Public Safety) will allow the person to complete the course, but will not allow Course 101 if the registration occurred on or after November 1, 2009;
- as of March 1, 2010, according to the Texas law, persons between the ages of 18 and 25 who wish to obtain a driver’s license have to successfully complete a six hour driver education course exclusive for adults or complete a minor and adult driver education course part of the Texas drivers education programs;
Texas drivers education consists of two areas of instruction: the drivers ed coursework and behind-the-wheel training.
The parent-taught program addresses teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17, and guides both the student and the parent, as the parent or guardian must supervise the in-car driving and sign-off the completion of each objective. A teen student interested in obtaining the Texas drivers education can begin the course as early as age 14, but cannot receive the learner’s permit before age.