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Texas driver's ed online: rules, prices and approved courses
Texas requires driver education for anyone under 25 getting a first license, and it's one of the few states where a parent can teach the whole course.
Checked September 27, 2026 against the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) site.
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Take the quizTexas rules at a glance
- Who needs it
- Anyone under 25 getting a first Texas license. Teens can start the course at 14.
- Teen course (ages 14–17)
- 32 hours of classroom instruction, taken online, plus in-car training. Choose parent-taught (a parent does the in-car lessons) or instructor-taught (a licensed driving school does them).
- Parent-taught in-car hours
- The program includes 24 hours of classroom instruction, 7 hours of in-car observation, 7 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 30 more hours of supervised driving. The parent pays a $20 state fee to be authorized as the instructor.
- Adults (18–24)
- A 6-hour adult driver education course.
- Permit test
- Many approved online courses include the written (knowledge) test, so it doesn't have to be taken at a DPS office.
Rules summarized from the TDLR parent-taught program page and the TDLR provider directory. Official source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
What it costs
Approved online teen courses in Texas range from $29.95 to $99.95 on the providers' own sites (checked September 27, 2026). Most run frequent sales, so the price you see may be lower or higher. Parent-taught families also pay the $20 state fee.
Parent-taught teen course: 14 approved online options
| Provider | Price | Approval | Phone app | Permit test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comedy Driving | $29.95Marked down from $69.00; the 32-hr online classroom is included. The $20 TDLR PTDE packet is ordered separatel… | TDLR C3528 | No | Yes |
| National Highway Safety Administration | $54.95'TX Parent Taught Drivers Ed + Permit Test', 24-hour online course, certificates, free read-along, DPS permit … | TDLR C3042 | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Safe2Drive | $59.95Parent-taught (online + behind-the-wheel with a parent). A behind-the-wheel-only add-on is $49.95. | TDLR C2229 | Not confirmed | Yes |
| DriverZ | $59.95Sale $59.95 (regular $119.95); 32 hr online + 44 hr behind-the-wheel with a parent. | TDLR C3427 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| AAA Driver Training | $59.95regular $89.95 (promo through 12/26) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | No |
| Virtual Drive of Texas | $59.95Promo $59.95 (was $99.95); TDLR parent-instructor packet fee ($20) is paid separately to the state. | TDLR C2636 | Not confirmed | Yes |
| ParentTaught.com | $60Site shows $60 (reduced from $115), one-time, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Not included: TDLR Program G… | TDLR C3539 | No | Yes |
| iDriveSafely | $59 + $8.95 feeSale $59 (regular $99); plus an $8.95 state certificate and handling fee. 24 hr online classroom + 44 hr behin… | TDLR C3249 | Not confirmed | Yes |
| DriversEd.com | $69Sale $69 (regular $115); includes practice tests, DPS knowledge test, e-certificate and a parent guide with le… | TDLR C3244 | Yes | Yes |
| Aceable | $74Sale $74 (regular $115) on the teen course page; includes the DPS written test in the course and Ace Mode. Sta… | TDLR C2839 | Yes | Yes |
| Coastline Academy | $75Listed as 'Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Ed Course'; MSRP from the page data; professional behind-the-wheel opti… | TDLR C3371 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| American Safety Council | $75 | TDLR C2386 'American Safety Council' | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Get Drivers Ed | $79.99regular $129.99, 38% off sale | TDLR C3429 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Pass Drivers Ed | $99.95One-time $99.95 for the 24-hr online classroom; the behind-the-wheel curriculum is sold separately by a third-… | TDLR C3415 | No | Yes |
Instructor-taught teen course: 9 approved online options
| Provider | Price | Approval | Phone app | Permit test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe2Drive | $59.9524-hour online classroom only (ages 14-17); no behind-the-wheel instruction. | TDLR C2229 | Not confirmed | Yes |
| DriverZ | $59.95Self-taught option at the same sale price; behind-the-wheel with a driving school or a parent. | TDLR C3427 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| AAA Driver Training | $59.95regular $89.95 (promo through 12/26); same price for parent-taught | TDLR C3241 'AAA DRIVING SCHOOL' is on the TDLR list with online-teen and parent-taught flags | Not confirmed | No |
| National Highway Safety Administration | $64.95'TX Self-Taught Course + Permit Test', ages 14-17; includes the online course, behind-the-wheel with a license… | TDLR C3042 | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Coastline Academy | $75Listed as 'Texas Concurrent Course - Teens' (24-hour online, ages 14-17); MSRP from the page data, packages wi… | TDLR C3371 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| American Safety Council | $75Self-Taught Driver Ed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Get Drivers Ed | $79.99instructor-taught; regular $129.99, 38% off sale | TDLR C3429 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Pass Drivers Ed | $89One-time $89 for the 24-hr teen course, ages 14-17, permit test available after the first 6 hours. State fees … | TDLR C3415 | No | Yes |
| Virtual Drive of Texas | $99.95Site lists this 'Instructor-Led' online teen course at a promo $99.95 (was $119.94); includes 24-hr online cla… | TDLR C2636 | Not confirmed | Yes |
Adult course (6 hr): 2 approved online options
| Provider | Price | Approval | Phone app | Permit test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Safety Council | $36 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Aceable | $49Sale $49 (regular $89), ages 18+, 6 hours online. | TDLR C2839 | Yes | Yes |
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