Parent Taught Driver Education (PTDE)

Read about choosing a driver education method to decide if PTDE is right for you.

Parent-taught driver education (PTDE) is one of three ways to meet the driver education requirement for a teen.

Instructor Qualifications

Only a teen’s parent, stepparent, grandparent, stepgrandparent, foster parent or legal guardian may teach PTDE. In addition, Texas law says all of the following must be true.

The individual:

  1. Has held a valid driver license for the past three years*
  2. Has not had his/her driver license suspended, revoked or forfeited in the past three years
  3. Has less than six points on his/her driver record
  4. Has never been convicted of or received a probated sentence for DWI, DUI or Criminally Negligent Homicide
  5. Is not disabled due to mental illness

* Individuals who have lived outside of Texas during any part of the last three years must bring the certified abstract driver record from their former state to the driver license office when their student applies for a license.

Check Your Record
Individuals who are not sure if they meet the above requirements should check their criminal record and driver record before signing up. If DPS determines an individual is not eligible to teach then none of the instruction will count and the student will not be issued a license.

Instructor Requirements

To teach PTDE:

  1. Request a Parent-Taught Driver Education packet. The student is officially enrolled in the PTDE program once the packet is received.
  2. Buy a PTDE course from one of the course providers below.

PTDE Packet
Do not begin teaching driver education until the PTDE packet is received and you have purchased an approved PTDE course. This packet includes information on choosing an approved PTDE course, how to teach the course as required by Texas law, and how to apply for a license for the student.

To request a PTDE packet, send the following to: Texas DPS, PO Box 149008, Austin, TX 78714-9008

  1. The nonrefundable $20 fee. We accept checks or money orders payable to Texas DPS.
  2. A completed application requesting to teach Parent-Taught Driver Education for each student.
    1. Follow the mailing instructions on the form.   
    2. The form must be completely filled out with original signatures or the process will be delayed. The form will be returned for completion.

The packet will be mailed or emailed within three weeks.

PTDE Course Providers
Purchase one of the following approved PTDE courses: