Are you looking for a driver’s ed class that lets you do the coursework on your own time, but the driving hours with a licensed instructor? Well, friend, Aceable’s instructor-taught driver’s ed is the course for you.
The way it works is that you do your classroom hours on our app, anywhere, on any device, at your own pace. Then, you transfer to a driving instructor to learn the actual beep beep vroom vroom. Let’s talk through the process.
Six Steps to Getting Your License With Instructor-taught Driver’s Ed
Take the course: Purchase Aceable's Texas Instructor Taught Drivers Ed and finish all 13 levels of the course.
Get your permit: Wait for your certificates to be emailed to you. When they arrive in your inbox, head to the DPS to get your permit.
Do your driving hours: Complete your 44 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and practice.
Take ITTD: Complete the Impact Texas Teen Drivers course (ITTD) on the DPS website.
Get your license: Get your license at the DPS.
Drive! Feel free to celebrate by driving to the ice cream shop of your choice.
Step 1: Buy and Complete the Course
If you’re eligible, you can just smash that purchase button for Texas Instructor Taught Drivers Ed. Download the app on your phone and you’re ready to start learning.
The course is 13 levels long and has videos, interactivities, and scenarios to keep you engaged and ensure your ready to sit behind the wheel. The final exam of the course is actually your permit exam, so you don’t have to take another written exam at the DPS. Nice!
Choosing a Driving School
You will need to choose your driving school before you finish your classroom hours. In Level 12, you’ll be asked for the name of your school and it will need to go on your completion form. Not sure who to choose? Here’s a list of driving schools in Texas. There may be a wait, so make sure you get signed up ASAP.
Step 2: Get Your Permit
Once you’ve finished the course and passed the final exam, you’ll be ready to get your permit. Wait for your DE-964 Permit Certificate to be emailed to you. Once you have that, you’re ready to head to the DPS.
You’ll need to bring:
Your DE-964 Permit Certificate (emailed to you by Aceable)
Your parent or legal guardian
Proof of Texas residency: Your parent or guardian will need to bring two forms of proof, which could include deeds, utility bills, voter registration card, etc. Here are the details about what proof of texas residency is acceptable.
Proof of your identity and citizenship or lawful residency: This can include a birth certificate, valid US passport, or certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
Your social security card
Verification of enrollment (VOE): This is to prove you are enrolled in school and your grades and attendance are in good standing. The VOE form must be signed by an administrator at your school. If you’re getting a GED, the form needs to be signed by an administrator at your GED program.
Glasses, contacts, or any kind of vision corrective device that you use
$16 in cash, credit card, check, or money order
When to Request a VOE
Some schools have a 24-hour waiting period to issue a VOE, so make sure to request it three to seven days before your DPS appointment. If you plan to get your permit over the summer, make sure to get your VOE before the end of the school year. It will be good until the next fall. Most schools will not issue a VOE over the summer!
What Happens at the DPS?
When you go to get your permit, you won’t have to take a written exam (remember, you’ll already have passed it!). You will be required to pass a vision test, and there is a fee of $16. You can pay by cash, credit card, check, or money order.
Step 3: Complete Your Driving Hours
This is when you will say goodbye to Aceable and transfer to the driving school that you chose. You have to complete 44 total hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and practice.
The first 14 hours must be completed with a professional driving school of your choice. These are your instructional hours. The next 30 hours of driving practice can be done with any licensed adult who is at least 21 years old and has at least one year of driving experience.
Driving Log
During your 30 hours of driving practice, you need to keep a log of your driving hours. There are specific things the state wants to make sure you’re practicing, so take a look at the log and see what you need to work on. You can only log one hour of practice per day.
Six-Month Waiting Period
Note that however quickly you finish your driving hours, you cannot get your license for six months from the time you got your permit. Also, you must be 16 to get your license.
Step 4: Take the Impact Texas Teen Drivers Course (ITTD)
The Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) course is a two-hour eight-part video course required for all teens getting a driver’s license. You are required to complete the course before you can get your license. There’s no charge for the course, and it’s administered by the Texas DPS.
Note that your ITTD completion certificate expires in 90 days, so make sure you wait to take this course until you’re within 90 days of getting your license.
Step 5: Get Your License
Now don’t freak out, but getting your license does require you to pass the road test. This can be scary for some people! But that’s why you did all those practice driving hours!
Scheduling Your Road Test
You can schedule the test with the DPS and take it for free, or with a driving school for a fee. There can be long waits to get an appointment at the DPS, so that’s why some students opt to take the test with a driving school. Here’s more information about scheduling the test.
Taking Your Road Test
What’s on the road test? How does it work? The DPS has put together a helpful checklist of all theskills that may be tested on your road test. Before you go for your test, make sure you feel comfortable with everything on this list!
What to Bring to the DPS
Whether you’re taking your driving test at the DPS or not, when you go to get your license, you’ve got a long list of things to bring. Those appointments can be hard to get, so make sure you brought everything you need the first time. You don’t want to have to go back again because you forgot some paperwork! Also, make sure you’re eligible: you must be 16 AND have had your permit for at least six months.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Your DE-964 License Certificate emailed to you from Aceable (note that your permit test expires within two years)
A parent or guardian
Your permit (that you have definitely had for at least six months, RIGHT?)
Proof of insurance (your name doesn’t need to be on it, just your parent/guardian)
Two license plates (front and back)
Your ITTD completion certificate (this expires within 90 days, so make sure you get the timing right on taking this course)
A VOE (this is the same form from your school you needed to get your permit, but make sure to get an updated one!)
$11 in cash, credit, check, or money order
Your glasses or contacts, if you wear them
Once you pass your road test, fill out the necessary paperwork, pass a vision test, and pay your $11 fee, you’ll be officially licensed. Hooray!
Step 6: Drive!
You did it! The world is your oyster! Sort of. Make sure you understand the rules of a provisional license. Go out there and make Ace proud!
Why Do Instructor-taught Driver’s Ed?
Instructor-taught driver’s ed is a nice middle ground between going fully in-person and going fully parent-taught.
You get the convenience of being able to take your permit test right there in the app, and you don’t have to worry about scheduling classroom hours around your school, activities, and other commitments. You can learn at your own pace and on any device.
But you also get the security of knowing a professional driving teacher is guiding you through learning to drive. A lot of parents feel a little unsure about suddenly becoming driving instructors, so this program is a great way to feel confident in what you’re learning.
Do note that for financial and scheduling reasons, even people who opt for instructor-taught driver’s ed tend to do their 30 practice hours with a parent or other licensed driver.
Ready to get started with instructor-taught driver’s ed? Let’s go!
Updated 05/09/23