Getting a driver’s license as an adult in Texas is a little different than the rest of the country. Texas has certain laws in place to ensure that you know the rules of the road and can drive safely, including an adult driver’s education course option. If you’re eighteen or older and looking to get your license for the first time, you may just be wanting to pass the written and driving test and be done with it. But not so fast! You may actually be legally required to take an adult driver’s ed class, and even if you aren’t, it could benefit you in many ways that you might not be anticipating.
Who Needs To Take Adult Driver’s Ed?
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 24 and have never held a driver’s license before, you are legally obligated to take an adult driver’s education course. Your class will entail six hours of instruction and can be taken in person or online, and it will not include any behind-the-wheel instruction. If you’re over 24 and looking to get your license for the first time, then you are not required to take this adult driver’s education course.
Additionally, students of any age can also seek out a course that offers training behind-the-wheel. This will involve more of a time commitment—32 hours of classroom instruction and 44 hours of behind-the-wheel training—but is a great fit for someone who needs or wants the full training that a more comprehensive syllabus can include.
Why Take An Adult Driver’s Ed Course
Whether or not it’s required of you, a driver’s education course is highly recommended to new drivers. It will get you well-acquainted with how Texas road rules are set up and about general driving tips and safety. Driving is an inherently dangerous act, and you should not simply expect to get behind the wheel of a car and know how to keep everyone, including yourself, as safe as possible. Although you might not initially love the idea of the course because it’s a time and money investment, it can easily save you time and money, as well as your own life, later on.
Another benefit to taking a driver’s education class is having the written portion of your test at the DMV waived. That’s right: for many course providers, your final exam can double as the written test you would take for your driver’s license. This means that the pressure is off and you can breeze past that part when it comes time for your driver’s license test. Additionally, when you take the final test with your driver’s ed course, the information will be fresh in your mind.
The Benefits Of Taking An Online Course
Texas law allows adults 18 and over to take their driver’s ed course online, a convenience that didn’t exist even twenty years ago! Undoubtedly, the internet has become a vital part of our lives, but people are sometimes a little hesitant when things that were traditionally done in person can now be done online. Is an online course just as good as an in-person one?
When you choose the correct adult driver’s education course, then yes, it definitely is. You know the saying that “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” right? Well that means that distances in between towns are also bigger, too, and if you’d rather not commute very far to your course then you should look into an online one. If you’re busy or not close to a place that offers a course, online is definitely the way to go.
What To Look For In An Adult Driver’s Education Course
Searching for an adult driver’s education course that suits you is more involved than simply googling “adult driver’s ed” and seeing what pops up closest to you. Remember: driving safely is important to not only your safety but the other people on the road. Before you man a vehicle you should feel completely comfortable behind the wheel and have an unwavering knowledge of how to drive well.
Decide if you should take it online or in person. There are definitely benefits to both and it mostly depends on you and your learning style. If you are not a very self-motivated person, you may consider doing one in a classroom. If you are incredibly busy and juggling many other commitments, you can take an online course at your leisure.
Make sure you look for an adult driver’s education course. Unlike the driver’s ed courses that some people take in high school, an adult driver’s education course is geared towards adults. Additionally, driver’s education class for high schoolers is longer and more time-intensive. Save yourself the time and ensure that you’re not signing up for a course designed for fifteen year-olds!
Find one with good reviews. If the driving school you’re looking at doesn’t have any reviews at all, it’s best to look elsewhere. We’ve rounded up some of the most popular and best driver’s ed courses in Texas for you.
Watch out for hidden fees. Some courses, especially convenient online ones, advertise a certain price but then hit you with additional charges. This is pretty unnecessary, and it’s false advertisement.
Take a course that is approved by the state of Texas and will allow you to skip the written test. You are spending your money on a class, whether it’s in-person or online, so you want to make sure you’re getting the best. Find a six-hour class that is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and meets all adult driver requirements for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Additionally, avoid taking the written test a the DMV with a class that will waive it, upon completion and passing the course’s final test.