Common Driver Ed Questions

Absolutely! Our lessons look amazing on high resolution screens such as phones and tablets. Unlike some other courses, there is no need for an extra app either!

Top Choice is a premium online parent taught driver education course. When we say this course includes everything, we mean it. You will not pay a dime to us after enrollment, and you will have everything you need to complete the Texas licensing process.

First you need to register with the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) for the parent-taught program. You can register with the state online here. Once you have your Parent Taught Program Guide from the TDLR you may realize that it can be confusing. Don't worry, our course is going to walk you through it step by step. When you need to use a state form, we will remind you. We even have samples of each form used throughout the process, making it easier for the parent.

Since the course doesn't expire, complete the lessons entirely at your own pace. Start and stop whenever you like. Once you are finished with the first 6 hours (concurrent method) you can visit your "Certificates" page to take the official Learner License Exam online with us. After passing, you will request your certificate of completion DE-964. Once the student has their Texas Learner License, they will move on to the driving lessons, which will guide the parent on exactly what to do in the vehicle, every step of the way.

We designed the course to be as easy as possible for both the student and parent. Drivers ed shouldn't be a confusing process and it won't be with our course. Simply follow the instructions and your student will be on their way to earning a learner's and driver's license in no time.

The state of Texas requires online students to first register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). This is easy to do online here, or mail a completed Parent-Taught Driver's Ed request form (DL-92) located here. Simply follow the directions on the TDLR's website, or form if you decide to mail it in. After registering online with the TDLR for Parent Taught Driver Education, or mailing in your application, you may register for our course through our registration page.

Once you've registered and have the Program Guide from the TDLR, you can get started right away! We will tell you exactly when to use each form from that packet.

Unlike some other courses, our course is a ONE-Time fee. You pay once and get absolutely everything you need to complete Texas drivers ed. It is a one-time fee of $75 (for either Concurrent or Block methods). A student will be able to get their learner's AND driver's license for this one fee. (the DPS charges a $16 fee for issuance of the permit and license when you visit)

If you need the "Driving Portion Only" the fee is $49. (students only qualify for this if they have finished all 32 classroom hours at another school)

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) allows for students up to 24 years old to participate and complete a parent-taught course. Our course will not expire and we DO NOT charge you for monthly access like some other courses. Take as long as you need to complete the course.

Our course offers both Concurrent and Block Methods.

With the "Concurrent Method" the student will complete 6 hours of online classroom instruction, take the Official Exam online, obtain the Texas Learner's License, and then complete the remainder of the course along with the 44 hours of the driving portion. (all included as well)

"Block Method" students will complete ALL 32 hours of classroom instruction, obtain their Learner's License, and then complete 44 hours of the driving portion. 14 year olds will need to use the "Block Method," unless their birthday is coming soon enough for it to make sense to use the Concurrent Method.

Watch the video below for a more detailed comparison of the two. (Choose full screen for a better view!)

The TDLR, or Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is in charge of driver education in the state of Texas. It is the TDLR's website that you must first register with in order to complete a parent-taught program. Their contact information is:

Contact: https://ga.tdlr.texas.gov:1443/form/csgeneralinquiry

Phone: (800) 803-9202 or (512) 463-6599

Mailing:

• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
• Driver Education and Safety
• PO Box 12157
• Austin, Tx 78711

The DPS, or Department of Public Safety is in charge of issuing Texas Learner & Driver Licenses. It is the DPS office that you will visit with your certificate from us to get the Learner and Driver License. Use the link below to search for the DPS location nearest you.

A student will start off by completing 6 hours of classroom lessons online with Top Choice. State guidelines allow for up to 2 hours of classroom work to be completed per day. So the fastest they can get the Learner License is in 3 days.

Once they've completed the first 6 hours, the student has multiple practices quizzes they can take to prepare for the Official Learner License Exam. These practice quizzes can be taken as many times as you would like. Then, when ready, they take the Official Learner License Exam online with Top Choice. The State requires a 70 or better to pass. But no worries, if you fail, you can try again in 24 hrs with no extra fees or penalties.

Once you have the State DE-964 Certificate from us, use the list we provide to make sure you have all of the forms and identification that will be needed at the DPS. We have a great "Form Helper" page in the course that allows you to download fresh copies of forms, and even view samples of them filled out.

You will take this Certificate and other items to the DPS location of your choice. You need an appointment for any DPS visit. The student will NOT take a test at the DPS, because they do that on our website before the certificate is even issued. The student will have their eyes checked and a picture taken. They will leave with a temporary Learner License, and the real one mailed later.

That's right, the Official Learner License Exam will be taken in the comfort of your own home on our website. We are approved by the State of Texas to offer the exam online. Once you pass the 30 question exam, we will include your score on the Official DE-964 Certificate of Completion. When you visit the DPS to get the Learner License, you will NOT take a test there!

The DE-964 is the Official Texas Certificate of Completion for an online driver education course. Our course will issue a Texas DE-964 through email upon passing the Official State Learner License Exam on our website. We email this certificate to you fast, along with a detailed list of items and forms you will need to bring with you to the DPS. There will be portions of the certificate that you will need to fill out, and we provide very clear instructions for that.

Once you've completed the course we will issue a second Texas DE-964 for the Driver License. You will visit the DPS once again, this time for a driving skills test and the Driver License.

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) is a new program developed by the Department of Public Safety to educate teens and new drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. The ITTD program is a free two-hour online video that the State provides at the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) website. This new requirement is in addition to, and separate from, our course.

Effective September 1st, 2015, all teen students testing for a driver license are required to complete this two-hour ITTD video before they can take the driving test. Students must first complete all 32 classroom and all 44 driving hours of our course and receive a Final Certificate (DE-964) from us before they can register for the State required two-hour ITTD video.

You must register on the website provided above in order to complete this requirement. Once the student views the two-hour video, the State will issue them a Certificate of Completion. This Certificate of Completion must be presented to the DPS, along with the Final Certificate (DE-964) from our course, when the student goes to take their driving exam for their license. We have zero control of the 2 hour course video, and the certificate. The ITTD Certificate of Completion is only valid for 90 days, so your student will want to wait to view the ITTD video until they have less than 90 days before their scheduled driving exam.

Further questions about the requirements or anything related to the ITTD program, please contact the ITTD website referenced above; this is all the information we have to provide.

Here’s the steps for completing the ITTD video & obtaining the Completion Certificate from the State:

There are a few different requirements. A person must be at least 16 years old. They must have completed the entire Top Choice online driver edcuation course, and have held a valid Texas Learner License for at least 6 months. These are the general requirements that apply to the majority of the Texas population.

Once you have completed the online driver education course, we will email you a second DE-964 Certificate to bring with you to the DPS when you have met all other requirements. We will also guide you on all other forms that may be required for the Texas Driver License.

Yes we do. You will find this course option on our Registration page for a one-time fee of $49. The Driving Portion course will include very detailed instruction on exactly what you need to practice in the vehicle for each activity. You will even have the option of printing a summary to bring with you in the vehicle. We make the driving portion easy for the parent, and you will be able to complete all 44 hrs of required driving with this course.

The course also includes the required DE-964 Texas Driver Education Certificate. (emailed to you)

When the student is ready to get their license, they will need to schedule a driving test with a DPS location of your choice. Many allow you to do this online, or in person. You will need look up the DPS location using the link below to find out how that location schedules driving tests. Please do this early! Most locations have long waiting lists sometimes months long.

There is another option. You can find a local driving school that is approved to give the driving exam. They charge a fee, but will usually get you a much earlier testing date. It's called a "Third Party Skills Test."