Andrews, Texas Online Driver's Ed

Parent-Taught Driver Education gives an eligible family member a formal role in teaching the teen under the Texas PTDE program.

The process starts with TDLR. The family must obtain the required PTDE Program Guide, select an approved PTDE course provider, and make sure the proposed instructor satisfies Texas eligibility requirements. TDLR explains that parents and certain other qualifying family members can serve as instructors, but instructor eligibility is not automatic.

A teen can begin the classroom phase at age 14. The standard learner-license process begins at age 15 after the student satisfies the applicable education, examination, documentation, and other requirements. Texas law requires the learner-license applicant to have satisfactorily completed the classroom phase required by the selected course method.

Current Classroom Requirement

The current controlling TDLR rules reduced the minimum classroom requirement for the minor driver education course from 32 hours to 24 hours. The revised POI-DE published by TDLR describes the core program as at least 24 hours of classroom instruction, seven hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, seven hours of in-car observation, and 30 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night.

Some older TDLR and DPS webpages still display 32-hour language. The November 2024 adopted rules and the revised December 2024 POI-DE are the more current controlling materials for the course-hour change. This distinction is important for families researching Texas driver education today.

PTDE Instructor Requirements

The person serving as the PTDE instructor must satisfy Texas requirements. TDLR identifies qualifying relationships such as a parent, step-parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster parent, or legal guardian, subject to the applicable eligibility standards.

Families should check the instructor's eligibility before building their licensing plan around PTDE. Driving history and other eligibility issues can affect whether someone may serve in the instructor role.

PTDE Driving Requirements

The online classroom course is only one part of the teen's education.

The current TDLR POI-DE identifies:

• At least 24 hours of classroom instruction
• Seven hours of behind-the-wheel instruction
• Seven hours of in-car observation
• 30 additional hours of supervised driving
• At least 10 of those 30 supervised-driving hours at night

The required supervised driving must be completed with an appropriate adult who meets the Texas requirements. Families should keep the required records rather than treating ordinary family driving as automatically satisfying the formal practice requirements.

Start Texas Parent-taught Driver Ed

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The block method is designed for a teen who wants to complete the classroom phase before obtaining the learner license.

The current Texas minimum classroom requirement is 24 hours, not the 32 hours shown on some older state webpages. The revised TDLR POI-DE identifies 24 hours as the minimum classroom phase for the core driver education program.

For the block method, the student completes the classroom phase before applying for the learner license. Texas law allows a learner license for a person who is at least 15 and who has satisfactorily completed and passed the classroom phase of an approved driver education course, along with the other applicable requirements.

What DriverEdToGo Provides

DriverEdToGo provides the online classroom/theory component for the teen block-method pathway.

The online course should not be confused with the complete behind-the-wheel portion of the Texas driver education program.

The current core requirements include seven hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and seven hours of in-car observation, plus 30 hours of supervised driving with at least 10 hours at night.

For a block-method student, the applicable professional in-car instruction must be arranged separately.

After the Classroom Phase

Once the student has completed the required classroom phase and satisfies the learner-license requirements, the student can move into supervised driving.

Texas uses a graduated licensing system for teens. The learner license is followed by the provisional license. A teen generally must hold the learner license for at least six months before receiving a provisional license, subject to the applicable Texas requirements.

Start Texas Teen Driver Ed Online

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The Texas adult driver education course is separate from the teen licensing program.

If you are 18 through 24 and applying for your first Texas driver license, DPS requires completion of a six-hour adult driver education course before the applicable testing process. Texas Transportation Code also establishes the broader driver education requirement for applicants under age 25, with an exception for people who hold a valid driver's license issued by another state.

Applicants age 25 and older do not have a driver education requirement for a first Texas license, although they still have to satisfy the other DPS requirements and testing requirements.

The Adult Course Is Six Hours

Texas requires the adult driver education course to be six hours. TDLR's rules separately address online adult six-hour driver education courses and require online providers to maintain procedures for validating the identity of students taking the course.

The online course is the education component. It does not provide the Texas driver license itself.

Impact Texas Adult Drivers

An adult who has completed the six-hour adult driver education course and is taking the skills test must complete the applicable Impact Texas Driver program.

DPS identifies Impact Texas Adult Drivers as the one-hour program for adults who are required to take the adult driver education course. The certificate must be completed within the applicable 90-day period before the driving skills test.

Drivers age 25 and older who take a skills test also have an Impact Texas requirement, even though they do not have a driver education requirement.

What Happens After the Course?

Adult applicants still need to complete the DPS licensing process, provide the required documents, satisfy the vision and testing requirements, and complete the driving skills examination when required.

Start the Texas 6-hour Adult Driver Ed Course

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Texas licensing requirements differ depending on whether the applicant is a teen or an adult.

Teen Applicants

A teen generally moves through the Texas Graduated Driver License program.

1. Complete the Appropriate Driver Education

The teen chooses an approved education pathway, such as Parent-Taught Driver Education or a licensed driver education program using the applicable course method.

2. Meet Learner License Requirements

The learner license is available beginning at age 15 when the student satisfies the applicable education, testing, school enrollment, identification, and other requirements. Texas law requires completion of the classroom phase required for the selected program before issuance of the learner license.

3. Practice With a Qualified Adult

A Texas learner license permits supervised driving with a qualified adult in the front passenger seat. Texas law specifies that the supervising person must be at least 21, properly licensed for the vehicle, and have at least one year of driving experience.

4. Complete the Remaining Driver Education and Practice

The student completes the applicable behind-the-wheel, observation, and supervised-driving requirements.

5. Complete Impact Texas Teen Drivers

Eligible teen applicants must complete the Impact Texas Teen Drivers program before the driving skills test. DPS states that the ITTD certificate is valid for 90 days.

6. Hold the Learner License for the Required Period

A teen generally must hold the learner license for at least six months before qualifying for the provisional license.

7. Pass the Driving Test

The student must satisfy the applicable requirements and pass the driving skills examination before receiving the provisional license.

Adult Applicants

Adult applicants follow a different process.

Applicants ages 18 through 24 applying for a first Texas license generally need the six-hour adult driver education course. New Texas residents who are at least 18 and surrender a valid, unexpired out-of-state driver license are exempt from that specific education requirement.

The applicant must also complete the DPS application process, provide required documentation, pass the vision examination, and complete the required knowledge and driving tests.

If the applicant is taking a driving test, the applicable Impact Texas Driver certificate must be presented. DPS states that the ITD certificate must be dated within 90 days of the skills test.

Driver education is one part of the licensing process. Completing an online course does not itself issue a Texas driver's license.

Andrews County is a largely rural West Texas county in the Permian Basin. The 2025 Census estimate places the county population at 18,914. Andrews city had an estimated population of 13,665 in 2025, meaning most of the county's population is concentrated in the county seat while large areas remain rural.

That geography affects how a new driver gains experience.

A student may learn basic vehicle control on local city streets and then encounter long stretches of state highways or Farm-to-Market roads when traveling outside Andrews. Rural driving requires more attention to speed, sight distance, passing decisions, following distance, and nighttime visibility.

The county's highway network includes US 385, SH 115, SH 176, SH 128, FM 181, FM 1788, FM 1967, and FM 2371, among other routes. TxDOT project documents show how these roads connect Andrews with surrounding counties and regional destinations.

Truck traffic is another local consideration. TxDOT identifies SH 176 in Andrews County as an important regional route and says the SH 176 West project is intended to address safety and mobility issues associated with truck and vehicle traffic.

The county's road standards also distinguish local streets, collectors, and arterials based on expected traffic volumes and roadway characteristics. That reflects the transition a driver can experience between neighborhood streets and higher-volume roads.

For new drivers, the practical lesson is simple: build experience gradually. A student who is comfortable on a quiet residential street still needs practice before handling high-speed rural highways, heavy vehicles, nighttime travel, and longer trips.

Andrews is the county's primary population center and transportation hub.

The city is connected to the regional highway network by US 385 and several state and Farm-to-Market routes. The result is a mix of ordinary city driving and through traffic traveling between communities and work areas across the Permian Basin.

Inside Andrews, a beginning driver should focus on the basics that become difficult when traffic increases: recognizing intersections early, maintaining a safe following distance, choosing the correct lane before turning, watching for pedestrians, and managing speed around developed areas.

The transition outside the city is different.

Once a student leaves the built-up area, roads such as US 385, SH 115, and SH 176 can involve higher speeds and longer distances between developed areas. The driver has more time to look ahead, but fewer immediate places to stop or turn if a problem develops.

Andrews also has a relatively short average commute. The Census Bureau reports a mean travel time to work of 21.6 minutes for workers age 16 and older during 2020 through 2024.

For a new driver, that does not mean every trip is simple. Local driving experience should include both everyday city trips and the regional highway travel that connects Andrews with surrounding communities.

US 385

US 385 is one of the primary north-south routes through the Andrews area.

For a new driver, its importance is the change in driving environment. The student may leave local streets and enter a higher-speed highway where traffic moves faster and stopping distances increase.

Practice should focus on speed control, lane positioning, following distance, and scanning well ahead.

SH 115

SH 115 is a major regional route serving the Andrews area.

TxDOT has studied the SH 115 North corridor between SH 128 and SH 349 because of safety and mobility concerns and projected traffic growth. TxDOT's project materials also identify truck involvement as an issue along portions of the corridor.

A student practicing on this type of road should learn to judge gaps carefully, maintain a steady lane position, and avoid last-second turns or lane changes.

SH 176

SH 176 is particularly relevant to beginning drivers because of the amount of regional and truck traffic associated with the corridor.

TxDOT's SH 176 West project covers a section in Andrews County between NW 9999 and FM 1788. TxDOT describes the route as an important connection and identifies truck and vehicle traffic as a reason for planned safety and mobility improvements.

SH 128

SH 128 connects with the regional highway network north of Andrews and forms part of the route system that connects the county with neighboring areas.

For students, it is another example of the difference between local city driving and open highway driving.

FM 181

FM 181 connects the Andrews area with SH 176 and SH 115 and continues toward the Gaines County side of the regional road network. TxDOT project materials identify the route in connection with several county transportation projects.

FM 1788

FM 1788 is an important connection east of Andrews and meets SH 176. TxDOT's SH 176 West project ends at FM 1788, making the intersection relevant to regional travel.

FM 1967 and FM 2371

These Farm-to-Market routes are relevant to rural travel around Andrews County. They provide connections away from the city's main developed area and require the same basic skills that matter on other rural roads: speed control, visual scanning, safe turning, and awareness of other road users.

Sharing the Road With Large Trucks Around Andrews

Heavy-vehicle traffic is a useful local focus for new drivers because of the role SH 176 and other regional routes play in the Permian Basin transportation network.

TxDOT's SH 176 West project specifically identifies truck and vehicle traffic as a safety and mobility concern in Andrews County.

A beginning driver should learn how to manage the extra space required around large vehicles.

Keep more following distance behind a truck than you might behind a passenger vehicle. A large vehicle can block your view of traffic farther ahead, so avoid following closely just to see around it.

When passing, avoid remaining beside the truck longer than necessary. Check mirrors carefully, signal before changing lanes, and make sure there is enough room to complete the maneuver.

Turning behavior also matters. Large vehicles may need additional room to make turns, especially at intersections where roads meet state highways or Farm-to-Market routes.

Watch for the Transition From City Roads to Highways

The bigger lesson is not simply "watch for trucks." It is learning to recognize how quickly the driving environment changes around Andrews.

A student can leave a residential street, reach a state highway, encounter a large commercial vehicle, and be traveling at substantially higher speeds within a short period.

That is why highway practice should be deliberate rather than something the student tries for the first time during an important trip.

Rural Night Driving

Large portions of Andrews County are outside the city's developed street network. Nighttime driving can therefore feel very different from driving on a well-lit city street.

Students should practice using headlights correctly, maintaining a speed appropriate for visibility, and looking far enough ahead to recognize changes in the roadway.

The supervised-driving requirement also specifically includes nighttime practice. TDLR's current POI-DE requires at least 10 hours of nighttime driving within the 30 hours of supervised practice.

Farm-to-Market Roads

Farm-to-Market roads are part of everyday travel in rural Texas counties.

A student should not assume that a road is easy simply because it has less traffic. Lower traffic volume can encourage excessive speed, while intersections, curves, agricultural vehicles, and changing roadway conditions still require attention.

Energy-Related Traffic

The Permian Basin's energy industry affects transportation across the region. TxDOT's SH 176 project specifically connects the highway with energy-sector and regional transportation needs and identifies truck traffic as part of the corridor's safety and mobility challenge.

Students should be comfortable sharing the road with work trucks and larger commercial vehicles.

Highway Intersections

Intersections between state highways and Farm-to-Market roads deserve deliberate practice.

TxDOT project records identify intersections such as SH 176 at FM 1788 and SH 115 at FM 181 in Andrews County transportation projects.

A new driver should approach these locations with enough time to identify the correct turn, lane, and speed before reaching the intersection.

Wind and West Texas Weather

Open West Texas roads can expose drivers to changing weather and wind conditions. Students should be prepared to reduce speed when weather affects visibility or vehicle control.

The appropriate response to poor conditions is to adjust driving to the conditions rather than assuming that a posted speed is always a suitable travel speed.

Online driver education can be useful for eligible students living throughout Andrews County because the classroom portion can be completed remotely when the selected approved course permits online instruction.

The statewide requirements do not change based on whether a student lives in Andrews, McKinney Acres, or a rural part of the county.

What changes is the practical side of the licensing process.

Students living outside Andrews may need to plan ahead for travel to the DPS Driver License Office, behind-the-wheel instruction when required, supervised practice, and the eventual driving test.

For families using PTDE, online classroom instruction can be combined with the family-led in-car portion required under the Parent-Taught program.

For students using the block method, the online classroom portion is followed by the applicable in-car instruction and supervised practice requirements.

For adults ages 18 through 24, the six-hour adult course is a separate pathway.

Andrews Drivers

Andrews is the county seat and the only incorporated municipality in Andrews County.

Because most of the county's population is concentrated here, the city is the natural center for local services and the primary starting point for many county residents learning to drive.

A student should become comfortable with local streets before progressing to US 385, SH 115, SH 176, and rural Farm-to-Market routes.

McKinney Acres Drivers

McKinney Acres is a census-designated place, not an incorporated city. The U.S. Census Bureau identifies McKinney Acres as a CDP in Andrews County.

Residents follow the same statewide Texas driver education requirements as other county residents.

The practical issue is access to services. Students living outside the main Andrews city area should account for travel when arranging licensing appointments and any required in-car instruction.

Frankel City Area

Frankel City is a small rural community in the western part of the county. The surrounding road network includes Farm-to-Market routes and connections to SH 176.

For a beginning driver, the setting is different from driving in Andrews because trips involve more rural-road travel and longer distances between developed areas.

The area should be treated as a rural community rather than an incorporated municipality.

Andrews Driver License Office

Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Office

Address: 201 N Main St, Room B2, Andrews, TX 79714

Phone: (432) 464-0002

The Andrews Driver License Office is the local DPS driver license facility serving the county. Available services can include driver license and identification services and testing, but applicants should verify the exact service they need before scheduling.

The office should not be confused with the Andrews County Registration & Titling office at 210 NW 2nd. Vehicle registration and title services are separate from Texas DPS driver license services. Current location listings identify the Andrews driver license office at 201 N Main St, Room B2.

Texas DPS directs applicants to its Driver License Services appointment system when scheduling a visit.

Texas DPS Driver License Services

Texas DPS locations, services, appointment availability, and operating hours can change. Check the Texas Department of Public Safety before visiting.

A current search of the available Texas driver education licensing resources did not establish a local commercial driving school in Andrews that can be confidently identified here as a currently verified TDLR-licensed behind-the-wheel provider.

That does not establish that no instructor or school serves Andrews. It means there is not enough current authoritative information to name a local provider without risking an unsupported claim.

This matters particularly for students using the teen block method, because the online classroom portion does not by itself complete the applicable in-car requirements.

Students should use the current TDLR driver education provider resources to identify licensed schools and confirm directly:

• Whether the school currently offers behind-the-wheel instruction
• Whether it serves Andrews residents
• What portions of teen driver education it provides
• Current scheduling
• Current pricing
• Vehicle requirements
• Testing availability, if offered
• Any documentation needed before beginning instruction

TDLR Driver Education and Safety Resources

These driving schools and instructors should be treated as local resources. Inclusion of a school in a local resource list does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by DriverEdToGo or CyberActive, Inc. Students should confirm eligibility, services, availability, pricing, scheduling, and current Texas licensing requirements directly with the school.

The correct course depends on your age and the Texas licensing pathway you are using.

Parent-Taught Driver Education

For eligible Texas teen students following the PTDE pathway.

Start Parent-taught Driver Ed

→ DriverEdToGo.com

Teen Driver Education, Block Method

For eligible Texas teen students using the block-method pathway.

Start Texas Teen Driver Ed

→ DriverEdToGo.com

Texas 6-Hour Adult Driver Education

For first-time Texas adult applicants for whom the six-hour adult course applies.

Start Texas Adult Driver Ed

→ AdultDriversEdExpress.com

Andrews County has one incorporated municipality:

• Andrews