GREGG COUNTY, TEXAS ONLINE DRIVER'S ED

PTDE can be useful for Gregg County families who want a qualifying parent or other eligible instructor to handle the applicable driver education and driving instruction process.

TDLR's current PTDE guide explains that a teen can begin the classroom portion at age 14, although the teen cannot obtain a learner license until age 15 and the applicable classroom requirement has been completed. Under the concurrent method, the student completes the first six hours before obtaining the learner license. Under the block method, the student completes all 32 classroom hours before obtaining the learner license. The student must also receive the applicable Texas Driver Education Certificate of Completion, DE-964.

The parent instructor is responsible for following the PTDE process rather than simply supervising informal practice. The instructor should order the TDLR PTDE Program Guide, confirm eligibility, select the appropriate method, and purchase an approved PTDE course.

TDLR specifically advises a prospective parent instructor with a criminal history or driving ticket history to check eligibility with DPS before beginning instruction.

The online course is only one part of the overall process. Teen drivers still have to satisfy the applicable behind-the-wheel, observation, supervised-practice, testing, and licensing requirements.

For the teen licensing process, DPS requires a learner license to be held for at least six months before a provisional license can be issued, unless the teen turns 18 earlier. The provisional-license stage also requires completion of the applicable behind-the-wheel training, 30 hours of driving practice with at least 10 hours at night, the Impact Texas Teen Drivers program, and a successful driving test.

Start Parent-Taught Driver Education

For eligible teen students using the Texas PTDE pathway:

[START TEXAS PARENT-TAUGHT DRIVER ED] → DriverEdToGo.com

The block method is structured differently from the concurrent method.

Under the current TDLR PTDE guide, a student using the block method completes all 32 hours of classroom instruction before obtaining a learner license. This current TDLR guidance is more specific and newer than older DPS pages that still display the former 24-hour wording. For this page, the current TDLR PTDE guidance is used for the block-method classroom requirement.

For an online teen driver's ed student, the classroom or theory portion can be completed online through an approved provider. Professional behind-the-wheel instruction is a separate part of the Texas driver education process and should not be assumed to be included with the online classroom course.

Once the teen has progressed through the learner stage, Texas DPS requires:

• At least six months with a valid learner license before the provisional license stage, unless the teen turns 18 earlier.
• At least 7 hours of in-car observation with an instructor.
• At least 7 hours of in-car driving and demonstration with an instructor.
• 30 hours of supervised driving practice.
• At least 10 of those 30 practice hours at night with a licensed driver age 21 or older in the vehicle.
• Completion of Impact Texas Teen Drivers within 90 days before the driving test.
• Successful completion of the driving test.

DPS also requires teen applicants to meet other licensing requirements, including applicable school enrollment documentation and testing requirements.

Start Texas Teen Driver Education Online

For eligible teens using the block-method pathway:

[START TEXAS TEEN DRIVER ED ONLINE] → DriverEdToGo.com

The adult course is separate from both teen pathways.

If you are 18 through 24 and applying for your first Texas driver license, DPS says you generally need to complete a six-hour adult Driver Education course. A new Texas resident age 18 or older who surrenders a valid, unexpired out-of-state license is exempt from that requirement. Applicants age 25 and older do not have a Texas driver education requirement.

The adult course results in the applicable Adult Driver Education documentation, including the ADE-1317 certificate. TDLR identifies ADE-1317 as the adult driver education certificate used by providers.

Adult students also have a separate Impact Texas requirement before the skills test. DPS identifies Impact Texas Adult Drivers, or ITAD, as the one-hour program for adults who have completed the required adult course and for drivers age 25 or older. Applicants age 18 or older may complete either ITAD or ITTD under the current DPS rules. The certificate must be dated within 90 days of the driving skills test.

The adult education course does not by itself issue a Texas driver license. You still need to complete the applicable DPS application, documentation, vision examination, knowledge testing requirements, and driving skills test.

Start the Texas 6-Hour Adult Driver Education Course

For adult applicants following the applicable Texas adult driver education pathway:

[START TEXAS ADULT DRIVER ED] → AdultDriversEdExpress.com

The steps depend on whether you are a teen or an adult applicant.

Teen Applicants

A typical teen progression is:

1. Choose an eligible teen driver education pathway.
2. For PTDE, complete the required TDLR PTDE setup and use an approved course provider.
3. For the block method, complete the required classroom instruction before obtaining the learner license.
4. Apply for the Texas learner license at age 15 or later and satisfy the applicable DPS requirements.
5. Hold the learner license for at least six months unless you turn 18 earlier.
6. Complete the required behind-the-wheel instruction and observation.
7. Complete 30 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night.
8. Complete Impact Texas Teen Drivers within 90 days of the skills test.
9. Pass the driving test.
10. Obtain the provisional license if all applicable requirements have been met.

Teen drivers under 18 remain subject to provisional-license restrictions. These include passenger, nighttime driving, and wireless communication restrictions.

Adult Applicants

For a first-time Texas applicant ages 18 through 24:

1. Complete the required six-hour adult Driver Education course.
2. Receive the applicable completion certificate.
3. Complete the required Impact Texas program.
4. Gather the documents required by DPS.
5. Schedule a driver license appointment.
6. Complete the application, biometric steps, vision examination, and applicable knowledge and driving tests.
7. Complete the licensing process through DPS or an authorized testing provider when eligible.

DPS says first-time applicants must visit a driver license office in person. Driver license services are provided by appointment, and the appointment system allows applicants to select another office if their preferred location has no availability.

Gregg County has a more developed highway network than many rural East Texas counties. The county had an estimated population of 126,095 in 2025, and Longview accounts for a large share of that population.

For a new driver, the main challenge is not simply learning individual streets. It is learning how to move between different road environments.

A student may practice on neighborhood streets, then encounter multilane US highways, Loop 281, frontage roads, and I-20. US 259 also serves as an important north-south regional connection and carries commercial traffic through the Longview area.

The county also includes smaller communities where road conditions and traffic patterns can change quickly. A driver who is comfortable on city streets should still practice lane changes, highway entry and exit, speed control, and nighttime driving before taking on longer trips across the county.

Gregg County also has significant transportation activity associated with manufacturing, energy, retail, and regional freight movement. County planning documents identify oil and natural gas, manufacturing, retail, and agribusiness as important parts of the local economy.

Longview is the Gregg County seat and the county's largest city. The 2025 Census estimate places its population at about 83,236.

The local driving environment includes a combination of established city streets, commercial corridors, Loop 281, US 80, US 259, SH 31, SH 42, and access to I-20.

For a beginning driver, Longview is a useful place to build skills in stages:

• Start with residential streets and controlled intersections.
• Practice turning onto larger city arterials.
• Work on lane changes and signal timing.
• Practice entering and exiting multilane highways.
• Learn how frontage-road connections work around I-20.
• Practice nighttime driving before taking longer rural or regional trips.

Loop 281 is particularly relevant because it serves commercial and industrial areas around the city. Longview's transportation planning documents identify Loop 281 as a major circumferential roadway connecting with I-20.

The area is also undergoing transportation work. TxDOT reported current work on Loop 281 between Shofner Drive and US 259, with nighttime and occasional daytime lane closures.

Interstate 20

I-20 is the county's major east-west interstate corridor. TxDOT's Gregg County I-20 project information identifies a 17-mile Gregg County segment extending from the Smith County line to the Harrison County line. The corridor includes mainlanes, frontage roads, interchanges, and bridges.

New drivers should practice merging, maintaining a steady speed, checking mirrors before changing lanes, and understanding entrance and exit ramps.

US 80

US 80 provides an important east-west connection through the Longview area. Local transportation planning identifies it as a major access route into the city and downtown area.

US 259

US 259 connects the Longview area with communities to the north and south. It is also an important freight corridor. New drivers should be prepared to share the road with larger commercial vehicles and allow additional following distance.

SH 31

SH 31 connects the Longview and Kilgore areas and crosses I-20. The I-20 and SH 31 interchange is currently undergoing a major reconstruction project.

SH 42

SH 42 provides another important north-south connection between US 80 and I-20. TxDOT has included maintenance work on the corridor, and the route is also part of longer-term transportation planning.

SH 300

SH 300 serves the northwest Longview area and connects toward Gilmer. It provides an example of the transition between city driving and a longer regional highway trip.

Loop 281

Loop 281 is one of the most important local driving corridors. It connects with I-20 and passes through developed commercial and industrial areas. Its size, traffic signals, lane changes, and highway connections make it useful for supervised practice after a student has developed basic vehicle control.

FM and Other Rural Routes

Routes such as FM 1252, FM 2204, FM 2275, FM 349, and FM 1845 appear in TxDOT's Gregg County transportation plans. These roads provide additional practice environments where drivers may encounter changing speeds, two-lane sections, intersections, and less-developed surroundings.

The strongest local driving issue for Gregg County is learning how to transition between ordinary city streets and the I-20 highway system.

The Gregg County portion of I-20 includes frontage roads, multiple interchanges, bridges, and substantial commercial truck activity. TxDOT's project data identifies an average annual daily traffic volume of approximately 36,588 vehicles for the county segment and a truck share of 32 percent in the referenced corridor data.

That makes highway entry and exit skills especially important.

A beginning driver should learn to:

• Check traffic before entering an acceleration lane.
• Match the flow of traffic instead of entering too slowly.
• Maintain a safe following distance.
• Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
• Avoid making last-second exits.
• Understand that frontage-road movements may involve closely spaced intersections.
• Watch for large trucks that require more stopping distance.
• Reduce speed and increase attention in active construction areas.

The I-20 and SH 31 interchange is currently being reconstructed. TxDOT says drivers should expect nighttime closures, reduced speed limits, changing lane configurations, and construction activity in the project limits.

These conditions can change while the project progresses, so students should check current TxDOT information before practicing in an active work zone.

Commercial Truck Traffic

US 259 and I-20 serve regional freight movement. A new driver should avoid following trucks too closely and should allow extra room when passing or changing lanes around commercial vehicles. Local planning documents specifically identify truck traffic as a characteristic of the US 259 corridor.

Nighttime Highway Driving

Students who have completed basic daylight practice should gradually add nighttime driving. Rural portions of the county and longer highway trips can have less roadway lighting than developed commercial areas.

For teen applicants, at least 10 of the required 30 supervised practice hours must be completed at night.

Construction and Lane Changes

Construction is an active transportation issue in the county. Current TxDOT updates include I-20 work, Loop 281 resurfacing, and the I-20/SH 31 interchange project. Lane closures, reduced speeds, temporary traffic controls, and nighttime work can change the normal driving environment.

School and Commercial Areas

Longview, Kilgore, Gladewater, and White Oak have developed city areas where students will encounter traffic signals, turning vehicles, pedestrians, parking lots, and changing traffic speeds. These are useful environments for supervised practice after basic vehicle control has been established.

Railroad Crossings

The I-20/SH 31 interchange project includes new bridge construction over the Union Pacific Railroad. Drivers should pay attention to railroad crossing signs and never assume a crossing is clear simply because traffic ahead has moved through.

Online driver education can be convenient for eligible students throughout Gregg County because the online portion is not limited to one local classroom.

Students and families in Longview, Kilgore, Gladewater, White Oak, Lakeport, Easton, Clarksville City, Warren City, East Mountain, and surrounding rural areas can use the applicable online course pathway while completing the separate in-person licensing and driving requirements required by Texas.

Living in Gregg County does not change the statewide Texas driver education rules.

Longview

Longview is the county seat and the largest population center. Its combination of I-20, Loop 281, US 80, US 259, SH 31, and SH 300 creates a wide range of driving environments for new drivers.

Kilgore

Kilgore sits along the I-20 and SH 31 corridor and has a strong connection to the regional highway network. The city is also home to a local driving school resource, making it relevant for students who need professional in-car instruction.

Gladewater

Gladewater is another incorporated city within Gregg County. Its location along US 80 and the surrounding regional road network makes it relevant to students who regularly travel between smaller city streets and larger highways.

White Oak

White Oak is an incorporated municipality in the county. Students in this area may encounter the transition between local streets and the larger Longview area transportation network.

Lakeport and Easton

Lakeport and Easton are also incorporated municipalities listed in the Gregg County taxing-unit directory. Their inclusion in the county's municipal network means local students may travel between smaller community roads and the larger Longview and I-20 corridors.

East Mountain, Clarksville City, and Warren City

These are additional incorporated municipalities associated with Gregg County. Some of these municipalities extend beyond the county boundary, so the exact portion of a municipality within Gregg County can matter when researching local services.

Gregg County requires careful distinction between a standard Texas Driver License Office and other DPS facilities.

Because DPS office locations and services can change, the safest way to identify the current office serving a Gregg County applicant is the official DPS Driver License Office search. DPS states that any driver license office can assist customers and that all driver license and identification services, including drive tests, are by appointment.

For first-time applicants, DPS requires an in-person visit. The appointment system allows applicants to select another office if their preferred location does not have available appointments.

Official DPS office search: Texas DPS Driver License Office Locations

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

Mr. D's Driving Center

Mr. D's Driving Center is located at 507 E. Kay Street, Kilgore, TX 75662, and lists teen driver education, in-car instruction, adult driver education, and individual driving lessons. Its website currently identifies services in both Kilgore and Longview.

A current provider listing also identifies Mr. D's Driving Center, provider C3471, in Kilgore and shows adult driver education, classroom, instructor-taught, and online services.

Students should confirm the exact service they need before enrolling, especially when they are using an online classroom course and need separate behind-the-wheel instruction.

The Drivers License School

The Drivers License School lists its location at 1605 Judson Rd., Longview, Texas, and advertises professional driver education and hands-on training for teens and adults.

Because licensing status, services, schedules, and course arrangements can change, students should verify current TDLR licensing and the exact services available before making arrangements.

These driving schools are listed as local resources. Inclusion does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by DriverEdToGo or CyberActive, Inc. Students should confirm eligibility, services, availability, pricing, scheduling, and current Texas licensing directly with the school.

The right course depends on your age and licensing path. Choose only the pathway that applies to you.

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 adult applicants using the applicable Texas adult driver education pathway.

[START TEXAS ADULT DRIVER ED] → AdultDriversEdExpress.com

The Gregg County taxing-unit directory identifies the following incorporated municipalities associated with the county:

• Clarksville City
• East Mountain
• Easton
• Gladewater
• Kilgore
• Lakeport
• Longview
• Warren City
• White Oak

Several of these municipalities extend across county boundaries, so the portion located within Gregg County should be considered when developing future city-specific pages.

Communities such as Lake Cherokee, Liberty City, Danville, Elderville, and other local areas should not automatically be treated as incorporated municipalities simply because they are associated with the county. Gregg County planning documents identify a broader collection of communities and geographic areas.