Kaufman County, Texas Online Driver’s Ed

Parent-Taught Driver Education allows an eligible parent, guardian, or approved designee to conduct the student’s driver education under the Texas PTDE process.

A parent does not qualify automatically.

TDLR requires the proposed instructor and student to verify eligibility. Certain driving-history and criminal-history issues affect instructor eligibility. A person holding a Texas driver license with a B restriction does not qualify as a PTDE instructor.

PTDE Requirements

TDLR currently describes the Parent-Taught program as:

24 hours of classroom instruction

7 hours of behind-the-wheel training

7 hours of in-car observation

30 additional hours of behind-the-wheel training

At least 10 of the additional driving hours completed at night

The in-car phase totals 44 hours.

The family must purchase curriculum from a licensed provider with the Parent-Taught endorsement.

When the Student Gets a Learner License

A Texas student can begin classroom driver education at age 14.

The student cannot apply for a learner license until age 15.

Under Texas DPS rules, the required classroom progress depends on the course method selected.

For the block method, all 24 classroom hours must be completed first.

For the concurrent method, the student completes the first six classroom hours before applying for the learner license, then finishes the remaining 18 classroom hours afterward.

PTDE Instructor Authorization

Before instruction begins, the parent or other proposed instructor must apply to TDLR.

TDLR currently requires an online application and a $20 nonrefundable fee. A separate authorization is required for each student.

DPS later checks the instructor’s driving record when the student applies for the learner license and again when the student applies for a provisional license.

Impact Texas Teen Drivers

Students ages 15 through 17 who completed an approved Parent-Taught or minor driver education course must complete the two-hour Impact Texas Teen Drivers program before the driving skills test.

The certificate is valid for 90 days.

Start Texas Parent-taught Driver Ed

→ DriverEdToGo.com

The block method is not the same as Parent-Taught Driver Education.

DriverEdToGo supplies the online classroom and theory portion.

Required professional in-car training must be completed separately.

How the Block Method Works

A block-method student generally:

1. Completes all 24 classroom hours.
2. Passes the required knowledge examination.
3. Applies for the learner license at age 15 or older.
4. Completes the professional in-car requirements separately.
5. Completes supervised driving practice.
6. Completes Impact Texas Teen Drivers.
7. Passes the driving skills test.
8. Applies for the appropriate provisional license.

Texas DPS specifically states that the block method requires all 24 classroom hours before the learner license.

Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

Current TDLR guidance identifies:

7 hours of professional behind-the-wheel driving

7 hours of in-car observation

30 additional hours of supervised driving

At least 10 of the additional hours at night

The 30 additional hours must occur with a qualifying adult who is at least 21, holds a valid driver license, has at least one year of driving experience, and occupies the seat beside the student.

Families should confirm that a local driving school offers in-car-only enrollment before signing up.

Do not assume every licensed school accepts students who completed classroom instruction elsewhere.

Start Texas Teen Driver Ed Online

→ DriverEdToGo.com

Texas adult driver education follows different rules from teen driver education.

Most first-time Texas applicants ages 18 through 24 must complete a six-hour adult driver education course.

Applicants age 25 or older are generally not required to complete driver education.

Teen requirements such as 7 professional driving hours, 7 observation hours, and the teen graduated licensing sequence should not be applied to adult students.

Adult Driver Education Certificate

Texas uses the ADE-1317 or electronic equivalent for completion of an approved adult driver education course. TDLR separately identifies DE-964 certificates for driver education and ADE-1317 certificates for adult driver education.

Impact Texas Adult Drivers

DPS requires the one-hour Impact Texas Adult Drivers program for applicable adult driving-test applicants.

The ITD certificate must be completed before the skills test and is valid for 90 days.

Third-Party Driving Tests

Texas permits authorized schools to administer certain Class C road tests.

Applicants ages 18 through 24 using a third-party testing provider must have the applicable driver education certificate, a valid restricted driver license, and the required Impact Texas Drivers certificate.

Start the Texas 6-hour Adult Driver Ed Course

→ AdultDriversEdExpress.com

Teen Parent-Taught Applicants

A PTDE student generally:

1. Confirms instructor and student eligibility.
2. Obtains TDLR instructor authorization.
3. Enrolls in an approved Parent-Taught course.
4. Completes the applicable classroom requirement.
5. Applies for the learner license.
6. Completes the required in-car instruction and supervised practice.
7. Holds the learner license for the required period.
8. Completes ITTD.
9. Passes the skills test.
10. Applies for the provisional license.

A student under 18 generally must hold the learner license for at least six months before obtaining the provisional license.

Teen Block-Method Applicants

A block-method student generally:

1. Completes all 24 classroom hours.
2. Passes the knowledge examination.
3. Applies for the learner license.
4. Completes professional driving and observation requirements.
5. Completes the supervised practice requirement.
6. Completes ITTD.
7. Passes the road test.
8. Applies for the provisional license.

Adult Applicants

A first-time applicant ages 18 through 24 generally:

1. Completes the six-hour adult driver education course.
2. Schedules a DPS appointment.
3. Presents the required identity, residency, Social Security, and insurance documentation.
4. Completes required testing and vision steps.
5. Completes ITAD.
6. Passes the skills test.
7. Completes driver license issuance.

Kaufman County sits immediately east of Dallas County.

Interstate 20 crosses the county, while U.S. 80, U.S. 175, SH 34, SH 205, FM 548, FM 740, FM 741, FM 148, and FM 1641 connect rapidly growing suburban communities with smaller cities and rural areas.

This creates a useful but demanding range of practice environments.

A student might begin on a subdivision street in Forney, enter FM 548, move toward U.S. 80 or I-20, and later travel on a rural FM road.

A driver based in Kaufman might move from residential streets onto SH 34, SH 243, or U.S. 175 within minutes.

That transition is the defining local issue for new drivers.

A reasonable progression is:

1. Parking areas
2. Residential streets
3. Local signalized intersections
4. Commercial corridors
5. Farm-to-Market roads
6. U.S. highways
7. Interstate frontage roads
8. Interstate entrance and exit ramps
9. Rural nighttime driving

Kaufman is the county seat.

Official city mapping identifies U.S. 175, SH 34, SH 243, FM 2578, FM 1388, FM 987, Washington Street, Houston Street, Mulberry Street, and other local roads.

For a beginning driver, Kaufman provides a different learning environment from Forney.

The city is smaller and less interstate-oriented, but students still move quickly between local streets and high-speed regional roads.

Useful practice includes:

Residential streets around the city center

Downtown intersections

SH 243

SH 34 and the SH 34 bypass

U.S. 175 entrances and exits

FM and county roads outside the city

Students should become comfortable selecting lanes and preparing for turns before moving onto U.S. 175.

Interstate 20

I-20 crosses Kaufman County and connects communities such as Forney and Terrell with Dallas and East Texas.

The county describes I-20 as running through the heart of Kaufman County.

For students, I-20 introduces:

Entrance ramps

Acceleration lanes

High-speed merging

Frontage roads

Large trucks

Lane changes

Exit planning

Higher following-distance requirements

TxDOT has long-range plans for additional continuous frontage roads on sections of I-20 in the county.

U.S. Highway 80

U.S. 80 is especially important through Forney and Terrell.

Forney identifies Highway 80 as one of its major TxDOT-controlled roads.

U.S. 80 gives new drivers experience with higher traffic volumes, signalized intersections, commercial access, merging, and frontage-style driving conditions.

U.S. Highway 175

U.S. 175 is central to the southern part of the county and passes through the Kaufman area toward Kemp.

Official Kaufman maps identify U.S. 175 as one of the city’s primary corridors.

New drivers should learn to:

Accelerate before entering traffic

Avoid stopping on an entrance ramp unless traffic requires it

Check mirrors and blind spots

Identify exits early

Leave additional following distance

Avoid last-second lane changes

State Highway 34

SH 34 connects Terrell and Kaufman.

TxDOT is currently studying SH 34 between FM 2578 in Terrell and SH 243 in Kaufman for possible development as a four-lane divided roadway. TxDOT states that the study is responding to growth and mobility needs in Terrell, Kaufman, and surrounding communities.

This corridor provides a strong local lesson in changing roadway conditions.

Students should pay close attention to lane markings, work zones, speed changes, and turning traffic as projects develop.

State Highway 205

SH 205 serves the Terrell area and connects toward Rockwall County.

TxDOT’s Kaufman County project map includes future widening of SH 205 south of U.S. 80.

FM 548

FM 548 is one of the most important roads in the Forney area.

TxDOT and Kaufman County have planned major widening projects because the road is transitioning from a rural roadway into a larger urban corridor.

One project reconstructs FM 740 and FM 548 between I-20 and FM 1641 from a two-lane rural road into a four-lane divided urban roadway with medians and shared-use paths.

That makes FM 548 particularly useful for explaining how road design changes as a county grows.

FM 740, FM 741 and FM 1641

These roads form part of the growing Forney-area transportation network.

The City of Forney identifies FM 740 and FM 741 among the state-maintained roads serving the city.

TxDOT also has future projects involving FM 741 and FM 1641.

Kaufman County’s strongest local driving topic is growth.

The county had approximately 145,000 residents at the 2020 Census base and an estimated 209,235 by July 2025.

That growth is physically changing the road network.

Roads that once functioned primarily as two-lane rural routes are being widened or studied for conversion into larger urban corridors.

FM 548 is a clear example.

TxDOT describes a project that changes portions of FM 740 and FM 548 from two-lane rural roadways into four-lane divided urban roadways.

For a beginning driver, this produces several important lessons.

Do Not Assume Every FM Road Feels Rural

A Farm-to-Market designation does not tell you how busy a road will be.

Around Forney, FM roads now carry substantial suburban traffic.

Students need to read the actual road environment rather than relying on the route number.

Expect Changing Lane Configurations

Growing corridors often have:

New turn lanes

Temporary construction lanes

Changed medians

New traffic signals

New commercial driveways

Lane closures

Adjusted speed limits

Students should rely on current signs and pavement markings.

Plan Turns Earlier

On a quiet rural road, a driver might have ample time to slow for a turn.

On a widening suburban corridor such as FM 548, surrounding vehicles might be traveling in several lanes.

The student should identify the correct lane well before the intersection.

Watch for Traffic Entering From New Development

Rapid residential and commercial construction introduces new driveways, intersections, school access points, and turning traffic.

A student should scan beyond the vehicle immediately ahead.

Forney is one of the county’s largest growth centers.

The city identifies U.S. 80, FM 548, FM 1641, FM 740, FM 741, and other state-maintained roads as major parts of its transportation system.

Forney is a strong location for later-stage teen driving practice because it combines:

Subdivision streets

School traffic

Commercial driveways

Railroad crossings

U.S. 80

FM corridors

I-20 access

Higher-density suburban traffic

The transition from neighborhood streets to U.S. 80 or I-20 should occur gradually.

A student should first become comfortable with multilane surface streets before practicing interstate merging.

Terrell sits approximately 32 miles east of Dallas and has direct access to I-20.

The city identifies I-20, U.S. 80, SH 34, SH 205, and FM 148 as major transportation routes.

Terrell therefore offers a particularly broad range of driving environments:

Downtown streets

U.S. 80

I-20

SH 34

Commercial areas

Truck traffic

Railroad infrastructure

Rural roads outside the city

Students practicing around Terrell should learn to distinguish between local U.S. 80 traffic and interstate traffic.

The speed, following-distance, and merging decisions are different.

Crandall lies in the growing western portion of the county.

Its proximity to Forney and I-20 means students may regularly transition between smaller city streets and regional commuting corridors.

A Crandall student should gain experience first on local streets, then on FM roads and larger corridors before beginning interstate practice.

Kemp and Mabank serve the southern part of Kaufman County near the Cedar Creek Reservoir area.

Driving conditions here differ from the more suburban Forney corridor.

Students are more likely to encounter U.S. 175, rural roads, smaller town streets, and longer trips between destinations.

Kaufman County is one of the Texas county pages where freeway and frontage-road instruction deserves its own section.

I-20 gives students access to a true interstate environment.

New drivers should practice:

Matching traffic speed before merging

Using the full acceleration lane

Checking mirrors and blind spots

Maintaining a predictable lane position

Leaving sufficient following distance

Planning exits early

Avoiding abrupt moves across multiple lanes

Understanding frontage-road intersections

Students should not begin interstate practice until they have demonstrated reliable lane control and mirror use on lower-speed multilane roads.

Kaufman County has substantial transportation work planned.

TxDOT’s current design project list includes FM 548, FM 1641, SH 205, I-20 frontage roads, and FM 741.

The City of Forney also published a March 2026 Kaufman County transportation report and identifies Highway 80, FM 548, FM 1641, FM 740, FM 741, and related corridors as active transportation concerns.

Students should expect conditions to change.

A road used for practice one month might have a different lane configuration later.

Texas driver education courses completed beginning September 1, 2026 must also incorporate updated construction and maintenance work-zone material.

Despite rapid suburban growth, much of Kaufman County remains rural.

The county itself describes housing and land patterns ranging from growing developments to rural homesteads and larger acreage properties.

A teen should practice nighttime driving on familiar rural roads only after developing strong daytime control.

Night practice should focus on:

Proper headlight use

Recognizing curves earlier

Reducing speed when visibility falls

Watching for driveways and side roads

Increasing following distance

Avoiding fixation on approaching headlights

Scanning for animals near the roadway

Texas licensing rules do not change from one Kaufman County city to another.

Eligible students can complete the applicable online portion from Kaufman, Forney, Terrell, Crandall, Kemp, Mabank, Combine, Talty, Scurry, or another county community.

The course choices remain:

Parent-Taught Driver Education

→ DriverEdToGo.com

Teen Driver Education, Block Method

→ DriverEdToGo.com

Texas 6-Hour Adult Driver Education

→ AdultDriversEdExpress.com

Terrell DPS Driver License Office

111 Tejas Drive Terrell, TX 75160

Phone: 972-551-7700

Kaufman County’s official website identifies this as the DPS driver license office serving the county.

Applicants should schedule the specific service they need through Texas DPS.

Potential services for new drivers include learner-license applications, first-time license applications, and other driver license services, but applicants should verify the service offered at the location before visiting.

Do not confuse the DPS office with the Kaufman County tax office or Justice Center.

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

Teen block-method students must arrange the professional in-car portion separately.

TDLR maintains the official driver education provider licensing system.

Families should ask any provider:

1. Is your TDLR driver education provider license active?
2. Do you provide in-car instruction for minors?
3. Do you offer in-car-only enrollment?
4. Do you accept students who completed classroom instruction through another provider?
5. Do you provide the required 7 hours of professional driving?
6. Do you provide the required observation component?
7. What completion documentation will you issue?
8. Where do driving lessons begin?

These driving schools are listed as local resources only when verified. 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.

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 teen students completing the online classroom phase and arranging in-car instruction separately.

Start Texas Teen Driver Ed

→ DriverEdToGo.com

Texas 6-Hour Adult Driver Education

For adult applicants using the applicable adult driver education pathway.

Start Texas Adult Driver Ed

→ AdultDriversEdExpress.com

Kaufman County’s current official materials identify the following cities and towns in the county:

Combine

Cottonwood

Crandall

Forney

Grays Prairie

Kaufman

Kemp

Mabank

Oak Grove

Oak Ridge

Poetry

Post Oak Bend

Rosser

Scurry

Talty

Terrell

The county’s current page says it has “15 cities” but then lists 16 communities. Poetry incorporated in 2020 and now has an active municipal government, which likely explains why older county language and the current list do not match. Poetry also extends into both Kaufman and Hunt counties.