Who Needs to Take Adult Driver Education?
For Texas license applicants between 18 and 24 years old, completing a 6-hour Texas adult driver education course is legally required before taking the road test. Adults 25 and older are not required to take formal driver education, but completing an approved course allows them to take the official state knowledge exam online instead of at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) office.
6-Hour Adult Driver’s Ed: Average Course Cost
The base tuition for an online 6-hour Texas adult driver education course generally ranges from $28.95 to $49.00. However, the price tag displayed on a provider’s homepage may not tell the entire story. While the curriculum itself is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), commercial driving schools operate in a free market. Providers set their own retail rates and may add certificate, processing, or rush-delivery fees at checkout, along with optional in-course upgrades such as audio narration or autoplay.
Can You Find Free Driver’s Ed?
New drivers often search for “free” driver’s ed online, but there is no standard free 6-hour adult course in Texas. Every state-approved driver’s ed course is produced by a licensed commercial provider that charges tuition. Therefore, searches for free online driver’s ed in Texas generally lead to free practice materials or the free ITAD video—not a free TDLR-approved adult licensing course.
Important ITAD distinction: Do not confuse the Adult Driver Education (ADE) course with the Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) program. The ITAD course is a free, 1-hour video offered by the DPS that focuses on distracted driving. Every applicant must present an ITAD certificate (dated within 90 days) at the road test, but it does not replace driver education. You can access the ITAD course on the Impact Texas Adult Drivers page.
What to Watch Out for in “Cheap” Courses
If your goal is to find cheap online driver’s ed in Texas, compare the final checkout price rather than the advertised tuition alone. Extremely low prices and “free enrollment” promotions may be offset by certificate, retake, processing, or course-extension charges.
Before enrolling, check the fine print:
- Confirm that the company is licensed by TDLR to offer adult driver’s ed. The DPS will reject a completion certificate from an unauthorized provider, requiring you to repeat the course through a licensed school.
- Low-cost courses often tack on a “certificate processing fee” right before you enter your credit card information.
- Some providers charge extra fees if you fail the final written test on your first try, requiring additional payment to unlock retakes.
- Some budget online platforms impose 30- or 60-day completion windows and charge an extension fee if you do not finish on time.
Texas Online Driver’s Ed Pricing (2026)
To understand what you will actually pay for adult driver’s ed, compare each provider’s effective total cost: base tuition plus mandatory certificate, handling, or processing fees.
| Provider | TDLR License # | Ad Price | Mandatory Certificate Fee | Total Cost | Standout Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NextDoorDriving.com | C3424 | $34.95 | $0.00 | $34.95 | All-in pricing, free instant digital ADE-1317 certificate, unlimited test retakes, full English/Spanish courses, free read-along included. |
| NHSA | C3042 | $28.95 | $0.00 | $28.95 | Lowest base price reviewed, free read-along audio. |
| DriversEd.com | C3244 | $29.00 | $5.95 | $34.95 | Established national brand, dedicated mobile app experience. |
| I Drive Safely | C3249 | $29.00 | $5.95 | $34.95 | Audio read-along, 180-day completion window. |
| Aceable | C2839 | $49.00 | $0.00 | $49.00 | Native app experience with virtual learning tools, priced ~40% higher. |
Featured Texas Adult Driver’s Ed Provider: NextDoorDriving.com
With transparent upfront pricing, NextDoorDriving.com (TDLR License #C3424) charges a flat $34.95 fee for the Texas 6-Hour Adult Driver Education course. Your tuition includes all six hours of instruction, the integrated DPS written knowledge test, unlimited exam retakes, and instant downloadable access to your official ADE-1317 completion certificate. If you prefer to study and take the permit test in Spanish, the Texas Adult Driver Education in Spanish course is available at the same price.
What’s Included in Tuition?
Understanding what your driver’s ed course tuition covers helps prevent unexpected out-of-pocket expenses down the line. Reputable online providers will include all of the following:
- A TDLR-approved curriculum covering Texas traffic laws, road signs, and driving safety.
- An official DPS written knowledge test.
- The completion certificate (ADE-1317).
Note on state fees: TDLR assesses a small $1 regulatory fee directly to course providers for each certificate issued. Reputable providers absorb this within their base tuition, while others use it to justify charging consumers a higher “state processing fee” at checkout.
Total Out-of-Pocket Licensing Costs
Driver education is only one part of the Texas licensing process. Consider all of the following when organizing your licensing budget:
- Online adult course tuition: $28.95 to $49.00 (paid to your course provider).
- Texas DPS application fee: $33.00 for a standard adult license for ages 18–84 ($9.00 for ages 85+).
- Road test: $0.00 if taken during a scheduled appointment at a DPS office. If you bypass long DPS wait times by testing through a Third-Party Skills Testing (TPST) school, expect a $30.00 to $90.00 testing fee.
- Optional driving lessons: Standalone online courses cover theory only, but some local driving schools offer hybrid packages (online course plus in-car training) or standalone lessons ranging from $120.00 to over $300.00, depending on hours booked.
How to Audit Texas Driver’s Ed Providers Before Enrolling
To select the best course for your schedule and budget, follow this 4-step evaluation process before submitting payment:
- Confirm the provider displays an active TDLR License Number (e.g., License #C3424). Never enroll with an unaccredited vendor.
- Look past headline banners for the final price. Add the course to your cart to see if hidden certificate, processing, or “state filing” charges appear before entering payment info.
- Review test retake and pass guarantee policies.
- Confirm if the provider offers free electronic delivery of your ADE-1317 certificate so you don’t have to wait weeks for physical mail or pay $20+ for instant delivery.
Printed certificate note: Even with electronic delivery, the Texas DPS requires you to bring a printed paper copy of your driver education completion certificate to your licensing appointment. Showing the digital certificate on a smartphone is not accepted.
