Get Your First Texas License Starting Right Here in Hays

This is the Texas Adult Driver Education Course, the state-mandated 6-hour course required for first-time license applicants ages 18 to 24 in Texas, and available to anyone 25 or older who wants to skip the in-person written test at the DPS. Finish the course, pass the final exam, get your ADE-1317 certificate, and walk into the Hays area DPS office ready for your driving skills test.

  • TDLR Approved: Approved and regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation under Title 16, Chapter 84.
  • Self-Paced Course: No daily hour cap. Finish in one sitting or log back in across multiple sessions whenever you are ready.
  • ADE-1317 Certificate: Pass the final exam and get your digital ADE-1317 Certificate of Completion to bring to the Texas DPS.
OPEN AN ACCOUNT
Course Requirement
Approved
Adult 4-hour Abbreviated Course
Processing Time
Instant
Hidden Fees
$0.00
Eligibility Check
--

Total one-time price

$38.00
Includes instant email certificate delivery.
Start Course
Secure 256-bit SSL Encrypted Payment

Three Steps and You're Done

Enroll and Start

Create your account and begin the Texas Adult Driver Education Course. The course is text and image based with interactive lessons and quizzes between sections. Your progress saves automatically server-side after each section, so you can log out and pick back up without losing anything.

Work Through the Material

The course covers Texas road signs, traffic laws, right-of-way rules, and alcohol and drug impairment content. No live video streaming. Read through each section, answer the section quizzes, and move forward at whatever pace works for your schedule that day or across several days.

Pass the Exam and Get Certified

After completing 6 hours of TDLR approved instruction, you take a 30-question final exam covering road signs and road rules. Score 70% or better and you receive your digital ADE-1317 Certificate of Completion. That certificate substitutes for the DPS Class C written knowledge test when you apply for your Texas license.

Get Started Today

You Cannot Apply for a License Without This

For anyone between 18 and 24 in Texas, the DPS will not process your first license application until you hand over that ADE-1317 certificate. The sooner you finish the course and pass the built-in written test, the sooner you can book your driving skills test at the Hays area DPS office and get your license in hand. There is no reason to sit on it.

Get Started

Regulated by TDLR, Accepted by Texas DPS

TrafficSchool.net, operated by OnlineTrafficEducation.com, is a TDLR approved Texas driver education provider. The Texas Adult Driver Education Course meets current Texas DPS requirements and is governed by the Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 84. The ADE-1317 certificate this course issues is the document Texas DPS accepts at the counter.

Last updated: Content reviewed and current as of the latest TDLR guidelines.
State Approved Content

Every lesson meets TDLR standards under Texas Administrative Code Title 16, Chapter 84. The material is the same whether you are 19 or 35 and getting your first Texas license.

No Classroom Required

Work through the course from any device with a browser. No scheduled class times, no driving to a school building, no waiting for a seat to open up in Hays or San Marcos.

One Flat Price

The full Texas Adult Driver Education Course costs $38.00. No hidden fees added at checkout. Pay once and get access to all six hours of TDLR approved instruction.

Online Course

Complete the Texas Adult Driver Education Course on your own schedule, from any device, with your progress saved automatically after every section.

No Fixed Class Schedule

Log in and out as needed. No daily hour cap enforced by the course.

Built-In Written Test

Pass the 30-question final exam and skip the DPS written knowledge test entirely.

Digital Certificate

ADE-1317 issued digitally on passing. Print it or bring it on your phone.

In-Person Classroom

Traditional classroom driver education requires scheduled sessions at a licensed school, which can mean driving into San Marcos or further from Hays.

Fixed Class Times

You attend on the school's schedule, not yours. Seats fill up.

Separate DPS Written Test

Some in-person formats still require the DPS written test at the office.

Paper Certificate

Physical certificate issued after class completion. You manage not losing it.

How Long Does This Actually Take?

The state requires 6 hours. Here is how that plays out depending on how you take the course.

Method
Estimated Time to Certificate
Online Course Six hours of instruction with no daily cap. Finish in one day or split across multiple sessions at your own schedule.
In-Person Classroom Scheduled across set class days at a licensed school. You work around their calendar, not yours.

What Does Getting Licensed Actually Cost?

The course fee is one part of the total cost. Here is how the online option compares to the classroom route.

Method
Realistic Total Cost
Online Course Course enrollment costs $38.00. No travel, no gas, no time off work to sit in a classroom in San Marcos.
In-Person Classroom Classroom tuition typically runs higher than $38.00, plus fuel and time driving to and from the school.

Pick Up Where You Left Off

The course works on phones, tablets, and laptops. Your progress saves server-side after every section, so switching devices mid-course does not cost you anything. A lot of people in Hays knock out a section or two during a lunch break and finish the rest that evening at home.

  • Any Device

    Browser-based course works on your phone, tablet, or laptop without downloading an app.

  • Auto-Saved Progress

    Server-side saves after each section mean you never restart a module you already finished.

  • Log In Anytime

    No scheduled session times. Return to the course whenever your schedule opens up.

4.8 / 5 on Trustpilot from 842 reviews

Read more reviews on Trustpilot

About This Course Provider

TrafficSchool.net, operated by OnlineTrafficEducation.com

TrafficSchool.net, operated by OnlineTrafficEducation.com, is a TDLR approved Texas driver education provider. The Texas Adult Driver Education Course offered here meets current Texas DPS requirements and is governed by Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 84. The ADE-1317 certificate issued on completion is accepted by Texas DPS for first-time license applications.

  • TDLR approved Texas provider
  • Governed by TAC Title 16, Chapter 84
  • ADE-1317 certificate issued on completion
  • Accepted at Texas DPS offices
  • Meets current Texas DPS requirements

Already Licensed? Other Courses Available Here

TrafficSchool.net also offers Texas defensive driving courses for eligible drivers looking to dismiss a ticket or reduce insurance points.

Questions About the Texas Adult Driver Education Course

Who is required to take this course in Texas?

Anyone applying for their first Texas driver license between the ages of 18 and 24 is required to complete the Texas Adult Driver Education Course before the DPS will process their application. That requirement comes from Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 84, Section 84.503, which governs adult driver education enrollment. Adults 25 and older are not required to take the course, but completing it lets them skip the in-person DPS Class C written knowledge test. Both groups receive the same ADE-1317 Certificate of Completion on passing. If you are in Hays and fall into either category, enrolling through a TDLR approved provider like TrafficSchool.net, operated by OnlineTrafficEducation.com, is the right starting point.

Does passing the course final exam mean I skip the written test at the DPS office?

Yes. The 30-question final exam built into the Texas Adult Driver Education Course substitutes for the DPS Class C written knowledge test, as recognized under current Texas DPS requirements. Pass the final at the required score and you do not retake a written test when you walk into the Hays area DPS Driver License Office. The exam covers road signs and road rules, the same material the DPS written test covers. What the course does not replace is the in-person driving skills test, which you still complete at the DPS. Bring your ADE-1317 Certificate of Completion to the DPS office when you go to apply and schedule your road test.

How long does the course take to finish?

The Texas Adult Driver Education Course requires 6 hours of TDLR approved instruction, which is the state-mandated minimum under Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 84. The course has no daily hour cap, so you can finish all six hours in a single sitting or spread them across multiple sessions over several days. Progress saves automatically server-side after each section, so logging out does not cost you any completed work. Most people in Hays find it practical to knock out a few sections one evening and finish the rest the next day. There is no enforced deadline named in this course, so work at a pace that fits your schedule.

What is the ADE-1317 certificate and what do I do with it at the DPS?

The ADE-1317 is the official Certificate of Completion issued under TDLR rules when you pass the Texas Adult Driver Education Course final exam. It is the document the Texas DPS requires when you apply for your first Texas driver license. Without it, the DPS will not process a first-time application for applicants ages 18 to 24. You receive the certificate digitally after passing the final. Bring it to the Hays area DPS Driver License Office, which serves Hays County residents, when you go to apply and schedule your driving skills test. The nearest DPS Driver License Office handling road tests for Hays residents is in San Marcos, roughly 10 miles from Hays on IH-35.

Do adults have to log behind-the-wheel practice hours for this course?

No. Adults taking the Texas Adult Driver Education Course are not required to log behind-the-wheel practice hours as part of this course. That requirement applies to the teen driver education program, not to the adult course governed by Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 84, Section 84.503. The adult course is the 6-hour instructional component only. The in-person driving skills test at the DPS is still required and separate, but the course itself does not mandate any logged practice driving before you can complete it or receive your ADE-1317 certificate. Once you pass the final exam, you are done with the course portion and ready to schedule your road test at the San Marcos DPS office.

Why would someone 25 or older take this course if it is not required?

The practical reason is simple. Adults 25 and older who complete the Texas Adult Driver Education Course skip the in-person DPS Class C written knowledge test entirely, as permitted under current Texas DPS requirements and the framework of Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 84. That means one fewer step at the DPS office in San Marcos, which is about 10 miles from Hays on IH-35. The DPS office handles walk-in and appointment traffic for all of Hays County, and skipping the written test shortens your visit. For someone who has not studied Texas traffic law recently, the course also covers exactly what the DPS tests on, so you arrive prepared for the driving skills test rather than guessing.

See where Traffic School works