Texas parents: Driver's Ed or through school or parent taught

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wow, this is an eye opener. In our school district, same as where I attended, driver's ed is taught in place of 10th grade health class. The final exam is the state written test. Once the kids come home with a card that shows they passed, stamped by school, we could sign him up for behind the wheel lessons if he/she is 16. We did pay for that and he'll get a review course just before his takes his road test. They can practice with a parent until their 17th birthday when the can road test.
My parents never did the 'behind the wheel' lessons with a school or otherwise, but then again I didn't ask. My boyfriend, 5 yrs older, taught me to drive but traffic back then was so much less than now.

However you do it, it's sooo hard being in the passenger seat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

our daughter took drivers ed at Texas Driving School during the winter break right after she turned 15. A few months before that, I took her practice driving, so as another mom said, she could at least know the basics. And forget it...she was petrified everytime I took her out...lol I took our (back then) 9 year old twins and I was texting as she was driving and she would freak out because I wasnt watching the road or they were too loud...lol I told her this is what is real. She definitely calmed down at the driving school..lol I know also, she had to take 10? daytime hours and 10? nighttime hours that I had to sign off before she could take her driving test at 16

But while multiple passengers, with one or more texting, may be real once one is licensed, are you sure it's realistic for a learning driver?

 

[coastiewifern]

Any advice? Our twins are turning 15 and getting ready for driver's ed. For driver's ed our school charges $250, going through the DMV it looks like it will be around $100. Our insurance said they will honor driver's ed or parent taught for a discount on insurance. Does anyone have experience with this? Any advice would be appreciated!

TIA

Where did you find it so cheap? Can you name the company? Around here the companies charge around $400. We are wanting to go that route rather than parent taught.

 

[sk!mom]

We've done both.

In my opinion it totally depends on the kid.

With DS28, we felt like he needed someone other than a parent so we sent him to driving school.

For DD17, we did parent taught with DH being the teacher. She is very self motivated and did the classroom part 100% on her own using the online course we paid for. DH handled the driving part. He's very patient and had an organized plan for all the steps she needed to cover.

Both worked well for us. Think about your kids/relationship and choose the best plan for that.

 

[v.t.]

Where did you find it so cheap? Can you name the company? Around here the companies charge around $400. We are wanting to go that route rather than parent taught.

The $250 is going through the school. For the written part, the class is an hour before school starts and cost $100. The driving part is usually in the summer and cost $150. The other $100 I mentioned was getting the packet and course on-line for parent taught.
I think we are going to go through the school but do a lot of driving at home.

 

[texasroni75]

Well, if you are like me, I'd go with school-taught Driver's Ed. I made my daughter VERY nervous with my inability to stop pressing my own set of imaginary brakes from the front passenger seat Seriously. I was terrified every single time she got behind the wheel with me, and she was not a bad driver. I really think my presence in the car made it take a LOT longer for her to get comfortable and hone her driving skills.

Of course, if you wait until your child turns 18, they can take the course and written test completely online for under $50, and walk into DPS and get their permit ($25), and any licensed adult over 21 can help them learn their road skills.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

They don't teach Driver's Ed here through the normal High School classes. You have to sign your kid up for what is called Community School Drivers Ed. The cost was 300.00.

We did it and was glad that is what we did. He got plenty of handbook instruction and then 8 hours out on the road driving instruction.

We also did out on the road instruction with us too. Around here you have to have a certain amount of out on the road driving during the day and at night and the class didn't have enough.

I think doing both gave our son very strong basic driving techniques. He got his license at 17.