Frequently Asked Questions
What are your Instructors Qualifications?
They are certified by TDLR, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. All of our instructors hold a clean valid Texas Driver's License. All classroom instructors have completed training in teaching techniques and have experience teaching in class settings. All instructors have completed continuing education and training on Texas laws and regulations and have completed laboratory training on teaching in the car and have experience teaching in cars and on the road.
What is a typical Drivers Training Vehicle offer?
Every vehicle is equipped with a second brake, a camera, GPS tracking, passenger front mirror fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, and seatbelt cutter/window breaker.
How do I schedule an appointment with the DPS?
You can schedule appointments at DPS online with the Schedule Appoint (txdpsscheduler.com). Please check the availability of appointment times, they can change frequently due to cancellations.
What do I need to bring to the DPS to get my permit?
Use this link and read what paperwork is required to bring to get your permit. Please reach out if you have any questions you need answered! Find in Helpful Links
What do I need to bring to my drive time?
Bring your original instructional/driving permit. Students are not permitted to drive without their permit on them. Any form of a copy is not acceptable.
On the 3rd day of class, a test will be administered and a certificate presented to passing students to take to the DPS (drivers license department) - (See list of locations in Helpful Links) to apply for a driving permit.
Again, students cannot start driving the required 14/30 hours (IDS) without a driving permit (it is crucial to apply for the permit a.s.a.p.).
Additional
Prescribed glasses - If you wear prescribed glasses you will need to provide this information to DPS for your driving permit. Presrcibed glasses must be worn at all times when operating a motor vehicle.
Driving Attire - Closed shoes for driving and conservative clothing (comfy T-Shirt and Jeans work). Driving Instructors need to leave promptly when the drive time begins and cannot wait more than 5 min. when the student is picked up. Please arrive at your drive time prepared to drive.
How and when can I schedule a drive time?
Students are expected to coordinate drive times with the school or (When this feature comes available on IDS Website) log on to the drive portal to check for drive time availability on a regular basis. The Driver Instructor will reach out to confirm the date and time the day before your scheduled drive time.
There will always be 2 Carmates and One Instructor per car.
Students have one year to complete remaining 30 hours of driving lessons (driving with a parent) within the 11 months remaining - which equals a year. 1 month class + 11 months = 1 year.
Drive times are opened every Monday - Sunday - Please check the drive schedule tab for times.
Additional
IDS realizes that every student's/parent’s schedule is different and that some students may require additional drive time to practice the lessons learned in class along with the skills developed in the car, for this reason you are encouraged to be very proactive with scheduling drive time with IDS. Parent driving can be worked out independently with parents and must be logged. The log sheet can be found in helpful links. Simply download and print.
We encourage students to drive with parents as often as possible. In doing so the total 44 hours should be completed within a 6 month period. Remember the driving permit requires the student to drive for 6 months and be age 16 before obtaining a teen drivers license.
How often can I drive?
DRIVE - As many sessions needed to complete hours.
DRIVE - 7 sessions (2 hours each) - Total 14 hours: 7 Drive time and 7 observation with driving instructor.
DRIVE - As many sessions as it takes to complete 30 hours with parents
This totals 44 hours - The more drive time sessions the better.
How many lessons do I need and how long are they?
Texas requires students complete 7 driving lessons which are two hours each. During each driving lesson, the student will drive for 1 hour and observe another student driver for 1 hour. This does not count for the 30 hours Texas requires a student to drive with their parents.
When are the drive times?
IDS will always attempt to have all drive schedules the first week of class which is the 3rd time the class meets in the first week.
Drive times are available at various times throughout the week, on weekends, and holidays. After the first schedule is drafted drive times will become on a first-come first-served basis, and are subject to the availability of a driving instructor and a car.
All the drive times are full - what do I do?
We would rarely have a situation like this happen. This scenario will only play out if students do not have their driving permits on the Friday of the first week. So for example - driving can start as early as the first weekend of driving school. Should this happen new drive times are released on Mondays for the following week. Please log into (When this feature comes available on IDS Website) your Student Portal daily for new openings added when an instructor has new and unexpected availability and when other students cancel. Check back often because other students cancel drive times they cannot make.
If the weather is bad do we still drive?
We will drive in all types of weather conditions. We will not drive if there is inclement weather or severe thunderstorms. Please call our office (682-772-9311) for driving updates.
I need to cancel/change the drive time. What should I do?
When you schedule a driving lesson, you are reserving a car and an instructor. Another student is also counting on you for their observation hour. If you need to cancel a lesson, log into your Student Portal (When this feature comes available on IDS Website) and cancel your drive time. Make sure that you cancel your drive time at least 24 hours in advance to avoid the fee.