Parent-Taught Driver's Ed: What Parents Should Know
Hosts Jenny Butcher & Daniel Yeh talk with Vania Boyd about Iowa’s Parent-Taught Driver’s Ed—who qualifies, how to enroll, common mistakes, logging tips, and choosing between parent-taught vs. traditional programs. Safety, patience, and communication are key!
Listen to the Podcast (20 min 39 sec)
Teaching Parent Qualifications
List items for Parent-taught Driver Education - Teaching Parent Qualifications FAQs
No, Iowa Code 321.178A only allows parents (or legal guardians or custodians) who have a valid driver’s license, other than a motorized bicycle license or a temporary restricted license, that permits unaccompanied driving; and who has maintained a clear driving record for the previous two years.
A qualified teaching parent must possess a valid Iowa driver’s license, other than a motorcycle-only license or temporary restricted license (TRL/work permit), that permits unaccompanied driving as well as have a clear driving record for the previous two years.
A clear driving record means that in the past two years, the parent’s driver’s license was not suspended or revoked, the parent was not identified as a candidate for a suspension for habitual violations, and they have not been convicted of a moving traffic violation determined to be the cause of a motor vehicle accident. You can check your driving current driving record on our website.
No, Iowa Code 321.178A specifies that the instructor must be the student’s parent or legal guardian or custodian and must have custody and control of the student. The parent cannot instruct students that don’t meet those requirements, even if the parent is providing other instruction to those students. A licensed and DOT certified behind-the-wheel instructor may also provide the 30 hours of driving instruction.
Yes, but they have to complete a separate application for each child.
Yes, each parent who will be instructing must have a valid driver’s license, other than a motorized bicycle license or a temporary restricted license, that permits unaccompanied driving; and who has maintained a clear driving record for the previous two years. Each parent participating in instruction must be listed on the application for completions as well as their signature to receive final completion approval from the Iowa DOT.
Yes, as long as each parent has legal custody of the student and meets the requirements to teach the student in question. If the parent does not have legal custody, they are not eligible to conduct parent-taught driver education because the student is not in the custody and control of the parent.
Course Material & Driving Log
List items for Parent-taught Driver Education - Course Material & Driving Log FAQs
A qualified teaching parent will select a curriculum that has been approved by the Iowa DOT. A list of the approved courses can be found on the Parent Taught Driver Education webpage.
No, the legislation requires the teaching parent to select a course that has been approved by the Iowa DOT and is listed on the list of approved courses on the prior page.
Costs are set by the approved course vendors and vary according the course selected and the type of material the parent chooses to receive (for instance, written versus online).
Iowa Code 321.178A requires the driving log to include skills and notes for each drive. It’s important for the Parent-Taught review team to see what the student learned and how they improved on each drive. It’s also a great way for parents to keep track of their child’s progress!
Student Requirements
List items for Parent-taught Driver Education - Student Requirements FAQs
A student must be between the ages of 14 and 21 and be within the custody and control of the teaching parent. The student must have an Iowa instruction permit before beginning driver’s education.
The student must complete 30 hours of street or highway driving, including three hours of nighttime driving (after sunset and before sunrise) while accompanied by the teaching parent. The parent should use Iowa Department of Transportation Form 431228 – Driving Log for Parent-Taught Driver Education to log the required driving hours completed by the student. Those who chose to pre-qualify will receive additional information including driving logs that can be used.
No, Iowa Code 321.178A allows the student to use 20 of the 30 hours required for parent-taught driver education to meet this requirement. This includes the required nighttime driving.
Yes, the legislation requires every student that successfully completes an approved parent-taught driver’s education course to pass a driving test administered by the Iowa DOT at a driver’s license issuance site before they can obtain their license. Make an appointment with Iowa DOT.
Yes, the legislation that established parent-taught driver education did not change any of the other eligibility requirements for students taking parent-taught driver education. (A student may also apply for a minor school license if they are receiving private instruction but taking certain classes at an accredited school or participating in extracurricular activities at an accredited school.) Find more information about driver’s license eligibility requirements for minors.