Under 18 and getting a first license
Florida requires DETS if you're under 18 and have never held a driver license from another state, country, or jurisdiction. It's been required since August 1, 2025.
✓ FLHSMV-approved 6-hour course
Florida DETS course, online. The first step to a learner's permit, done from a phone.
Every new Florida driver under 18 has to take it, and we know it's nobody's favorite part. So we made it as easy as we could: the 6-hour course, as required by the FLHSMV, in as many short sittings as you like.
- Works on a phone, tablet, or computer
- Stop anytime. Progress saves automatically, so you pick up right where you left off
- Pass the final test, download the certificate, and we report completion to the state for you
- Price
- $19.95 one time, no hidden fees
- Length
- 6 hours, in as many sittings as you like
- After
- Completion reported to FLHSMV, certificate usually minutes after you finish, then the permit test
For new drivers under 18. 18 or older? You need the 4-hour TLSAE course instead.
¿En español? Curso en español
See the course
No surprises. Here's what you'll actually see.
Clear lessons, simple graphics, and an audio read-along that highlights the text as it's read aloud. Parents, this is exactly what your teen will see. These screenshots are from Module 1.
Listen or read
Rather listen? Press play.
Turn on the audio read-along and the lesson is read aloud while the text lights up, so it's easy to keep your place. This is the real opening of Module 1.
- Listen while you read, or just read. Your choice.
- Skip back, skip ahead, or change the speed.
- Leave anytime. Progress is saved.
Florida Driver Education Traffic Safety Course
Getting behind the wheel changes everything. Driving means independence, but it also means every choice you make carries real consequences. A single decision can protect lives or put them at risk.
At Defensive Drivers Institute, we'll prepare you for the road ahead. This course covers Florida's driving laws, the habits that prevent crashes, and the strategies that help you stay calm and in control during high-pressure situations. You'll learn not just how accidents happen, but how to stop them before they do.
33-second excerpt from the course audio. In the course, the player stays at the top of every lesson.
How it works
Three steps, then on to the permit test
A 6-hour course, as required by the FLHSMV. Do it all at once or spread it over several days.
Sign up and start
Register in a few minutes, pay $19.95 once, and start on any device.
Take the lessons
Read or listen. Stop whenever you like and pick up where you left off. Finish with the final test.
Get the certificate
We report your completion to FLHSMV, which issues your certificate number. Your certificate is usually ready to download within minutes of finishing, and we email you a copy. Then you're ready for the permit test.
Who it's for
Is this the right course?
Parents: what you're signing up for
One $19.95 fee covers everything. Your teen can do it on any device, in short sittings, and completion is reported to the state for you.
18 or older? Take the TLSAE
New drivers 18 and older take the 4-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course instead. See the TLSAE course.
DETS stands for Driver Education Traffic Safety. Topics include defensive driving, Florida traffic laws and road signs, hazard recognition, distracted and drowsy driving, sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists, weather, and decision-making.
Online or in a classroom?
Same Florida requirement, your schedule
Any FLHSMV-approved course, online or in a classroom, meets the same 6-hour requirement. A classroom works well for some families. If you'd rather not plan around a class time and a ride there, online is simpler.
| Online with DDI | Classroom course | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Anywhere, on a phone or computer | At the school's location |
| When | Whenever there's time, day or night | At the scheduled class time |
| Breaks | Stop anytime. Progress saves | Set by the class |
| Listen instead | Audio read-along | Depends on the instructor |
One price
$19.95, and that's it
One fee covers all course materials, the final exam, and the certificate of completion. No hidden fees.
Our DETS course is approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Checkout is encrypted, and we never store credit card details on our servers.
Questions? Call (833) 921-0217, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 2 p.m. ET.
- Price
- $19.95 one time
- Length
- 6 hours, pause anytime
- Devices
- Phone, tablet, or computer
- After
- Completion reported to FLHSMV, and your certificate is usually ready within minutes of finishing
- Refunds
- Not finished? You can get a refund. Refund policy
Quick answers
Florida DETS questions
Will Florida accept this course?
Yes. Our DETS course is approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), and your completion is reported directly to the state.
Who has to take it?
Anyone under 18 who has never held a driver license from another state, country, or jurisdiction. Since August 1, 2025, it's required before applying for a Florida driver license. 18 or older? Take the 4-hour TLSAE course instead.
How long does it take?
It's a 6-hour course, as required by the FLHSMV. Do it all at once or spread it out over several days.
Can my teen stop and come back later?
Yes. Start, stop, and resume whenever it works. Progress saves automatically, so you pick up right where you left off.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. It works on any device with internet access, including computers, tablets, and smartphones.
When do we get the certificate?
Usually within minutes of finishing. We report your completion to FLHSMV electronically, and FLHSMV issues your certificate number. Your certificate is then ready to download from your account, and we email you a copy.
How much does it cost?
$19.95, one time. That covers all course materials, the final exam, and the certificate of completion. No hidden fees.
What if I change my mind?
Not finished? You can get a refund. Read our refund policy
What comes next?
Take the Class E Knowledge Exam (the permit test) to get a learner's permit. Then practice driving with a licensed adult before taking the driving test.
See all 56 Florida DETS FAQs · All Florida courses · ¿En español? Preguntas frecuentes en español
Module 1 · Introduction (free preview)
Like it? The full course is $19.95, and progress saves as you go.Start my DETS course →
