In Texas a teen can enroll in a driver education class at age fourteen (14). At 14 years of age one can enter the classroom phase of driver education, and then the teen must be at least 15 years to enter the in-car phase. These are minimum ages and some schools require students to be older.
A student is not permitted to apply for an instruction permit until he or she is at least 15 years of age and has completed at least Module One (minimum of six instructional hours) of a driver education classroom program. Application for an instruction permit license requires the student to pass a Department of Public Safety (DPS) written examination and to meet all other DPS licensing requirements.
The DPS sates that the legal driving age in Texas is 15 years of age, no exceptions. A TX instruction permit allows a beginning driver to operate a vehicle with someone in the front seat that is 21 years of age or older and holds a valid license.
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Texas, like most states, has a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system. You must be at least 15 years of age to receive an instruction permit license, phase one. You must be at least 16 years of age to receive a provisional driver license, phase two. You can obtain a Texas driver license at age 18 or older without completing a driver education course.
So you can start driving at age 15 in Houston, Texas but only with an instruction permit and you must have a licensed driver 21 years of age or older in the front seat with them. If a 16 year old has reached phase 2, the provisional license, the restrictions for the accompanying driver change. The Texas DPS can give you more information on the state GDL process. | 
