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Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte How long is the Florida DETS course? It must last at least 6 hours, and most teens split that time into two or three sessions before taking the 40-question final exam. Online courses track your time, so you cannot finish faster than the 6-hour minimum. Key Facts How Long Is the Florida DETS Course? The Short Answer FLHSMV says a DETS course must be at least 6 hours long. You can read that rule on the FLHSMV DETS course page. Some providers may build a longer course, but none can be shorter.

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte Florida DETS vs TLSAE comes down to age: first-time applicants under 18 take the 6-hour DETS course, and first-time applicants 18 and older take the 4-hour TLSAE course. The change took effect on August 1, 2025, when DETS replaced TLSAE for teens. TLSAE was not removed, and adults still need it. Key Facts The One Rule That Decides It You do not need to compare course features to choose between DETS and TLSAE. Florida decides it by your age when you apply for your first license. FLHSMV explains the teen rule on

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte You can take the Florida DETS course online in self-paced lessons that add up to at least 6 hours, then finish with a 40-question final exam. When you pass, the provider reports your completion to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Teens under 18 who have never held a license need this course before they apply for a learner’s license. Key Facts Who Takes the Florida DETS Course Online DETS stands for Driver Education Traffic Safety. Since August 1, 2025, Florida applicants under 18 who have never held

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte Your Florida DETS course next steps are to check your certificate, gather your documents, get the HSMV 71142 consent form signed, and pass the knowledge exam and vision and hearing tests. You can then apply for a learner’s license once you are at least 15. This guide covers each step in order, plus the learner’s license year that comes after. Key Facts Florida DETS Course Next Steps at a Glance The steps are simple, but small mistakes cause most delays. The sections below explain each one. Step 1: Check Your Certificate When

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte The Florida DETS course is a 6-hour, FLHSMV-approved Driver Education Traffic Safety course that teens under 18 must complete before they apply for their first Florida driver license, starting with the learner’s license. It became required on August 1, 2025, and it applies to anyone under 18 who has never held a driver license from any state or country. Adults 18 and older do not take DETS; they still take the separate 4-hour TLSAE course under F.S. 322.095. Key Facts What Is the Florida DETS Course? DETS stands for Driver Education Traffic

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte The Florida DETS course for teens is a 6-hour, FLHSMV-approved course that teens under 18 must finish before applying for a first learner’s license. As a parent, your biggest jobs are choosing an approved course, signing the HSMV 71142 consent form, and supervising at least 50 hours of practice driving later. This guide walks through each step from the course to a teen driver license at 16. Key Facts Does Your Teen Need the Florida DETS Course for Teens? Since August 1, 2025, Florida applicants under 18 who have never held a

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte The Florida DETS course final exam has 40 questions, and you need 80% (32 correct) to pass. A provider may allow up to three attempts, and passing is what earns your completion certificate. It is a separate test from the 50-question knowledge exam you take for your learner’s license. Key Facts Florida DETS Course Final Exam Basics Every approved DETS course ends with a final exam. FLHSMV describes it in its DETS course FAQ: Exam detail What FLHSMV says Number of questions 40 Passing score 80%, or 32 correct Attempts The provider

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte The Florida DETS course cost depends on the provider, because Florida does not set one statewide price. On October 19, 2026, four national online DETS courses listed prices from $19.95 to $36, and some showed sales, coupons, or extra fees. The real total also depends on retake rules, certificate fees, and whether you buy a bundle. Key Facts What Four Online DETS Courses Charged To give you real numbers, we reviewed the public course pages of four large national online schools that sell a Florida DETS course. We recorded what each page

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte The Florida DETS course certificate shows that you passed the 6-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety course and its final exam. Your provider reports the completion to FLHSMV electronically, and you keep a copy for your records. You need that completion on file before you apply for a Florida learner’s license. Key Facts What the Florida DETS Course Certificate Is When you finish an approved DETS course, you earn a completion certificate. It shows that you completed the required course time and passed the final exam. The certificate matters because Florida requires DETS

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte Taking the Florida DETS course at 14 is often possible, because Florida law does not set a minimum age to start the course. Each provider sets its own start age, and one national online school we checked allows students from 14 and a half. The learner’s license itself still requires age 15, so finishing DETS early simply means the course is done when your teen is old enough to apply. Key Facts What Florida Law Says About Age The DETS requirement applies to Florida applicants under 18 who have never held a