Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS)
Getting your first Florida learner's license? Start here.
Florida's Driver Education Traffic Safety (DETS) course provides new drivers with the foundational knowledge they need before beginning their driving journey.
Beginning August 1, 2025, Florida generally requires applicants under age 18 to complete a 6-hour DETS course before applying for a learner's driver license if they have never previously held a driver license from another jurisdiction.
Who Needs the DETS Course?
DETS is generally for new Florida drivers who:
Are under 18 years old
Have never previously held a driver license
Are applying for their first Florida learner's license
Need to satisfy Florida's required driver-education course requirement
Florida changed its requirements in 2025. Previously, many teen drivers completed the 4-hour TLSAE course. For new applicants under 18, the required course is now generally the 6-hour DETS course.
What Will I Learn?
The DETS course introduces new drivers to essential topics they'll need before getting behind the wheel, including:
Florida traffic laws and rules of the road
Traffic signs, signals and pavement markings
Safe and responsible driving
Defensive-driving principles
Sharing the road
Distracted-driving awareness
Alcohol and drug impairment
Crash prevention
Driver responsibilities
Safe decision-making
The goal isn't simply to satisfy a licensing requirement. It's to give a new driver a foundation for safely beginning supervised driving.
How Does the Online Course Work?
The process is simple:
1. Enroll Online
Click Start Your DETS Course to enroll through our approved online course provider.
2. Complete the 6-Hour Course
Complete the required DETS instruction online from an internet-connected compatible device.
3. Complete the Course Requirements
Work through the required course material and assessments provided by the approved provider.
4. Continue the Licensing Process
After successful completion, your course completion is reported according to Florida and provider requirements. You can then continue completing the other requirements for your Florida learner's license.
Finished your DETS course? Your next step is learning to drive safely and confidently.
East Coast Driving Academy offers professional behind-the-wheel instruction to help new drivers build real-world driving skills and prepare for their Florida road test.