Form DL-14A is the Texas Department of Public Safety application for a driver license or state identification card, used by residents age 17 years and 10 months or older. A Spanish-language version, DL-14AS, is available on the DPS website.1Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS Internet Forms Filling in the form itself takes a few minutes; the work is assembling the documents that back it up and getting them in front of a DPS employee at a scheduled appointment.
The same form covers both a driver license and an ID card. If you’re applying for a license, you’ll also take a vision exam, a written knowledge test, and a driving skills test. If you only need an ID card, you skip the tests. The paperwork requirements are otherwise identical.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
Documents to Gather Before You Apply
DPS requires original or certified copies. Photocopies and laminated documents are not accepted.3Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements You need to prove four things: identity, Texas residency, your Social Security number, and U.S. citizenship or lawful presence.
Identity
DPS groups identity documents into primary, secondary, and supporting tiers. You can satisfy the requirement one of three ways:3Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
- One primary document, such as a Texas driver license or ID card expired less than two years, a valid U.S. passport, or an unexpired DHS immigration document with a photo.
- Two secondary documents, such as a certified birth certificate, a court order showing a legal name change, or a U.S. military ID.
- One secondary document plus two supporting documents, such as a school record, an insurance policy, or a voter registration card.
If your name has changed since your birth certificate was issued (through marriage, divorce, or a court order), bring the legal documents that trace the change from your birth name to the name you’re using now. The names on your documents need to match, or the paper trail has to connect them.
Texas Residency
Bring two printed documents that show your name and current Texas residential address.4Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards Acceptable options include a current deed or mortgage statement, a residential lease, a Texas vehicle registration or title, a car or homeowner’s insurance policy, or a utility bill. Utility bills must be dated within 180 days of your application.5Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 15.49 – Proof of Domicile Two different kinds of documents (a lease and an electric bill, for example) work better than two of the same kind.
Social Security Number
You must provide your SSN, but you don’t have to bring the card. DPS verifies the number electronically with the Social Security Administration during your appointment. If the check fails, DPS cannot issue your license or ID until you resolve the mismatch with SSA.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Social Security Number (SSN) Bringing the card anyway is a reasonable backup, especially if you’ve recently changed your name.
Citizenship or Lawful Presence
U.S. citizens can use a birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport, which will usually double as identity proof. Non-citizens need current DHS documentation, such as a Permanent Resident Card (I-551) or an Employment Authorization Card (I-766). F-1 students bring their Form I-20 and a printed I-94; J-1 exchange visitors bring their DS-2019 and I-94.3Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
If you want a REAL ID-compliant card (the version with the gold star, required to board domestic flights as of May 7, 2025), the document set is the same core group: birth certificate or U.S. passport, Social Security card, and two Texas residency documents. The REAL ID application has to be done in person.7Texas.gov. Texas REAL ID
Filling Out the Form
You can download Form DL-14A from the DPS website or pick one up at any driver license office. Many offices now use digital kiosks that capture the same information electronically, so a paper form may just be a place to organize your answers before you sit down with staff.8Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application Whatever you write has to match your supporting documents exactly. A middle name on your birth certificate that doesn’t appear on the application can hold things up.
Personal Information and Physical Description
The first section asks for your full legal name, date of birth, sex, height, weight, eye color, and hair color. Copy your name exactly as it reads on your primary identity document. The physical description prints on the face of your card, so give accurate figures.
Health and Driving History
The form asks whether you have any medical conditions that could affect your ability to drive safely, such as epilepsy, insulin-dependent diabetes, or vision problems. Answer honestly. A disclosure does not automatically disqualify you, and the certification at the bottom of the form is a sworn statement.
Voter Registration and Organ Donation
Two optional sections let you register to vote or update an existing registration, and add yourself to the Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas Registry as an organ donor.8Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application The donor registry runs on voluntary contributions, and the form gives you the option to donate $1 or more.9Department of Public Safety. Voluntary Contributions and Programs Information If you opt in as a donor, a heart symbol prints on your card.
Veteran Designation
Veterans can add a “VETERAN” or “DISABLED VETERAN” designation to the face of the card. Bring your DD-214 (or DD-215) showing an honorable or general discharge. Once DPS records your veteran status, you won’t need the military paperwork for future renewals or replacements.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License and Identification Services for Veterans
Signature
Leave the signature and date blank. A DPS employee has to witness your signature at your appointment.
At Your DPS Appointment
Nearly every DPS driver license office runs on appointments. Book yours through the online scheduler at txdpsscheduler.com.11Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments
When you check in, staff review your completed form and compare every supporting document against what you wrote. A mismatch, whether a middle name spelling or an address that doesn’t line up with your residency proof, can result in denial. If you’re applying for a driver license, three tests happen during this visit:
- A vision exam at the office.
- A written knowledge test covering Texas traffic laws and road signs.
- A behind-the-wheel driving skills test, taken either at the DPS office or through a third-party testing provider before your appointment.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
DPS also captures your thumbprints, a digital photograph, and your signature.12Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS Statement Regarding Driver License Fingerprinting Process That photo is the one that ends up on your card.
Fees
You pay at the end, after documents are verified and any tests are done. DPS offices accept credit cards, cash, checks, and money orders.13Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
- New driver license, ages 18–84: $33, valid for eight years.
- New ID card, ages 18–59: $16, valid for six years.
- New ID card, age 60 and older: $6, no expiration.
These amounts include a $1 administrative surcharge for in-office transactions.
Your Temporary Permit and Permanent Card
You leave the office with a paper receipt that acts as your legal driver license or ID for 60 days.14Department of Public Safety. Section 3 – Issuing a Temporary Permit Look it over before you walk out. Check the spelling of your name, your date of birth, and the address. Tell the specialist right away if anything is wrong; fixing errors later is much harder.
The permanent card typically arrives by mail within two to three weeks.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License DPS has an online tool to check the mailing status if it hasn’t arrived.
False Statements on the Application
The certification on Form DL-14A is a sworn statement. Providing false information about your identity, medical history, or legal status is perjury under Texas law, a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. A fraudulent application also results in denial or revocation of the license or ID card.