To get a Texas driver’s license at 18, you need to complete a six-hour adult driver education course and the free Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) module, then bring your documents to a Department of Public Safety (DPS) office to pass a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a road test. The state fee is $33, and the license is valid for eight years.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
The Two Courses You Have to Finish First
Anyone between 18 and 24 applying for a first Texas license must complete two educational requirements before DPS will test them: a six-hour adult driver education course and the ITAD program.2Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License At 25 or older, neither is required.
The six-hour course covers traffic laws, driving safety, and defensive driving. Several state-approved providers deliver it entirely online, so you can work through it at your own pace. Cost runs somewhere between $25 and $100 depending on the provider. When you finish, the provider issues a certificate (form ADE-1317 or ADEE-1317) that you bring to DPS.
ITAD is a separate, free online module on distracted driving. You register on the ITAD site, complete it, and print the certificate.3Impact Texas Drivers. Impact Texas Adult Drivers Timing matters here: the ITAD certificate has to be dated within 90 days of your driving test, so don’t knock it out months in advance.4Department of Public Safety. Third Party Skills Testing Program
Documents to Bring to Your Appointment
DPS asks for four categories of paperwork. If any one is missing, you’ll be sent home. Everything has to be an original or a certified copy.
Identity and Citizenship
Primary identity documents include a valid U.S. passport, an unexpired Texas ID card, or a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization. Without a primary document, a certified U.S. birth certificate works as a secondary option. Non-citizens can present an unexpired Permanent Resident Card (I-551), an Employment Authorization Card, or another qualifying immigration document.5Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
Social Security Number
Bring your Social Security card if you have it. DPS also accepts a W-2 or 1099 showing the full number.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License/Identification Card and REAL ID Checklist
Two Proofs of Texas Residency
You need two separate documents showing your Texas address. A utility bill dated within 90 days, a mortgage statement, a lease, a Texas voter registration card, or a W-2 or 1099 from the most recent tax year all qualify.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License/Identification Card and REAL ID Checklist Both documents have to show the same residential address. A bank statement with a P.O. Box will not match a utility bill with a street address.
REAL ID
When you apply with the documents above, the license DPS issues is already REAL ID-compliant, marked with a star in the upper-right corner. Federal REAL ID enforcement took effect on May 7, 2025, so that star is what lets you board domestic flights and enter federal buildings.7Texas.gov. Texas REAL ID
The Knowledge Test
The written test has 30 multiple-choice questions: 15 on road signs, 15 on traffic laws. You need 70% to pass. The free Texas Driver Handbook on the DPS site covers everything on the exam. Spend extra time on right-of-way rules, school-zone and residential speed limits, and the less familiar signs for merges, yields, and railroad crossings.
Some approved adult driver education courses build the knowledge test into their curriculum. If yours does, you won’t retake it at DPS. Check with the provider before you go.8Texas Department of Public Safety. DL-14A – Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application
The Car You Bring to the Road Test
You have to supply the vehicle for the driving test, and a DPS specialist inspects it first. If it fails inspection, there’s no test that day. The car needs:9Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Prepare for a Drive Test
- Two license plates permanently attached (single plates are only acceptable for out-of-state or temporary tags; dealer plates aren’t allowed)
- A working horn, front and rear turn signals, brake lights, seat belts, at least one rearview mirror, and a working speedometer
- Current, unexpired registration and inspection
- Valid insurance, with you not listed as an excluded driver
- Driver and front passenger doors that open normally
- Working windshield wipers, headlights, and taillights
If you don’t own a car, you can borrow one, as long as the insurance covers you and the registration is current. Whoever drives you to the appointment can bring the vehicle, but they can’t ride along during the test.
What the Examiner Grades
During the road test, the examiner scores you on specific maneuvers:9Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Prepare for a Drive Test
- Backing in a straight line
- Parallel parking
- Approaching intersections
- Turning and using signals
- Stopping in regular traffic
- Vehicle control and lane position
- Observing surrounding traffic
Any dangerous or illegal action is an automatic fail, and the examiner will end the test on the spot. Running a stop sign, drifting into oncoming traffic, or ignoring instructions all count. Practice hours with a licensed adult in varied conditions, including empty lots for parallel parking and neighborhoods with four-way stops, are what get most people through.
Booking and Running the DPS Appointment
Schedule online through the DPS website before you go. Walk-ins are technically possible, but wait times without a reservation are long. Bring your documents, your driver education certificate, your ITAD certificate, and a driver for both you and the test vehicle.
At the office you’ll fill out the DL-14A application, which you can download and complete in advance to save time.8Texas Department of Public Safety. DL-14A – Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application The visit runs in order: document review, vision screening, knowledge test if your course didn’t cover it, then the driving test. Plan for a couple of hours.
The fee for an original license between ages 18 and 84 is $33, non-refundable even if you fail a test.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees DPS offices accept credit cards, cash, checks, and money orders.
If DPS Slots Are Booked Out
Texas authorizes certain driver education schools to give the driving skills test under the Third Party Skills Testing (TPST) program.4Department of Public Safety. Third Party Skills Testing Program For applicants aged 18 to 24, you need to have finished your driver education course, hold a valid restricted license, and have a current ITAD certificate. DPS lists approved schools through a scheduling link on its site. Third-party fees aren’t regulated by DPS and typically run between $100 and $400, on top of the $33 state fee you’ll still pay at DPS when you go in for the actual license.
If You Don’t Pass
If you fail the knowledge or driving test, DPS holds your application for 90 days so you have time to practice before you try again.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver Handbook You get up to three attempts on your original application and fee. After three failures, you file a new application and pay another $33. There’s no ceiling on how many times you can reapply overall.
Getting the Actual License
When you pass, DPS prints a temporary paper license on the spot. It’s valid for 60 days and counts as legal proof that you’re licensed to drive.11Department of Public Safety. Section 3 – Issuing a Temporary Permit The permanent card with your photo arrives by mail in two to three weeks. Your license is valid for eight years from the issue date and expires on your birthday.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees