The Texas written driving test is a 40-question multiple-choice knowledge exam covering traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving. You need to answer at least 28 questions correctly, a score of 70 percent, to pass. You can take it at any Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) office or at certain authorized driver education schools, and results appear on screen the moment you finish.
Who Has to Take It
Every first-time Texas driver license or learner permit applicant has to pass the knowledge test. What you have to do before you sit for it depends on your age.
- Ages 15 to 17: complete a state-approved teen driver education course with 24 hours of classroom instruction. The “concurrent” method lets you get your learner permit after the first 6 hours and finish the rest while practicing. Your driver education school may give the knowledge test itself, so you might not need to take it at a DPS office.1Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
- Ages 18 to 24: complete a 6-hour adult driver education course before testing.2Department of Public Safety. Choosing a Driver Education Course
- Age 25 and older: no course required. Go straight to a DPS office and test.3Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
If you’re under 18, a parent or legal guardian has to either come with you to the DPS office or provide a notarized application giving consent.4Department of Public Safety. Texas Provisional License as a Teen
What to Bring
Show up missing any category below and you’ll be turned away. Gather everything first.
Proof of identity and U.S. citizenship or lawful presence. One document that covers both, most commonly a valid U.S. passport or an original or certified birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory.5Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
Proof of your Social Security number. Your Social Security card, a W-2, or a 1099 showing the full number.5Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
Proof of Texas residency. Two documents with your name and Texas address, from two different sources, showing you’ve lived in Texas for at least 30 days. Accepted items include a current lease or mortgage statement, a utility bill dated within 180 days, a bank or credit card statement, a preprinted pay stub, government mail, and a valid Texas voter registration card.6Texas Department of Public Safety. What to Bring When Applying for a Texas Driver License or Identification Card
Driver education certificate if you’re under 25. Teen course graduates receive a DE-964 or DE-964E form depending on the program.1Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
Proof of insurance for each vehicle you own. If you don’t own one, you’ll sign a statement to that effect.3Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
How to Study
Every question on the test comes from the Texas Driver Handbook, a free PDF on the DPS website. It covers right-of-way rules, traffic signs and signals, speed limits, lane usage, the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving, and what to do in emergencies. Read the whole thing. People routinely miss questions on topics they assumed they already knew, especially the specific rules around school buses and emergency vehicles.
After the handbook, run through a few online practice tests. They use the same multiple-choice format and expose the areas where you’re weakest. Road sign recognition and right-of-way scenarios trip up the most test-takers, so give those extra time.
You can take the test in English or Spanish, but you have to be able to read English road signs regardless of which language you pick for the exam.7Department of Public Safety. Testing in Other Languages
Booking Your Appointment
DPS strongly recommends booking online before you go. Use the appointment scheduler at txdpsscheduler.com, pick your nearest office, and choose a time.8Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments Some offices take walk-ins when capacity allows, but the wait can run hours.
Some TDLR-certified driver education schools are also authorized to give the knowledge test, which can be faster than a DPS office.9Department of Public Safety. Third Party Skills Testing Program – Non-Commercial Driver License If you’re in a teen driver education course, ask whether your school offers the written test on-site.
On Test Day
Bring your documents organized and ready. A license and permit specialist will check your paperwork, verify your identity, and confirm you meet the education requirements for your age. Anything missing and you can’t test that day.
Once you’re cleared, you’ll take a vision screening and then sit at a computer for the knowledge test. Forty multiple-choice questions, 28 correct to pass. Your score appears on screen when you finish. You’ll also give a thumbprint and photo during the visit.3Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
Fees
Applicants under 18 pay $16 for a license that expires on their 18th birthday. Applicants 18 to 84 pay $33 for a license valid for eight years. Both include a $1 administrative charge. DPS offices take credit cards, cash, checks, and money orders. A replacement permit or license later costs $11.10Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
If You Fail
DPS holds your application open for 90 days after you fail, and you can retake the test during that window. After three failed attempts, you have to submit a new application and pay the fee again.11Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver Handbook Use the time between tries to restudy the sections where you lost points instead of retaking cold.
Accommodations for Disabilities
Texas law requires DPS to provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, including dyslexia. Options include oral exams, extra time, large print, and sign language interpretation. Contact the DPS office before your appointment so they can set it up.
What Passing Gets You
If you’re 15 to 17, passing the written test qualifies you for a learner permit. You can practice driving only with a licensed adult at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat, and you have to hold the permit for at least six months before you can apply for a provisional license.1Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen4Department of Public Safety. Texas Provisional License as a Teen
If you’re 18 or older, you skip the learner permit phase and move toward the driving skills test. Passing the skills test gets you a full, unrestricted Class C license.