Texas Driver License Requirements: Documents, Exams, and Fees

To meet Texas driver license requirements, you need to prove your identity and lawful presence, provide your Social Security number, show two documents establishing Texas residency, complete any driver education required for your age, and pass a vision screening, a written knowledge test, and a driving skills exam at a Department of Public Safety office. A standard adult Class C license costs $33 and is valid for eight years.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees Anyone driving on Texas roads must hold a DPS-issued license unless they fit a narrow exemption, such as active-duty military using a valid out-of-state license.2State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.021 – License Required

Which Path Applies to You

Your age decides how much driver education you need before you can test.

  • Under 18. You go through the Graduated Driver License program. Enroll in an approved driver education course, get a learner license at 15 after completing the classroom portion, hold it for at least six months, and become eligible for a provisional license at 16. The provisional license bars driving between midnight and 5:00 a.m. except for work, school activities, or emergencies, and it limits you to one non-family passenger under 21. Those restrictions end at 18.3Texas Administrative Code. Texas Administrative Code 37-1-15-15.27 – Issuance Requirements for Minor Driver License Applicants4Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Provisional License as a Teen
  • 18 to 24. You must complete a six-hour adult driver education course before you can take the driving skills exam.5Department of Public Safety. Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program
  • 25 and older. No driver education course is required, but you still take the knowledge and driving exams.

New to Texas? A valid license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, or Canada lets you drive here for up to 90 days. Before that window closes, visit a DPS office in person, surrender the out-of-state license, and apply for a Texas one. If your prior license is valid and unexpired, DPS waives both the knowledge and driving exams.6Department of Public Safety. Moving to Texas – A Guide to Driver Licenses and IDs

Non-citizens must show evidence of lawful presence, such as a valid U.S. passport, permanent resident card, or approved visa document. DPS publishes a full list of acceptable immigration documents by category.7Department of Public Safety. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement

Documents to Bring to the DPS Office

DPS wants documents in three categories, plus a completed application. Missing any one of them means rescheduling, so pack carefully. The application itself is Form DL-14A, which you can download or pick up at any office.8Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application

Proof of Identity and Lawful Presence

One document is enough here. For U.S. citizens, the common choices are an unexpired U.S. passport, an original or certified state-issued birth certificate, or a certificate of naturalization.7Department of Public Safety. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement Non-citizens use the immigration document list DPS publishes for their status.9Texas Department of Public Safety. Verifying Lawful Presence

Social Security Number

Provide your full Social Security number on the application. DPS verifies it electronically with the Social Security Administration, so a physical card is not required. If verification fails, DPS cannot process the application, so make sure the number you write matches SSA records exactly.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License and Identification Card Document Requirements

Two Proofs of Texas Residency

Bring two separate printed documents showing your name and Texas residential address.11Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards Common choices include a current deed or mortgage statement, a utility bill (electric, water, gas, internet, or cell phone), a valid Texas vehicle registration, or a residential lease. Utility bills must be dated within 180 days of application, not 90 as many people assume.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License and Identification Card Document Requirements

The DL-14A Application

The form asks for your full legal name, date of birth, residential address, and physical description (hair color, eye color, height, weight). It also has a medical history section covering conditions that could impair driving, such as epilepsy, seizures, or sudden vision loss, plus questions about prior suspensions and traffic convictions. Answer honestly. False statements on a government application can lead to denial or criminal charges.

Vehicle and Insurance for the Driving Test

If you’re taking the road test, DPS staff will inspect the vehicle you bring before the exam starts. You don’t have to own it, but it does have to be roadworthy and legal. The vehicle must have:12Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Prepare for a Drive Test

  • Two permanently mounted license plates, front and rear. The only exception is a valid single out-of-state or temporary plate.
  • Current, unexpired registration and inspection.
  • Valid insurance. The insurance card must show active coverage, and you cannot be listed as an excluded driver. Texas requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person.13State of Texas. Texas Code Transportation Code 601.072 – Minimum Coverage Amounts; Exclusions
  • Working equipment: horn, front and rear turn signals, brake lights, speedometer, seatbelts, at least one rearview mirror, and driver and front-passenger doors that open normally.

If you don’t own a vehicle, you can sign a declaration to that effect during the application phase. You still need to bring one for the driving test itself.

The Three Exams

Vision Screening

Every applicant takes a vision test at the office. The standard for a full, unrestricted license is 20/40 or better in each eye and both together, without corrective lenses.14Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 15.51 – Vision Tests If you need glasses or contacts to reach 20/50 or better, you can still pass with a corrective-lens restriction. Vision worse than 20/70 in the best eye with correction is a fail. Scores between 20/60 and 20/70 may pass with added restrictions such as daytime-only driving and a 45 mph speed limit.

Written Knowledge Test

The knowledge test covers traffic signs, right-of-way, speed limits, and the legal consequences of impaired driving, all drawn from the Texas Driver Handbook. You need a score of at least 70 percent.15Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver Handbook The handbook is free on the DPS website, and reading it end to end is the best preparation.

Driving Skills Test

Before you can take the road test, you must finish the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) video program, a short online course on distracted driving. The completion certificate is only valid for 90 days, so time it close to your appointment. Bring a printed copy.5Department of Public Safety. Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program16Impact Texas Drivers. Impact Texas Adult Drivers FAQs

During the test, an examiner rides with you and scores your handling of real traffic. You lose points for errors like failing to signal, poor lane positioning, or rolling stops. Some actions are automatic failures: running a red light or stop sign, causing a collision, or any maneuver dangerous enough that the examiner has to intervene. The test includes parallel parking, lane changes, turns, and general traffic navigation.

Fees, Appointment, and Your Card

Schedule through the DPS online appointment system. Walk-ins are possible, but waits can be long. You check in at a kiosk when you arrive, and staff capture a photo and digital thumbprints for the state database.

A standard Class C license for ages 18 to 84 is $33, which includes a $1 administrative fee. A learner license for minors under 18 is $16.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees Once you pay and pass, DPS issues a temporary paper permit on the spot, valid for 60 days while your permanent card is manufactured and mailed.17Department of Public Safety. Section 3 – Issuing a Temporary Permit Most people receive the permanent card in two to three weeks.

REAL ID Compliance

Since May 7, 2025, TSA and other federal agencies require a REAL ID-compliant license (or an alternative like a passport) to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.18Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID A Texas REAL ID card carries a gold star in the upper right corner. If your current license already has the star, you’re set.19Department of Public Safety. Federal Real ID Act

Because the documents DPS collects for a standard license (proof of identity, Social Security number, lawful presence, and two Texas residency documents) are the same ones REAL ID needs, request REAL ID compliance at the same appointment and skip a future trip. DPS offers an online interactive checklist that generates a personalized document list based on your situation.