Texas Driver License Requirements: Documents, Testing, and Fees

To meet the Texas driver license requirements, you need to be a Texas resident who is a U.S. citizen or has authorized legal presence, bring documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and Texas address, and pass vision, knowledge, and road exams at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) office.1Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.142 – Application for Original License Nearly every driver on a Texas road needs this license.2State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.021 – License Required A new resident can drive on a valid out-of-state license for 90 days before Texas requires its own.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Moving to Texas – A Guide to Driver Licenses and IDs For most adults, the standard Class C license costs $33 and is valid for eight years.4Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees

Who Qualifies

You must be a Texas resident and either a U.S. citizen or someone with lawful presence in the country.1Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.142 – Application for Original License Your application has to be submitted with the required fee before DPS will schedule any exams.5State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.141 – General Application Requirements You also need to be physically and mentally capable of driving safely. A medical condition that could affect your driving can trigger restrictions on your license or additional evaluation before DPS issues it.

Age determines your path. Adults 18 and older follow a straightforward application process. Applicants between 18 and 24 have one extra step: a mandatory driver education course. Applicants under 18 enter the Graduated Driver License program, which has its own schedule of permits and restrictions (see the teen section below).

Documents to Bring

Gathering your paperwork before the appointment is the single thing most likely to save you a repeat trip. DPS asks for proof of identity, your Social Security number, and two documents showing your Texas residence.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements

Proof of Identity

You can satisfy the identity requirement through one of three combinations:6Texas Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements

  • One primary document, such as a valid unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.
  • Two secondary documents, such as an original or certified birth certificate plus a valid permanent resident card.
  • One secondary document plus two supporting documents. Supporting documents include a Social Security card, a W-2, or a 1099 form.

A photocopy of a birth certificate will not be accepted. It must be an original or a certified copy.

Social Security Number

You don’t need to bring the physical card. DPS verifies your number electronically through the Social Security Administration during the application.7Texas Department of Public Safety. Social Security Number (SSN) If the check fails, you’ll need to resolve the discrepancy at a Social Security office before DPS can issue the license. Applicants who are not eligible for a Social Security number complete a sworn affidavit (Form DL-13) at the DPS office.

Two Proofs of Texas Residence

Bring two printed documents that both show your name and Texas residential address.8Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards At least one must show you’ve lived in Texas for at least 30 days. Utility bills, mortgage statements, and bank statements all count. Utility bills must be dated within 180 days of your application. Two bills from the same utility company don’t satisfy the rule, though separate bills from the same municipal provider for different services (a water bill and a gas bill, for example) do.9Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License and Identification Card Document Requirements

Vehicle Registration and Insurance (New Residents Only)

If you’re surrendering an out-of-state license, you also need proof of Texas vehicle registration and proof of insurance for every vehicle you own.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License If you don’t own a vehicle, you’ll sign a statement to that effect. First-time applicants who have never held a license elsewhere don’t face this requirement.

The Application Form

Adults complete Form DL-14A.11Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application The form covers your personal details, driving history, and medical information. Filling it out ahead of time speeds up the visit, but the information must match your supporting documents exactly. False statements carry criminal penalties.

Non-Citizen Documentation

If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you must present documentation proving your lawful presence before DPS will issue a license.1Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.142 – Application for Original License The exact documents depend on your status:

  • Lawful permanent residents: a valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551).
  • Refugees and asylees: a Refugee Travel Document (I-571), or an Employment Authorization Document (I-766) with the appropriate category code.
  • Visa holders (F-1, J-1, H-1B, and similar): an unexpired foreign passport, a valid I-94, and any form specific to the visa category, such as Form I-20 for students.
  • Those with employment authorization: a valid Employment Authorization Document (I-766).

DPS verifies these documents electronically through the federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) program.12Texas Department of Public Safety. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement If your authorized stay has an expiration date, your Texas license will expire on that same date instead of following the standard eight-year cycle.

Driver Education

First-time applicants between 18 and 24 must complete a six-hour adult driver education course before testing.13Texas Department of Public Safety. Choosing a Driver Education Course This requirement is waived for new residents 18 or older who are surrendering a valid, unexpired license from another state.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License Applicants 25 and older don’t need driver education.

Nearly every applicant also completes the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program, an online video on the real-world consequences of distracted driving. The adult version runs about one hour; the teen version is a two-hour course built into the minor driver education curriculum.14Texas Department of Public Safety. Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program

Testing at the DPS Office

Vision

You’ll take a vision screening at the office. For an unrestricted license, you need 20/40 acuity or better in each eye without corrective lenses. Vision between 20/50 and 20/70 in your best eye can still earn you a license, but restricted to daytime driving and a 45-mph speed limit. Vision worse than 20/70 in your best eye, even with correction, is a fail.15Cornell Law Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 15.51 – Vision Tests

Knowledge Test

The written exam has 30 questions on traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving. You need 70 percent to pass.

Road Test

An evaluator rides along while you drive in real traffic, checking turns, lane changes, parking, and other basic maneuvers. If you fail either the knowledge test or the road test, you can retake it, though DPS may require a waiting period before your next attempt.

Scheduling the Appointment

DPS offices handle driver license services by appointment only.16Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments You book through the DPS online system at txdpsscheduler.com. Walking in without one, you can use a lobby self-service kiosk to book a slot for later that day (if any remain) or a future date. A limited number of same-day appointments open up throughout the day at most offices, so checking the scheduler frequently can help.

At the appointment, a DPS specialist reviews your documents, takes your thumbprints and digital signature, and photographs you for the card. If everything checks out, you move on to the vision, knowledge, and driving exams (or whichever of these you haven’t already completed). After the office is done with you, you’ll receive a temporary paper permit that lets you drive legally while your plastic card is produced. The permanent card typically arrives by mail within about three weeks.

Fees by Age

The license fee depends on your age at application:4Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees

  • Under 18: $16, expiring on your 18th birthday regardless of when issued.
  • Ages 18 to 84: $33, valid for eight years.
  • Age 85 and older: $9, valid for two years.

DPS accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards.

If You’re Under 18

Teens follow the Graduated Driver License program instead of the adult process. It phases driving privileges in through a learner license held for at least six months, then a provisional license with passenger limits, a midnight-to-5-a.m. curfew, and a ban on any wireless device use while driving.17Texas Department of Public Safety. Graduated Driver License (GDL) and Hardship License Those restrictions end at age 18. Teens as young as 15 who need to drive for school or to support their family can apply for a Minor Restricted (hardship) license, which skips the six-month holding period but still requires completing the other licensing steps.