The Texas driver license test has two parts: a 30-question written knowledge exam and a behind-the-wheel driving evaluation, both given by the Texas Department of Public Safety. To pass, you’ll need to bring the right documents, clear a vision screening, watch a mandatory safety video, score at least 70 percent on the written test, and demonstrate safe control of a vehicle in traffic with a DPS specialist riding along.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
DPS won’t test you until you’ve proven your identity, your lawful presence in the United States, and your Texas residency. The simplest path is one primary document, such as an unexpired U.S. passport, a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization, or an unexpired military photo ID. A Texas driver license that expired less than two years ago also qualifies. If you don’t have a primary document, you can combine two secondary documents (an original or certified U.S. birth certificate counts as secondary) or one secondary plus two supporting documents like a Social Security card, W-2, or school record. Non-citizens must bring documentation from the appropriate federal agency showing authorized presence.
You’ll also need:
- A completed Form DL-14A application, which asks for physical descriptors and medical history.
- Your IMPACT Texas Drivers (ITD) certificate, printed on paper. Screenshots and digital copies are not accepted.
- Proof of insurance meeting Texas minimums: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
- A vehicle with two license plates, current registration, and working horn, headlights, brake lights, and turn signals.
The ITD video itself is required for every applicant before the road test. Ages 15 to 17 watch a two-hour version in eight modules; ages 18 and up watch a one-hour version. The certificate is good for 90 days, so if your appointment slips past that window, you’ll have to watch it again.
The Vision Screening
Before any testing, DPS checks your vision at the office. The baseline is 20/40 or better in each eye and both eyes together without correction. If your uncorrected vision falls short, you’ll be referred to a specialist. With glasses or contacts, 20/50 in your best eye qualifies you for a license restricted to corrective lenses. Corrected vision between 20/60 and 20/70 still qualifies, but your license will restrict you to daytime driving and a 45 mph speed limit. Anything worse than 20/70 in the best eye, even corrected, is a failure.
The Written Knowledge Test
The knowledge exam is 30 multiple-choice questions pulled from the Texas Driver Handbook. Topics include road signs, right-of-way, safe following distances, and the legal consequences of violations like driving under the influence. You need 70 percent to pass, so you can miss no more than nine questions. The test is offered in English or Spanish only. Someone can help you communicate with the testing specialist before and after, but no translator may assist during the exam. Results come up immediately.
If you fail, the fastest way to improve is to work through the handbook itself, because the questions come straight from it.
The Driving Skills Test
A DPS specialist rides with you and scores how you handle the vehicle in real traffic. You’ll parallel park, back in a straight line, make turns, and navigate intersections. The examiner is watching for proper signal use, smooth acceleration and braking, mirror checks, safe following distances, and obedience to posted speed limits and signs.
Four things end the test on the spot:
- Violating any traffic law, such as running a stop sign or red light.
- Refusing to follow the examiner’s instructions.
- Driving dangerously or causing a collision.
- Accumulating more than 30 penalty points on the scoring sheet.
If your vehicle fails the pre-test safety check, or you can’t produce valid insurance, the test is postponed before it starts.
Fees and Age-Based Requirements
What you pay and what you have to do beforehand depends on your age:
- Under 18: $16, license expires on your 18th birthday. Teens enter the Graduated Driver License program and must hold a learner license for at least six months before testing for a provisional license.
- 18 to 24: $33, valid eight years. You must complete a six-hour adult driver education course before testing.
- 25 to 84: $33, valid eight years. Driver education is recommended but not required.
- 85 and older: $9, valid two years.
Each fee includes a $1 administrative charge. A teen learner license also costs $16.
Scheduling and Third-Party Testing
DPS offices run by appointment only. Book through the state scheduler at txdpsscheduler.com and check nearby offices if your local one is full. Cancellations and reschedules are free through the same system, but if you miss an appointment without canceling, you’ll have to start over.
You can also skip DPS entirely for the road test. The Third Party Skills Testing program authorizes DPS-certified driving schools to administer the Class C driving exam. Eligibility rules are identical, including the ITD certificate, but the schools set their own prices. Authorized providers show up in the “Schedule a drive test” portal.
If You Fail
Your application stays on file at the DPS office where you tested for 90 days. In that window you get up to three driving-test attempts at no extra charge, with at least 24 hours between attempts. If you use all three or hit the 90-day mark without passing, you’ll submit a new application and pay the fee again. The 70 percent threshold on the written test applies on every try.
After You Pass
DPS prints a temporary paper license on the spot, valid for 60 days. The permanent plastic card is manufactured and mailed, usually arriving within two to three weeks. If you move in the meantime, update your address with DPS right away so the card doesn’t get lost.