The Texas drivers permit test is a 30-question multiple-choice exam on road signs and traffic laws, and you need 21 correct answers — a score of 70% — to pass.1Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver Handbook The questions come straight from the Texas Driver Handbook. Passing the written test is only one piece of getting a learner license, though: you also need to meet the driver education requirement for your age, bring the right documents to a Department of Public Safety (DPS) office, and pass a vision screening.
What’s on the Test
The exam splits into two broad categories: traffic signs and traffic laws. Within those, expect questions on:
- Right-of-way at intersections, for emergency vehicles, around school buses, and at pedestrian crossings
- Traffic signals, regulatory and warning signs, guide signs, and pavement markings
- Safe driving practices such as following distance, lane changes, passing, and speed limits in school and construction zones
- Impaired and distracted driving, including blood alcohol limits, DWI consequences, and rules on electronic device use
- Railroad crossings and how to respond to warning signals
Texas Transportation Code § 521.161 gives DPS the authority to test every applicant on knowledge of state traffic laws, highway signs, and the ability to read and understand road signage.2Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.161 – Examination of License Applicants
How to Study
Read the Texas Driver Handbook. DPS publishes it as a free PDF, and the exam questions are drawn directly from it.1Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver Handbook Go through it cover to cover at least once, then spend extra time on the sign identification pages. Most people who fail get caught on signs they haven’t seen in person, not on rules they don’t understand.
You don’t always have to take the test at a DPS office. Many approved driver education courses now include the knowledge exam as part of the curriculum, so you can complete it through your course provider instead.3Texas Constitution and Statutes. Texas Transportation Code 521.222 – Learner License
If You Fail
If you take the test at a DPS office and don’t pass, you can generally retake it, though DPS may require a waiting period between attempts. After multiple failed attempts, you may need to pay a new application fee before testing again. If you tested through a driver education course, the retake process depends on your provider. Either way, use the first attempt as a study guide: identify which topics tripped you up and go back to those sections of the handbook before the next try.
Who Has to Take Driver Education First
Texas Transportation Code § 521.222 sets the minimum age for a learner license at 15 and requires anyone under 18 to complete the classroom phase of an approved driver education course before getting the permit.3Texas Constitution and Statutes. Texas Transportation Code 521.222 – Learner License Applicants between 18 and 24 who have never held a license must finish a six-hour adult driver education course.4Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License If you’re 25 or older applying for the first time, no driver education course is required.
For teens, Texas recognizes three ways to meet the classroom requirement:
- Parent-taught driver education, where a parent or guardian teaches a state-approved curriculum. The parent must register the course with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before instruction begins.
- A licensed commercial driving school, offered in person or online.
- A public school driver education program, where available.
Each pathway produces a certificate that proves to DPS you’ve met the education requirement.
Documents to Bring
Showing up without the right paperwork is one of the most common reasons people leave a DPS office empty-handed. The official checklist (Form DL-67) lists what you need:5Texas Department of Public Safety. What to Bring When Applying – Learner License
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport. Permanent resident cards and certain immigration documents also qualify.
- Two proofs of Texas residency showing your name and a Texas address, each issued within the past 90 days. Utility bills, bank statements, and lease or mortgage documents work. A parent’s documents can count for minors.
- Social Security verification. An original Social Security card is simplest; a W-2 or 1099 from the current tax year also works.
- A Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form if you’re under 18 and haven’t graduated. Your school issues it to confirm you’re enrolled and meeting attendance requirements. If your attendance drops below 90% for the semester, the school can refuse to issue it, and without it DPS won’t process your application.6Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
Fill out the application form before you go. Both the minor and adult versions are available on the DPS website or at any office.
Fees and the DPS Visit
Schedule an appointment through the DPS online system. Walk-ins are possible at some offices, but waits can stretch for hours. At the appointment, a specialist reviews your documents, verifies your form, and runs a vision screening. If you need glasses or contacts to meet the visual acuity standard, a corrective lens restriction gets added to your license.7Legal Information Institute. Texas Administrative Code 37 Tex. Admin. Code 15.51 – Vision Tests DPS also collects thumbprints and a photograph for its image verification system.8Department of Public Safety. DPS Statement Regarding Driver License Fingerprinting Process
The fee for a new learner license for applicants under 18 is $16.9Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees You walk out with a temporary paper permit the same day, and the permanent card arrives by mail in two to three weeks.10Department of Public Safety. Where’s My Driver License or ID Card
What the Permit Lets You Do
A learner license is not a full license. Every time you drive, a licensed adult must be in the front passenger seat. That person has to be at least 21 and have at least one year of driving experience.3Texas Constitution and Statutes. Texas Transportation Code 521.222 – Learner License A 20-year-old sibling with a license doesn’t qualify, even if they’ve been driving for years.
Texas also bans all wireless communication device use for drivers under 18, including learner license holders. No texting, no calls, no hands-free devices while the vehicle is moving. The only exception is a genuine emergency.
There’s no DPS-imposed nighttime curfew while you hold the permit, because the supervising adult controls when and where you practice. Curfew and passenger limits only kick in once you upgrade to a provisional license after holding the learner license for at least six months and completing the behind-the-wheel requirements.