Texas identification laws set out who needs a state-issued ID, what documents you must bring to get one, how long each card lasts, and what penalties apply for driving without a valid license, voting without acceptable ID, or carrying a fake. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) issues the main credentials — driver’s licenses and state ID cards — and Texas law treats forged versions of either as a felony.
Driver’s Licenses
A Texas driver’s license is the most widely used ID in the state. To apply, you bring documents that prove your identity, Social Security number, Texas residency, and lawful presence in the United States. Class C covers standard passenger vehicles; Class A and Class B cover commercial trucks and buses.
Fees vary by age. A new or renewed Class C license costs $33 for adults ages 18 through 84, $16 for applicants under 18, and $9 for those 85 and older. Disabled veterans rated at 60 percent or higher pay nothing.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees Adult licenses are valid for eight years. Licenses issued to minors expire on the holder’s 18th birthday.
Drivers under 18 receive a provisional license. They cannot drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless traveling for work, a school activity, or an emergency.2Department of Public Safety. Texas Provisional License as a Teen
Carrying and Showing Your License
Texas requires you to carry your license whenever you drive and show it on demand to any peace officer, magistrate, or court officer. A first offense for failing to do so carries a fine of up to $200. A second conviction within a year carries the same maximum fine. A third or subsequent conviction within a year of the second can mean a fine of up to $500, jail time of 72 hours to six months, or both.3State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.025 – License to Be Carried and Exhibited on Demand; Criminal Penalty If you have a valid license but left it at home, producing it in court is a defense to the charge.
Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License
Driving while your license is canceled, suspended, or revoked is a separate and more serious offense than forgetting to carry a valid one. A first offense is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. It becomes a Class B misdemeanor if you have a prior conviction for the same offense or if the suspension came from a DWI-related offense. If you cause a crash resulting in serious injury or death while driving without insurance on an invalid license, the charge rises to a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.4State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.457 – Driving While License Invalid
State ID Cards
Residents who don’t drive can get a Texas Identification Card from DPS. The application requires the same supporting documents as a driver’s license: proof of identity, Social Security number, Texas residency, and lawful presence. ID cards are valid for six years.5Department of Public Safety. How to Apply for a Texas Identification Card The fee is $16 for applicants 59 and younger and $6 for those 60 and older.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees Some older cards issued to residents 60 and over are marked “INDEF” with no expiration date, but current cards for that age group follow the standard six-year cycle.
REAL ID and Air Travel
Since May 7, 2025, a standard Texas driver’s license or ID card that is not REAL ID-compliant is no longer accepted at airport security checkpoints for domestic flights.6Texas.gov. Texas REAL ID Your Texas card is compliant if it has a gold star in the upper right corner. Texas began issuing compliant cards in October 2016, so if you’ve renewed since then and provided the required documents, you likely already have one.7Department of Public Safety. Federal Real ID Act
If your card has no star, you’ll need to visit a DPS office in person to upgrade. Bring an original or certified birth certificate (or unexpired U.S. passport), your Social Security card, proof of Texas vehicle registration or title, and proof of car insurance. If your name has changed since birth, bring legal documentation for each change.
Without a REAL ID-compliant license, you can still fly using a valid U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, a permanent resident card, a DHS trusted traveler card such as Global Entry or NEXUS, or several other federally accepted documents.8Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint Starting February 1, 2026, travelers who arrive at a TSA checkpoint without acceptable ID can pay a $45 fee to use TSA’s ConfirmID service, which attempts to verify identity electronically. TSA also accepts expired IDs up to two years past their expiration date. Children under 18 do not need ID for domestic flights.
Voter ID
Texas requires photo identification to vote in person. Seven forms of ID are accepted at the polling place:
- Texas driver’s license issued by DPS
- Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
- Texas handgun license issued by DPS
- Texas election identification certificate (EIC) issued by DPS
- U.S. military ID with a photograph
- U.S. citizenship certificate with a photograph
- U.S. passport (book or card)
Most of these are accepted even if expired, as long as they expired no more than four years before the election date.9VoteTexas.gov. Texas Voter ID Requirements
The election identification certificate exists for voters who don’t have any of the other six IDs. It’s free at any DPS driver license office, but you can only get one if you don’t already hold a valid qualifying ID. The EIC is exclusively for voting and is not accepted for any other identification purpose.10Department of Public Safety. Election Identification Certificate (EIC)
Beyond these general-purpose cards, Texas issues specialized credentials such as a License to Carry (which also works as a photo ID and for voting) and driver’s licenses with a veteran or disabled designation that qualify holders for certain benefits.
Documents You Need to Apply
DPS uses a tiered verification system. You need at least one primary identification document, such as a U.S. passport or certified birth certificate. If you don’t have a primary document, you can substitute a combination of secondary documents (like a court-issued name change order or an out-of-state driver’s license) and supporting documents (like a Social Security card or school record).
You also need to prove Texas residency with something like a utility bill, lease agreement, or voter registration card. Non-U.S. citizens must show lawful presence documentation, such as a permanent resident card, employment authorization document, or valid visa.
For minors and first-time applicants who lack extensive paperwork, DPS accepts alternatives including school records, immunization records, or a parent’s affidavit. If your name differs between documents because of marriage, divorce, or a legal name change, bring documentation bridging each name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order. DPS photographs and fingerprints every applicant.
Replacing a Lost or Stolen Card
If your Texas driver’s license or ID card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for a replacement in person at a DPS office or, if eligible, online. The replacement fee is $11, and the new card keeps the same expiration date as the original.11Department of Public Safety. Section 4 – Lost or Stolen Driver License/ID Card You’ll need to verify your identity with documents like a passport or birth certificate.
A police report isn’t legally required for a stolen ID, but it creates a paper trail if someone tries to use your identity. The Federal Trade Commission recommends checking your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and placing a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus. A fraud alert is free and lasts one year. If you believe someone has already misused your stolen ID, you can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.12IdentityTheft.gov. What To Do if Your Information Was Lost or Stolen, or Part of a Data Breach
Name and Address Changes
Texas requires you to update the name on your license or ID within 30 days of a legal name change. Name changes must be handled in person at a DPS office, and you must bring the original document authorizing the change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Copies are not accepted.13Department of Public Safety. How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card
Address changes also carry a 30-day deadline after you move. Unlike name changes, address updates can often be completed online if you meet DPS eligibility requirements. Both name and address changes are processed as replacement cards, so the fee is $11.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Penalties for Fake or Fraudulent IDs
Texas treats fake identification seriously under its tampering-with-government-records statute. Making, using, or possessing a fraudulent government record is a Class A misdemeanor at the base level, carrying up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Because a driver’s license or ID card qualifies as a “license issued by government,” creating or using a fake version is automatically a third-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If the fake ID was used with intent to defraud or harm someone, the charge rises to a second-degree felony.14State of Texas. Texas Penal Code 37.10 – Tampering With Governmental Record
A college student caught with a fake driver’s license is not looking at a misdemeanor. The statute treats forged licenses as felonies even without proof of intent to defraud.
Minors Using Fake IDs for Alcohol
A minor who falsely claims to be 21 or presents a document suggesting they’re of legal drinking age commits a separate offense under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. A first offense is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. Repeat offenses can carry mandatory community service and alcohol awareness education. These charges are in addition to any tampering charges if the minor used a forged government document.
Identity Theft
Using another person’s identifying information with intent to harm or defraud them is punished based on the number of items involved. Possessing fewer than five items is a state jail felony. Five to nine items is a third-degree felony, 10 to 49 is a second-degree felony, and 50 or more is a first-degree felony.15State of Texas. Texas Penal Code 32.51 – Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information