Texas Provisional Driver License: Rules, Restrictions, and Loss

A Texas provisional driver license is the stage of the state’s graduated licensing program for teens who are at least 16 but under 18. It replaces the learner license and lets your teen drive alone, but only after six months with a learner permit, completion of driver education, and a passed road test. The license costs $16, expires on the holder’s 18th birthday, and carries nighttime, passenger, and wireless-device restrictions the whole time it’s active.¹

Who Qualifies

Texas Transportation Code 521.204 sets the bar. The teen must be at least 16, have held a Texas learner license for six months, and have completed a state-approved driver education course covering both classroom and behind-the-wheel training.²

If the learner license was suspended at any point during those six months, the holding period extends by the length of the suspension. A 30-day suspension pushes the eligibility date 30 days later.³

Every applicant must also finish the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) video program. The ITTD certificate has to be dated within 90 days of the driving test, so don’t complete it too far in advance.⁴

The School Enrollment Rule

This one surprises families. The applicant must either hold a high school diploma or equivalent, be currently enrolled in school with at least 80 days of attendance during the preceding fall or spring semester, or be enrolled in a GED-prep program (and have been in it for at least 45 days). A parent or guardian must give DPS written permission to access school enrollment records and allow a school administrator to notify DPS if the teen misses 20 or more consecutive school days.²

What to Bring to DPS

DPS Form DL-68 is the official checklist. Bring:⁵

Application Form DL-14B, completed by the teen and signed by a parent or legal guardian. The parent signature must be notarized or administered under oath.⁶
Proof of identity (the existing Texas learner license works).
Social Security number (disclosure is mandatory).
Driver education certificate (DE-964 or equivalent).
ITTD completion certificate dated within 90 days of the driving test.
Proof of insurance, if the teen is taking the driving test that day.
The $16 fee, which covers the license through the 18th birthday.¹

Non-U.S. citizens also need to bring evidence of lawful immigration status.

Scheduling and Passing the Road Test

Driving test appointments are booked through the Texas Scheduler system using the teen’s assigned driver license number. Slots open up to 180 days in advance, and popular offices fill quickly.⁷

On test day, the vehicle must have valid registration, current insurance, and working safety equipment including turn signals and brake lights. A DPS staff member inspects the car before the road portion. The test runs about 20 minutes and covers:⁸

Backing in a straight line
Parallel parking
Approaching intersections and turning
Stopping in regular traffic
Controlling the vehicle and maintaining lane position
Observing traffic and using signals

Any dangerous or illegal maneuver is an automatic, immediate failure.⁸

Testing Through a Driving School

Certain certified driving schools can administer the skills test under the Third-Party Skills Testing program. To qualify, the teen must be at least 16, hold a valid DE-964, have held a learner license for six months, and have a current ITTD certificate. The schools set their own fees, which are not regulated by DPS and run higher than the $16 state fee.⁴

After the Pass

DPS issues a temporary paper license valid for 45 days. The permanent plastic card arrives by mail within two to three weeks. The temporary document is a legal license, so your teen can drive under the provisional restrictions immediately.⁹

The Three Restrictions Until Age 18

Every provisional holder lives under three rules from Texas Transportation Code 545.424. They stay in force until the 18th birthday.¹⁰

No Driving Midnight to 5:00 a.m.

Trips during those hours are allowed only when necessary for work (including work on a family farm), a school-related activity, or a medical emergency. The law doesn’t require carrying documentation, but a note from an employer or school in the glove box helps if your teen is stopped. A narrow carve-out lets teens ride mopeds during restricted hours if a parent or guardian is within sight.¹⁰

Only One Non-Family Passenger Under 21

A provisional holder cannot carry more than one passenger under 21 who isn’t a family member. Siblings and other relatives don’t count against the limit. Two friends at once do.¹⁰

No Wireless Devices at All

Any driver under 18 is banned from using a wireless communication device while driving. The law is written broadly enough to cover both handheld and hands-free use, so Bluetooth calls, earbuds, and dashboard-mounted phone calls all count. Only a genuine emergency is excused.¹⁰

A first offense is a misdemeanor with a fine between $25 and $99. A second or later violation is at least $100. An officer cannot stop a teen solely to check for a phone violation; it’s secondary enforcement, meaning the stop needs another reason.¹⁰

How a Provisional License Gets Lost

Two Tickets in 12 Months

If a driver under 18 is convicted of two or more moving violations within any 12-month period, DPS must suspend the license. Without a requested hearing, the suspension is automatic and lasts 90 days. If a hearing goes against the driver, the suspension can run up to one year. Reinstatement requires a $100 fee on top of the original ticket fines.¹¹

Any Alcohol in the System

Texas uses a zero-tolerance standard for every driver under 21. Operating a vehicle with any detectable amount of alcohol is illegal, regardless of impairment.¹² Suspension lengths:

First offense: 60 days
Second offense: 120 days
Third or subsequent offense: 180 days

Refusing a breath or blood test triggers a 180-day suspension on a first refusal and a two-year suspension on a second. The teen can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, but the request must be made promptly.¹²

A Parent Pulls Authorization

Because a minor’s license depends on parental consent, a parent or legal guardian can revoke that consent at any time. The result is cancellation, not suspension. The process uses Form DL-163, and the signature must be notarized or administered under oath. The same form can later restore authorization.¹³

If Your Teen Had a License in Another State

A teen moving to Texas with a valid license or learner permit from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, or Canadian province can surrender it for the Texas equivalent. The written knowledge exam is waived, but every applicant under 18 must take the Texas driving skills test regardless of how long they’ve been licensed elsewhere.¹⁴

One wrinkle for mid-year moves: Texas law requires anyone issued a Texas learner license to hold it for six months or until they turn 18. If DPS determines a learner license is the right starting point, that six-month clock starts fresh in Texas.¹⁴

Hardship License Before Age 16

Teens under 16 (minimum age 15) who face genuine hardship may qualify for a Minor’s Restricted Driver License instead. The applicant still has to complete driver education and ITTD, but the six-month learner holding period is waived. Qualifying hardships generally involve a family’s livelihood or medical care, and DPS evaluates each case individually. A hardship license expires on the applicant’s next birthday.³

What Happens at Age 18

A provisional license expires on the holder’s 18th birthday, and the nighttime, passenger, and wireless-device restrictions all end. DPS allows online renewal starting within 30 days before the birthday, and renewal is available for up to two years after expiration without additional complications. Most drivers in good standing won’t need to retake the knowledge or road test.¹⁵

Some renewals are fully online; others require an in-person visit for a new photo. If driving is your teen’s main way to get around, handle the renewal a few days before the birthday to avoid a gap on an expired credential.

1
Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
2
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.204 – Restrictions on Minor
3
Texas Department of Public Safety. Graduated Driver License (GDL) and Hardship License
4
Texas Department of Public Safety. Third-Party Skills Testing (TPST) Program
5
Texas Department of Public Safety. What to Bring When Applying – Provisional
6
Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application (Minor)
7
Texas Department of Public Safety. Section 2 – Scheduling a Road Test
8
Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Prepare for a Drive Test
9
Texas Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
10
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 545.424 – Operation of Vehicle by Person Under 18 Years of Age
11
Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Enforcement Actions
12
Texas Department of Public Safety. Zero Tolerance (DL-20)
13
Texas Department of Public Safety. Request for Withdrawal / Restoration of Authorization for Minor’s License (DL-163)
14
Texas Department of Public Safety. Moving to Texas – A Guide to Driver Licenses and IDs
15
Texas Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID