Texas Provisional License Rules for Teen Drivers

Texas provisional license rules apply to drivers between 16 and 18 and cover three main areas: a midnight-to-5:00 a.m. curfew, a cap of one non-family passenger under 21, and a complete ban on wireless devices behind the wheel. The restrictions are tied to the driver’s age rather than how long the license has been held, so a teen licensed at 16 lives under them for up to two years. Two moving violation convictions within any 12-month period can trigger a 90-day suspension before a full license is ever issued.¹

The Restrictions That Apply Until 18

Every rule below stays in force until the driver’s 18th birthday, regardless of when the license was issued.²

Nighttime Curfew

Driving is prohibited between midnight and 5:00 a.m. The exceptions are narrow: travel to or from work, a school-sanctioned activity, or a medical emergency.² Farm work for a family that owns or operates the farm counts as work. A moped can be operated during curfew hours if a parent or guardian is within sight.

One Non-Family Passenger Under 21

A provisional license holder may carry no more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member, at any time.² Family members of any age don’t count against the cap, and passengers 21 or older don’t count either. Driving three younger siblings to school is fine. Driving three friends home from school is not.

No Wireless Devices At All

Drivers under 18 face a total ban on using any wireless communication device while the vehicle is in motion, outside a genuine emergency. The statute’s definition is broad enough to reach both handheld and hands-free devices, so a Bluetooth call routed through the car’s speakers is technically prohibited.² This is stricter than the adult rule, which permits hands-free use and bans only reading or sending electronic messages.³

One procedural detail: an officer cannot pull a provisional license holder over solely to check compliance with these restrictions. The stop has to rest on some other observed violation or reasonable suspicion. If the stop happens for another reason and the officer notices a curfew or passenger problem, the citation follows.

What Counts as a Violation and What It Costs

A first wireless device violation carries a fine between $25 and $99. A second or later offense raises the range to $100 to $200.²

The bigger risk is the moving violation count. Two convictions within any 12-month period while the provisional license is in effect can prompt DPS to suspend driving privileges.¹ Two convictions of any kind, not two speeding tickets specifically. An improper lane change plus a rolled stop sign will do it.

If the driver doesn’t request a hearing after a suspension notice, the suspension takes effect automatically for 90 days. If a hearing is requested and the presiding officer upholds the suspension, the term can run from 30 days up to a full year.¹ A reinstatement fee, typically $100, is due before driving can resume. And the enforcement action doesn’t simply disappear at 18: unresolved issues block the move to a full license.

Who Qualifies and What’s Required to Get One

An applicant must be at least 16 and must have held a valid Texas learner license for a minimum of six months. The six-month clock runs from the issue date on the learner license.⁴

A state-approved driver education course has to be completed, documented by a DE-964 certificate (or DE-964E for public school programs).⁵ TDLR-certified driving schools, public schools, and parent-taught programs all qualify. Parent-taught programs require the parent to purchase and follow a TDLR-approved curriculum.

Behind-the-wheel practice runs on its own track. Thirty hours of supervised driving are required with a licensed adult who is at least 21, and at least 10 of those hours must be at night.⁶ The supervising adult signs the log, which gets submitted with the application.

Every applicant under 18 also has to complete the Impact Texas Teen Drivers program before the driving test. It’s a two-hour online course covering distracted driving and highway safety, and the completion certificate is valid for 90 days.⁷ Don’t finish it too far ahead of the test date.

Proof of school enrollment is required too. Texas law expects provisional license applicants to have attended school for at least 80 days in the preceding fall or spring semester, or to be enrolled in a GED preparation program for at least 45 days.⁸ The school provides a Verification of Enrollment form.

The license fee is $16 for a provisional license issued to someone under 18.⁹

The Parent’s Signature Carries Liability

Texas requires a parent or legal guardian to cosign a minor’s driver’s license application. That signature is more than paperwork. The cosigner takes on potential financial liability for the minor’s negligent or reckless driving, and an injured party can pursue damages against the parent who signed.

A cosigner who no longer wants that exposure can submit a written request to DPS asking that the minor’s license be canceled. Once DPS processes the cancellation, liability for future incidents ends. The teen’s license ends with it, which is why this is generally reserved for parents with serious concerns about unsafe driving.

What Changes at 18

A provisional license expires on the holder’s 18th birthday, not a day later.¹⁰ To keep driving legally, the holder has to visit a DPS office and apply for a full Class C license. The renewal fee is $33 and the new license is valid for eight years.⁹

The curfew, the passenger cap, and the complete wireless device ban all drop away. The phone rule shifts to the adult standard: no reading or sending electronic messages, but hands-free calls are permitted.³ The license itself keeps a vertical orientation and an “Under 21” marking until the 21st birthday, which signals age to bartenders and retailers but has no effect on driving privileges.

1
Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Enforcement Actions
2
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 545.424 – Operation of Vehicle by Person Under 18 Years of Age
3
Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 545.4251 – Use of Portable Wireless Communication Device for Electronic Messaging
4
Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Provisional License as a Teen
5
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Driver Education and Safety Certificates
6
Texas Department of Public Safety. Behind the Wheel Instruction Log 30 Hours
7
Texas Department of Public Safety. Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program
8
Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.204 – Restrictions on Minor
9
Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
10
Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.271 – License Expiration