To get a driver’s permit in Texas, you need to be 15 to 17 years old, enrolled in a state-approved driver education course, and ready to walk into a Department of Public Safety office with a parent or guardian, proof of citizenship, two proofs of Texas residency, proof of your Social Security number, a school enrollment form, and your driver education certificate. You will pass a vision screening and, unless your driving school already gave you the knowledge test, a written exam. The permit costs $16 and stays valid until your 18th birthday.1Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
Age and Parent Requirement
You cannot apply before your 15th birthday, and the permit automatically expires the day you turn 18. A parent or legal guardian must either come with you to the DPS office or provide a notarized copy of the application carrying their signature. If you have been legally emancipated, bring proof of that status instead.1Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
If you are 18 or older, the learner permit is not the path for you. Adults 18 to 24 complete a six-hour adult driver education course and a one-hour Impact Texas Adult Drivers video before applying for a license, and adults 25 and up can apply directly for a full license.2Department of Public Safety. Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program
Start Driver Education Before You Apply
Texas will not issue a learner permit until you are enrolled in or have completed a state-approved driver education course. The classroom portion runs 24 hours, and you can approach it two ways.3Department of Public Safety. Choosing a Driver Education Course
- The concurrent method has you finish the first 6 hours, get your permit, then complete the remaining 18 hours while you practice.
- The block method has you finish all 24 hours before you apply.
Concurrent is the faster route into the driver’s seat. Either way, your provider will issue a Texas Driver Education Certificate (Form DE-964 or DE-964E) when you finish the required classroom phase, and you must bring that certificate to the DPS.1Department of Public Safety. Texas Learners License as a Teen
Documents to Bring to the DPS
The DPS wants documents in four categories. Miss one and you go home without a permit, so pull everything together before you schedule an appointment.
Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence
You need one document. Common options are a valid U.S. passport or passport card, an original or certified U.S. birth certificate, or a Certificate of Naturalization. Laminated birth certificates and photocopies are not accepted. Non-citizens can present a valid Permanent Resident Card, an unexpired employment authorization document, or a foreign passport with a valid I-94.4Department of Public Safety. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement
Two Proofs of Texas Residency
You need two separate printed documents showing your name and a Texas residential address, and at least one must show you have lived in Texas for 30 days or more. Acceptable documents include a utility bill dated within 180 days, a current mortgage or lease, a Texas voter registration card, a vehicle registration, or a bank or credit card statement dated within 180 days. For a teen applicant, these typically come from a parent or guardian.5Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards
Identity and Social Security Number
The simplest path is one primary identity document, such as a U.S. passport or an out-of-state driver license. If you do not have a primary document, you can combine a secondary document like a birth certificate with supporting documents like school records. Your Social Security number is verified separately; bringing the actual Social Security card is easiest, but a W-2 or 1099 also works.6Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
School Enrollment and Driver Education
Teen applicants bring two more items. First, a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance form (VOE) signed by a school administrator. The VOE is valid for 30 days from the issue date, or 90 days if issued between June and August.7Department of Public Safety. Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) Form A high school diploma or GED works in place of the VOE. Second, your Texas Driver Education Certificate showing you finished the required classroom hours.
The Vision Screening and Knowledge Test
Everyone takes a vision screening at the DPS. Without corrective lenses, you need 20/40 or better in each eye for an unrestricted permit. If your best eye falls between 20/50 and 20/70, you may still qualify with restrictions like daytime-only driving and a 45 mph speed cap. Worse than 20/70 in your best eye, even with corrective lenses, is a fail.8Legal Information Institute. Texas Code 37 Tex Admin Code 15.51 – Vision Tests Bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them.
The knowledge test is multiple choice and covers traffic laws, road signs, safe driving practices, and the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving. Passing is 70 percent. The free Texas Driver Handbook on the DPS website is the primary study resource; most questions come straight from it. If your driver education provider already administered the knowledge exam, you do not retake it at the DPS.
Cost, Payment, and What You Leave With
Schedule an appointment through the DPS website before you go. Walk-ins are accepted at some locations, but appointment holders move through much faster. Bring your completed Application for Texas Driver License or Identification Card (Form DL-14A), which you can download and fill out beforehand, along with every document above.9Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
The permit fee is $16.10Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees The DPS accepts cash, checks, money orders, debit cards, and major credit cards. Refunds are not available once payment is processed, even if you decide not to finish the process. You leave with a temporary paper permit the same day, and the printed card arrives by mail in two to three weeks.
Texas now issues all new driver licenses and permits as REAL ID compliant, so your permit carries the star marking and works as identification for domestic flights and federal facilities.11Department of Public Safety. TxDPS – Real ID Document Check App
What You Can and Cannot Do with the Permit
A learner permit does not let you drive alone. Every time you drive, a licensed adult must sit in the front passenger seat. That adult must be at least 21, hold a valid driver license for the type of vehicle you are operating, and have at least one year of driving experience. They cannot be asleep, intoxicated, or otherwise unable to watch the road, and a supervising adult who breaks those rules can be charged with an offense.12Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.222 – Learner License
Drivers under 18 also cannot use any wireless device behind the wheel. No calls, no texting, no hands-free systems while the vehicle is moving. The only exception is a 911 call in an emergency. What your parents do legally with a hands-free system, you cannot.
Before you can move on to the driving skills test and a provisional license, you will need to hold the permit for at least six months, log 30 hours of supervised practice (10 of them at night), and finish the full driver education course.13Department of Public Safety. Texas Provisional License as a Teen If you turn 18 before the six months are up, the permit expires on your birthday and you switch to the adult licensing path.