How to Get a Texas Driver’s License: A Step-by-Step Guide
Driver’s license requirements in Texas depend on multiple factors, including whether you’re transferring your license from another state or getting one for the first time.
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Written bySarah Archambault
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Experienced personal finance writer
Background working with banks and insurance companies
Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.
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5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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Updated July 24, 2024
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Getting a driver’s license is a huge milestone, and each state has its own requirements. In Texas, people younger than 25 need to take driver’s education courses for first-time license applications. Applicants must also pass a written exam, a vision test, and a driving exam.[1]
To help you gain confidence behind the wheel, explore the following steps on how to get a Texas driver’s license.
Quick Facts
Out-of-state drivers moving to Texas must switch their licenses within a 90-day period.
You must visit a driver’s license office to get a new Texas driver’s license, but you can order renewals online.
Members of the military and out-of-state drivers may be able to skip driver’s ed and Texas testing.
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How to get a driver’s license in Texas
You must satisfy several basic eligibility requirements in order to receive a driver’s license in the Lone Star State, including proof of:[2]
U.S. citizenship or lawful presence in the country
Texas residency
Identity and Social Security number (SSN)
Valid Texas registration
Texas law also requires proof of insurance coverage for each car you own. Drivers are required to carry minimum liability car insurance as follows:[3]
$30,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage
$60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
$25,000 in property damage liability coverage
In addition, if you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will require you to carry full-coverage insurance, which adds comprehensive and collision coverage to your liability insurance.
Texas has age-based requirements, too. New drivers younger than 18 must complete a driver education course and go through the two phases of a graduated driver licensing program. And if you’re 18–24, you must take a six-hour adult driver education course.
Most applicants must pass a knowledge test and a driving skills test. The final step is to pay the required fees and meet any other state requirements. Then, you can get your Texas driver’s license and hit the road safely and legally.
What documents do you need to get a driver’s license in Texas?
When you’re ready to apply for your driver’s license, you’ll need to bring the following required documents with you to a driver’s license office location:
Completed application
Social Security card
Birth certificate, passport, or permanent resident identification card
Utility bill or another document for proof of residency
Driver’s license or school ID card for proof of identity
Motor vehicle registration and proof of insurance for your cars in Texas
Proof of driver education completion if younger than 18 and applying for your first driver’s license in Texas
Options for driver’s education courses in Texas
The state of Texas requires all people younger than 25 to take a driver’s education course to get a driver’s license. But new Texas residents age 18–24 can skip the courses if they have a valid license from another state.
Adults 18 and older can complete a six-hour program with a commercial driving school, but minors need to complete 32 hours of classes or a parent-taught course.
In Texas, teenagers can start taking driver education courses at 14 years of age but can’t apply for a learner’s permit until age 15.
Texas drivers have four options for driver education courses:[4]
Commercial driving school: Teenagers can complete a traditional driver’s ed course taught by a certified training school listed in the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation database.[5]
Online courses: Texans can take an approved driver education course online at their own pace.
Public school driver’s ed: Some Texas high schools offer the required courses.
Parent-taught driver education (PTDE): A parent or legal guardian can teach their teenagers driving skills, but they need to purchase a classroom curriculum from a licensed provider.[6]
Driving tests in Texas
If you apply for a driver’s license in Texas, you’ll need to successfully complete three tests. Applicants must pass the following exams to drive legally:[7]
Knowledge test: All applicants younger than 25 must score at least 70% on the written exam. The Class C exam (or Class M for a motorcycle license) is a multiple-choice test that covers knowledge of Texas driving laws, road signs, and safe driving practices.
Vision test: Applicants need to pass a basic vision test and wear any necessary corrective lenses before driving.
Driving test: Applicants can only take the driver’s exam after passing all other tests. During the road test, applicants must demonstrate parallel parking, quick stops, backing up, stop signs, traffic signals, clutch use, intersection observance, right-of-way, trunks, following, passing, lane observance, and correct posture.
Important Information
The Texas Driver Handbook from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) explains what the test entails. If you don’t pass the Texas driver’s license exam on your first attempt, you can take it two more times within 90 days. After three failed attempts or 90 days, you’ll need to reapply for a license and start the process again.
How to get a teen driver’s license in Texas
Teens must navigate two phases to receive a Texas driver’s license: a learner’s license and a provisional one. Teens age 15–17 must complete a driver’s education course, pass a written and driving test, and have parental consent to get a learner’s license.
Your next step is a provisional license, which remains in effect until age 18. It requires you to have a learner’s license for six months and finish 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed adult. And you must pass another road test and take the Impact Texas Driver Program.
While driving with a provisional license, you can’t have passengers younger than 21 who aren’t family, use a wireless device, or drive between 12 and 5 a.m. (unless special circumstances apply).
The licensing process for adults in Texas is much simpler. If you’re 18 or older, you can apply for a regular driver’s license without going through a graduated driver’s license program. The application process includes passing a written exam and driving test, as well as providing proof of residency and identity.
How to transfer an out-of-state license in Texas
If you move to Texas, you can continue to use your out-of-state driver’s license for 90 days. You’ll need to apply for a new Texas license before the end of that grace period. You must surrender your unexpired license to the driver’s license office, whether from another state, territory, province, or country.
Texas has license reciprocity with Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, and Taiwan. If you need to know how to get a driver’s license in Texas as an adult when you have a license from a different state or country, here’s the good news: You won’t need to take a knowledge test or skills exam when surrendering your license.[8]
Good to know
Texas has an exception if you have an expired license and are active-duty military or recently discharged. If that’s your situation, you can skip the knowledge and skills exams and get a Texas license by providing a valid military ID.
How to renew a Texas driver’s license
The Department of Public Safety offers online and in-person renewals of Texas driver’s licenses. You can also renew by phone or through the mail.
For online or telephone renewal, visit the online portal or call 1 (866) 357-3639. If you renew in person at your local office, here’s what to do:[9]
Make an appointment.
Fill out the renewal application.
Gather proof of citizenship (or proof of lawful presence), identity, and your Social Security card.
Pass the vision exam.
Provide your signature and thumbprints.
Take a new photo for the license.
Pay the fee.
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How much does a driver’s license cost in Texas?
When getting or renewing your Texas driver’s license, you’ll encounter some fees. Your license type will determine how much you pay.
If you’re younger than 18 and getting a learner’s license, the cost is $16. You’ll pay $33 if you’re older than 18 and getting a new license or renewing an existing one, but adding a motorcycle will cost you $16. And drivers 85 and older pay just $9 for their license, but it expires after two years rather than the standard eight years.[10]
Texas driver’s license FAQs
If you’re curious about the ins and outs of getting a Texas driver’s license, this additional information may help.
What do you need to get a Texas driver’s license?
Texas requires you to prove your citizenship or lawful presence in the country, establish Texas residency, provide proof of identity and SSN, and have current Texas vehicle registration for each car you own. Completing a driver education course is mandatory if you’re younger than 25. New residents with valid licenses from other states may be able to skip the driver’s ed courses.
How do you get a driver’s license online in Texas?
To get a new driver’s license, Texas requires that you make an appointment at a DPS office and submit an application. But certain services are available online, including license renewal.
How do you transfer a driver’s license to Texas?
Texas requires that you transfer your driver’s license within 90 days if you’re moving from another state or country. It starts with a visit to a driver’s license office, where you’ll provide documentation that proves your identity, age, and Texas residency. You’ll also need to surrender any out-of-state or foreign license you may have.
How long does it take to get a Texas driver’s license?
The Texas DPS will usually mail your new driver’s license within two to three weeks. If you renew, replace, or update your driver’s license address, you can get a temporary driver’s license online, which will be valid for 60 days. You should carry your temporary license until the permanent one arrives.
Can you get a Texas driver’s license without taking a test?
To get a driver’s license in Texas, most people must pass three tests: a vision test, a written test, and a driving test. But the Lone Star State has certain exceptions. You may be able to skip the knowledge and skills exam if you’re a new resident of Texas and already have a valid out-of-state driver’s license or are a member of the military.
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Popular articles
Sources
- Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. "Do I Need to Take Driver Education in Texas?."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "How to Apply for a Texas Driver License."
- Texas Department of Insurance. "Auto insurance guide."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "How to Apply for a Texas Driver License as a Teen."
- Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. "Driver Education Provider Search."
- Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation. "Getting Started with Parent-Taught Driver Education."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Texas Driver Handbook."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Moving to Texas."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Driver License Fees."
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Sarah Archambault
Sarah Archambault enjoys helping people figure out how to manage their finances and credit. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans. Her work has been featured on Credit Karma, Experian, LendingClub, Sound Dollar and USA Today Blueprint. She also writes for national insurers, banks and financial institutions like Aetna, MassMutual, Stripe, and UnitedHealthcare.
7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content
Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.
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