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Guide to Getting a Texas Drivers License
How to get a drivers license in Texas?
Are you a Texas resident who’s ready to get your license? If so, Texas has a different process for getting your license based on your age. So let's start there.
How old are you?
Select the option that best represents you to jump to the right information.
I’m between 14 ½ - 17 years old and do not have a learners permit
I’m between 14 ½ - 17 years old and HAVE my Learners Permit
Types Of Drivers License in Texas
Before you turn 21 in the state of Texas, you will go through a few different types of Texas driver licenses before you get your full, unrestricted license. The different types of drivers licenses in Texas are as follows:
Minor Restricted Driver License (Hardship License)
Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program
Full Unrestricted Drivers License
Requirements For Getting Your Drivers License in Texas
Driving in Texas starts with your learners permit. You might ask yourself, what age can you get your license in Texas? Here’s how the timeline breaks down:
When you turn 14, you can start taking the required driver education.
At 15, you’re eligible to get your instruction permit also known as a learners permit.
And when you turn 16, you can convert your permit into a full-fledged license!
Driver Ed Age Breakdown:
Based on your age, you’ll have different requirements for what course you need to take
Age 14 - 17: Teen driver education
Age 18+: Adult driver education
Age 25 +: Driver education not required (but still recommended)
Pro tip: If you're under 18 you must complete a drivers ed course, take the permit test (our course has this included!), complete 44 hours of behind the wheel training and then pass the driving test.
If You’re 141/2-17 and Have a Learners Permit
First things first, you have to start by purchasing a state approved drivers ed course. You're probably aware that a learner’s permit, or instruction permit, means you can only drive with mom and dad or another licensed adult over 21 years old. How do you get a drivers license in Texas at 16? Once you turn 16 if you’ve had your permit for six months and you pass the driving exam your Texas driver's permit will be upgraded to a provisional license.
If you’re already 16, you might be thinking you can skip the whole permit part. Unfortunately, if you’re under 18, you still have to hold an instructional permit for six months before you can get your Texas driver license.
Still Need You Texas Learners Permit?
No sweat, you’ll need to complete at least 6 hours of a state approved drivers ed course before you can apply for your learners permit in Texas.
Once you’ve secured your permit you’ll finish up your drivers education course, take the driving test and you're good to hop on the road. Here’s the break-down
One year of learning without driving,
One year of learning while driving with a licensed driver
Pass the drivers Test
Finally you’ll be driving on your own without a licensed driver. BUT there are still restrictions on where and when you can drive.
Pro Tips: Don’t forget to look through the rules and regulations for getting a learners permit in Texas.
The first step to getting a Texas learners permit is signing up for a drivers ed course. Both types of state-approved courses are offered through Aceable!
Need More Information About Your Permit?
Discover everything you need to know about obtaining your Texas learners permit!
If You’re 141/2-17 and Do NOT Have a Learners Permit
How to get your Texas Learners Permit
Before you can apply for your Texas learners permit you must complete at least 6 hours of a state approved drivers ed course.
So basically, one year of learning without driving, then one year of learning while driving with a licensed driver and finally you’ll be driving on your own without a licensed driver. BUT there are still restrictions on where and when you can drive.
Texas Learner Permit Requirements
In order to get your learner's permit, also known as an instruction permit, you have to pass a written test. You may be eligible to take the test after just six hours of drivers ed, depending on whether your course abides by the concurrent or block method.
Sometimes you can take the written test in your drivers ed class or, if you enrolled in an online program, you can take the test within the course.
When you pass the test, you’ll receive a certificate of completion that you can bring to your local Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office. If your drivers ed program doesn’t offer the test you have to make an appointment at the DPS and take the test in person. A parent or guardian needs to come with you to sign off on all the paperwork.
Tips: Don’t forget to look through the rules and regulations for getting a learners permit in Texas.
Texas Teen Driver License Requirements
What are the Texas driver's license requirements and how long do you have to wait after your permit to get your license? So you’ve finished drivers ed, you’re at least 16 years old and you’ve held your permit for at least six months. Well, you’re ready to get your driver license! The last step you have to complete before taking your driving test is taking the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) course.
ITTD is a free, two-hour video course that must be completed no more than 90 days before you show up at the DPS to get your driver license. To complete the ITTD course go to the Texas DPS website and register. You can complete the course all in one two-hour sitting or take it in 15-minute increments. When you’re done, you’ll get a certificate certifying your completion.
The last step is passing your driving test! The driving exam is just to make sure all your education and practice have helped you become a safe driver that understands the rules of the road.
What to Bring to the DPS for the Texas Driving Test
Let’s take a look at the DPS forms and other documentation that you’ll need to provide before you can take the driving test.
Proof of yours or your parent's’ car insurance
Proof of yours or your parent’s Texas motor vehicle registration
Proof of enrollment/graduation from school, like a VOE form, high school diploma, or GED
Certificates of Completion for Drivers Ed and ITTD
You’ll also need:
Your parent instructor
Your permit
A vehicle that can pass the safety inspection
Bring those, pass your driving test and you’re done! You’re officially a licensed driver and can hit those open Texas roads! You’ll start with your restricted license until you’re 18 years old, then you can graduate to an unrestricted license.
Adult vs Teen Drivers Ed
Learn the pros and cons of teen drivers ed vs. Adult drivers ed.
If You’re Over 18 Years Old
What about adults who need to learn how to drive?
There’s a similar process for getting your Texas driver license as an adult. People aged 14-17 take Texas Teen Drivers Ed and those 18 and older take Texas Adult Drivers Ed.
Texas Adult Drivers Ed
How do you get your license at 18 (or over) in Texas? If you’re 18 years or older, you’re still required to take drivers ed, but it’s different than teen drivers ed. Adult drivers ed is a much shorter six-hour course.
You can choose to take adult drivers ed online with Aceable or at a brick-and-mortar school. If you check the TDLR website, you can find a list of all driver education schools in Texas so you can pick the one that’s right for you.
The process is different than teen drivers ed in the fact that you don’t have to have a learners permit or complete behind-the-wheel training. It’s a much easier and quicker process.
Texas Adult Driver License Requirements
How to get your license in Texas when you are 18? If you’re an adult in the eyes of the law, then you don’t have quite as many license requirements (in Texas) as an underage teen driver. But there’s still a few things that have to be done before you can get a Texas drivers license.
Impact Texas Young Driver Course
As of 2017, adults between the age of 18-24 are required to take an Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD) course in addition to drivers ed. It’s a 1-hour video that’s broken up into four modules. This needs to be completed after your 6-hour driver education course.
You can take the course through the ITYD website.
The Written Exam and Road Test
Once the education requirements are met you can move on to the testing phase. To obtain a Texas driver's license, you’ll have to pass two tests:
A written knowledge exam
A behind-the-wheel road test
You may be able to take the written exam with your drivers ed program, so then all you’ll have to do when you get to the Department of Public Safety is take your driving test. That’s just one perk of taking drivers ed with Aceable.
What to Bring to the DPS for Your Tests
Let’s talk about what to bring to the DPS to get your adult drivers license:
Driver license application (found at DPS)
Proof of identity
Proof of social security number
Two documents as proof of Texas residency
Proof of name change (only if your name is now different than what’s on your proof of identity document - for example, from marriage or divorce)
Certificate of completion for drivers ed
Driver license fee of $25
Find a complete, printable checklist here!
Again, only legit originals are allowed - photocopies will not be accepted. But once you have those and you pass your driving test, you’ll officially be a licensed driver with full driving privileges!
How do you get your Texas learners permit over 25?
If you’re 25 and older you don’t have to get a learners permit or take drivers education. You can go straight to the DPS to take the written and driving test to get your drivers license. However, Adult Drivers Ed is only six hours and highly recommended for new drivers. This course not only teaches the rules of the road but also defensive driving skills to help you navigate unpredictable situations behind the wheel. Here are the top reasons people take drivers ed as a first time driver 25 years old.
Other Drivers License Options in Texas
Not quite ready to take the wheel totally alone? It’s better to be safe and ease your way into the drivers seat if you aren’t feeling completely confident. If you want some more driving experience before taking your driving test, you have two options:
You can get your Texas adult permit, which is for people ages 18-24 who have never driven before.
You can get your Texas driver license with a B-Restriction, which is for drivers age 25+.
Both of these are easy ways to get practice with other licensed drivers in the vehicle before taking the wheel solo. For each of these, bring $25, the correct DPS documents, and pass a vision test.
Ready to get started on Texas Drivers Ed?
Aceable uses science-back teaching methods to ensure you pass the permit test and become a confident driver.