Texas builds licensing around a driver education certificate and a short online safety video called Impact Texas Drivers. Teens use a learner license for 6 months before the provisional license; adults aged 18 to 24 still need a 6-hour course. The details below separate what applies to which age.
Pick the situation that matches yours
Teens finish the classroom part of driver education before applying, show school enrollment or a diploma, and apply with a parent present.
Your steps
- Complete the classroom portion of driver education, which is 6 hours (concurrent method) or 24 hours (block method), and pass the driver knowledge exam.
- Get proof that you are enrolled and attending school: a diploma, a GED or a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE).
- Book an appointment at a driver license office and complete application DL-14B; a parent or guardian attends, or you provide a notarized application.
- Bring your driver education certificate, identity, residency, Social Security number and citizenship or lawful-presence proof, then give signature and thumbprints, take a vision exam and pay the fee.
- Drive only with a licensed adult aged 21 or older in the front passenger seat, with no cell phone use at all, and hold the learner license for at least 6 months unless you turn 18 first.
What to bring
- Completed application DL-14B
- Texas driver education certificate: DE-964 or DEE-964 (driving school or parent-taught) or DE-964E (public school)
- Diploma, GED or VOE form (valid 30 days, or 90 days if issued June to August)
- Proof of identity, Texas residency, and citizenship or lawful presence
- Social Security number, which is verified electronically
- Parent or guardian present, or a notarized parental authorization
Adults follow the adult application track. If you are 18 to 24 and applying for a first Texas license you must take a 6-hour adult driver education course, while people 25 and older are exempt from it.
Your steps
- If you are 18 to 24, finish the 6-hour adult driver education course, and keep the certificate (ADE-1317 or ADEE-1317).
- Watch the 1-hour Impact Texas Adult Drivers video online and print the certificate, which is valid for 90 days.
- Gather proof of citizenship or lawful presence, Texas residency, identity and your Social Security number.
- Schedule an appointment at a DPS driver license office and complete form DL-14A.
- Pass the vision exam, the written knowledge test and the driving skills test, which can be done at DPS or with a third-party provider.
- Check your temporary license for errors before leaving; the permanent card arrives in the mail in about 2 to 3 weeks.
What to bring
- Completed application DL-14A
- Proof of citizenship or lawful presence, Texas residency and identity
- Social Security number
- Adult driver education certificate if you are 18 to 24
- Impact Texas Drivers certificate dated within 90 days of the skills test
- Proof of liability insurance for the test vehicle
To move up to a provisional license, a teen needs more than the 6 months: structured in-car hours, a safety video and the skills test.
Your steps
- Hold your learner license at least 6 months, which is extended by any days of suspension, unless you turn 18 first.
- Complete 7 hours of in-car observation, 7 hours of in-car practice and 30 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, at least 10 of which are at night, with a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the vehicle.
- Take the 2-hour Impact Texas Teen Drivers video and get the certificate; it must be unexpired when you test, and it is valid for 90 days.
- Pass the driving test with your driving school, whose results are sealed or submitted through the TPST portal, or book a Class C road skills test with DPS.
- Apply for the provisional license with your documents; you will drive with no more than one non-family passenger under 21, not between midnight and 5 a.m. except for work, school activities or emergencies, and with no phone.
What to bring
- Texas learner license
- Impact Texas Teen Drivers certificate
- Driver education certificate (DE-964, DEE-964 or DE-964E)
- Proof of current registration and insurance for the test vehicle if testing at DPS
- Driving test fee or payment receipt (good for 90 days)
- VOE, diploma or GED if you did not give it with the learner license
You get a 90-day grace period to drive on a valid out-of-state license. Adults then apply in person and in most cases skip the knowledge and skills exams.
Your steps
- Drive on your valid, unexpired out-of-state license for up to 90 days after moving, then apply in person before that window closes.
- If you are 18 or older with a US state, territory or Canadian license that is valid or expired no more than 2 years, expect the knowledge and skills exams, ITD and adult driver education requirements to be waived.
- Surrender your out-of-state license.
- Show proof of identity, Texas residency, citizenship or lawful presence, your Social Security number, and current Texas registration and insurance for each vehicle you own.
- If you are under 18, you skip the knowledge exam with a US state, territory or Canadian license but must pass the skills exam.
What to bring
- Your valid out-of-state license, to surrender
- Proof of Texas residency and identity
- Proof of citizenship or lawful presence and Social Security number
- Current Texas vehicle registration and proof of insurance, or a signed statement that you have no vehicle
- A translation if your license is not in English or Spanish
Documents, costs and tips
Identity and residency documents
- Proof of identity, Texas residency, and either US citizenship or lawful presence.
- A Social Security number, verified electronically with the federal government; if it cannot be verified, the license cannot be issued.
- Teens need a Texas driver education certificate and school enrollment proof (VOE, diploma or GED).
- Teens under 18 need a parent or guardian at the visit, or a notarized application, or evidence that parental authorization is not required such as emancipation.
- New residents surrendering an out-of-state license also need current Texas registration and insurance for each vehicle.
Texas tips
- Take the Impact Texas Drivers video late enough in the process: the certificate is dated and good for only 90 days before your driving test.
- If you test with a rental vehicle, you need to be listed as an authorized driver on the rental agreement, and the rental company must allow driving tests.
- No extra passengers may ride along for the driving test, and the test car needs a current registration sticker and plates on the front and rear.
- Minors convicted of tobacco possession must complete an approved awareness program within 90 days or risk suspension of their learner license.
Common questions
Do I need driver education if I am 25 or older?
No. The DPS says adult driver education is required for ages 18 to 24 applying for a first Texas license, and not required for ages 25 and older. All applicants who take a driving skills test still need the Impact Texas Drivers certificate.
How long does the Impact Texas Drivers certificate last?
The certificate is valid for 90 days, and the test cannot be taken without it. The teen video is 2 hours and the adult video is 1 hour.
Can my driving school give the driving test?
Yes. A driving school or third-party provider can administer the test, and results go to DPS in a sealed envelope or through the online TPST portal.
Does time on an out-of-state learner permit count?
No. If you are issued a Texas learner license as a minor, you hold it for 6 months or until 18, and time on an out-of-state permit does not count.
Check the official Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver License Division pages (https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license) before you go, since fees, forms and rules change.