The main Texas learner license restrictions are simple: you may drive only with a licensed adult 21 or older in the front passenger seat, and you may not use a cell phone at all while driving, not even hands-free, except in an emergency. You must hold the learner license at least six months before moving up, unless you turn 18 first, and it expires on your 18th birthday. These rules come from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) at dps.texas.gov.
Texas learner license restrictions at a glance
| Rule | What DPS says |
|---|---|
| Who rides with you | A licensed adult 21 or older in the front passenger seat |
| Their experience | At least one year of driving experience (Texas Driver Handbook) |
| Phones | No cell phone use, including hands-free, unless it is an emergency |
| Minimum hold | Six months before a provisional license, unless you turn 18 |
| Suspensions | Add their length to the six-month hold |
| Expires | On your 18th birthday |
| Alcohol | Zero tolerance for drivers under 21 |
| License restriction code | B: licensed driver 21 or older in the front seat |
Who can supervise you
DPS says you must have a licensed adult 21 years or older in the front passenger seat whenever you drive. The Texas Driver Handbook adds two details: the supervising driver needs at least one year of driving experience, and they cannot be intoxicated, asleep or doing anything that keeps them from watching and reacting to your driving.
That means a 20-year-old sibling with a license cannot supervise you, and neither can a parent napping in the passenger seat on a road trip.
Pick one or two main supervising drivers and keep them consistent. You will learn faster with the same coach, and it is easier to keep a clean practice log.
The phone rule
This is the restriction teens break most often. DPS says: no cell phones, all cell phone use is prohibited, including hands-free devices, unless it is an emergency. That covers calls, texts, music apps and maps you are touching. Set your navigation before you start, put the phone out of reach, and let your passenger handle it.
The same no-phone rule continues on the provisional license for drivers under 18, so the habit you build now carries over.
Texas learner license requirements
Before any of these restrictions apply, you have to qualify. The Texas Driver Handbook and the DPS teen learner license page list these Texas learner license requirements:
- Age 15 to 18.
- The classroom portion of driver education: 6 hours if you use the concurrent method, or 24 hours with the block method, plus the driver education certificate.
- A passed knowledge exam. Many teens take it during driver education. If not, you take it at a DPS office, and you need 70 percent to pass.
- A high school diploma, GED or Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE). The VOE needs 90% attendance in the last semester and is valid 30 days, or 90 days if issued from June through August.
- Proof of identity, Texas residency, and U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, plus your Social Security number, which DPS checks electronically.
- Application DL-14B, a vision exam, signature, thumbprints and a photo.
- A parent or guardian at the appointment, or a notarized application signed by them.
- The $16 fee for a learner license under 18.
How long the restrictions last
You hold the learner license at least six months. DPS says any suspension during that time pushes the date back by the number of days you were suspended. If you move to Texas with a permit from another state, you still get a Texas learner license and complete the full six months; your out-of-state permit time does not count.
If you turn 18 before the six months are up, the minimum hold no longer applies, and the learner license itself expires on your 18th birthday.
What changes on the provisional license
| Rule | Learner license | Provisional license (under 18) |
|---|---|---|
| Supervision | Licensed adult 21+ in the front seat, always | Can drive alone |
| Phones | No use, including hands-free | No use, including hands-free |
| Passengers | Supervising adult required | No more than one passenger under 21 who is not family |
| Night driving | Allowed with the supervising adult | Not between midnight and 5 a.m., except for work, school or emergencies |
To move up you also need the Impact Texas Teen Drivers certificate and a passed driving test.
What about adults and hardship licenses?
The learner license itself is for ages 15 to 18. For adults, the Texas Driver Handbook says applicants 18 and older who want to practice are issued a Class C license with the same restrictions as a learner license, so the 21-and-older supervising driver rule still applies. Our adult guide walks through that path.
Teens with a real need to drive, such as a family hardship, can apply for a hardship license (formerly the MRDL) from age 15 using form DL-77. It expires on the next birthday.
FAQ
What are the Texas learner license restrictions?
Drive only with a licensed adult 21 or older in the front passenger seat, use no cell phone at all except in an emergency, and hold the license at least six months unless you turn 18.
What are the Texas learner license requirements?
Be 15 to 18, finish the classroom part of driver education, pass the knowledge exam, show a VOE, diploma or GED, prove identity and residency, and pay $16.
Can I drive alone with a Texas learner license?
No. A licensed adult 21 or older with at least one year of driving experience must sit in the front passenger seat.
Can I use hands-free on a Texas learner license?
No. DPS prohibits all cell phone use, including hands-free devices, except in an emergency.
When does a Texas learner license expire?
On your 18th birthday.
