Texas DPS Permit Test 2026

Who Can Get a Learner License

To apply for a learner license in Texas, you must be at least 15 years old. Unlike some states where you can walk into the DMV and take a test with minimal preparation, Texas requires you to be enrolled in or have completed a driver education course before you can get your learner license. This applies to everyone under 25.

If you're under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign your application (Form DL-14B) to give consent. The parent can either come with you to the DPS office in person or provide a notarized application if they cannot attend. Texas law requires the DPS to provide educational information about driving while intoxicated and implied consent laws to both the minor and the cosigning adult.

School enrollment: If you're under 18, you must also provide a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form showing that you are enrolled in a public, private, or home school and have at least 90% attendance in the past semester. A high school diploma or GED also satisfies this requirement. The VOE is valid for 30 days (or 90 days if issued between June and August).

Hardship license: Texas offers a Minor Restricted Driver License (MRDL) for teens as young as 15 who face specific hardships — such as economic necessity, family illness, or career education requirements. The hardship license exempts you from the 6-month holding period but requires completion of all other licensing requirements.

Driver Education Requirements

Driver education is required for everyone under 25 in Texas. This is one of the most important steps in the process — you must complete at least some classroom instruction before you can even apply for a learner license.

Adults 25 and over: Driver education is not required. You can apply directly at the DPS, take the written and driving tests, and get your license.

Impact Texas Drivers (ITD): This is a free online video course from DPS focused on the dangers of distracted driving. Teens must complete the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) course (2 hours) after finishing behind-the-wheel instruction but before taking the driving skills test. The certificate is valid for 90 days.

Fees and What You Pay For

The learner license fee is $16. This covers your permit application, the knowledge test, your card, and is valid until your 18th birthday. There is no separate exam fee — the $16 is all-inclusive for the learner license.

Driving skills test retest fee: If you fail the behind-the-wheel driving test, each retake costs $7. You get up to 3 attempts within 90 days.

Driver education costs: The $16 DPS fee does not include the cost of driver education, which is separate. Commercial driving schools in Texas typically charge $300–$600 for the full course. Parent-taught driver education is generally less expensive (the approved curriculum costs around $100–$200).

The DPS accepts cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards at the office.

Documents You Need at the DPS

Texas requires several documents for your DPS appointment. Missing even one can mean rescheduling, so double-check this list before you go:

Parent or guardian: If you're under 18, your parent must either come to the DPS office with you to sign the application, or provide a notarized application in advance.

Do You Need an Appointment?

Yes — appointments are required. All Texas DPS driver license offices operate by appointment only. You cannot walk in and take the test.

Schedule your appointment online at the DPS appointment scheduler. Appointments can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before your appointment time — if you're more than 30 minutes late, your appointment will be cancelled.

Availability tip: DPS appointments can fill up quickly, especially in large metro areas like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. If you don't see availability at your preferred location, check nearby offices or try booking several weeks out.

What Happens at the DPS

Here's what a typical DPS visit looks like, in order:

The whole process typically takes 1 to 2 hours. If you already passed the written test through your driving school, the visit is faster since you skip step 3.

The Vision Test

The DPS vision screening happens at the service counter. You'll look into a screening device and read letters or numbers. It takes less than a minute.

Texas requires a minimum visual acuity of 20/40 or better in both eyes (with or without corrective lenses). If you wear glasses or contact lenses, keep them on. If you pass with corrective lenses, your license will have a restriction noting that you must wear them while driving.

If your vision is between 20/60 and 20/70 in your best eye, you may receive a restricted license (daylight driving only, maximum 45 mph) with an eye specialist's statement. Vision worse than 20/200 is considered legally blind and does not qualify for a license. You can alternatively have an eye exam done by a licensed optometrist and submit Form DL-63 to the DPS.

Photo and Thumbprints

Your photo is taken during the application process at the DPS office. This photo will appear on your learner license and eventually on your full driver license. Your signature is captured electronically, and both thumbprints are taken. Come prepared to have your picture taken — remove hats and sunglasses. Glasses may need to be removed for the photo.

The Written Knowledge Test

The Texas written knowledge test covers traffic laws, road signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, right-of-way rules, sharing the road, and alcohol awareness. All questions are based on the Texas Driver Handbook. The test has 30 multiple-choice questions and there is no time limit.

Texas does not have a separate road signs test — sign recognition questions are mixed into the main exam. The test is available in English and Spanish only. Due to limited bilingual staff, Spanish testing is not guaranteed at all offices. Translators may assist before and after the test but not during it.

Can you take the test at a driving school instead? Yes. Many approved driver education schools offer the written knowledge test as part of their program — either online or in person. If you pass through a school, you'll receive a certificate (ADE-1317 or DE-964) to present at the DPS, and you won't need to take the test again at the office.

What the Test Looks Like

At the DPS office, you'll take the test on a computer terminal. Each screen shows one question with multiple answer choices. You select your answer and proceed to the next question.

The questions are drawn from the Texas Driver Handbook and cover a mix of topics. Some questions ask about specific traffic laws, others show road signs and ask you to identify their meaning, and others test your understanding of safe driving practices.

Take your time — there is no time limit. Read each question carefully, and if you're unsure, eliminate the answer choices you know are wrong before making your selection.

Passing Score and Results

The passing score is the same for all ages:

When the test ends, the screen will show your score and whether you passed or failed. If you passed, you'll continue through the rest of the application process (vision test, photo, payment) and receive your learner license.

Teens vs. Adults: How the Process Differs

The Texas licensing process has significant differences based on age:

The written knowledge test itself — 30 questions, 70% to pass — is identical regardless of age. The major differences are in driver education requirements, the holding period, and GDL restrictions.

After You Pass

When you pass the written test and complete the rest of the application, the DPS will issue a paper temporary learner license on the spot. This is your official learner license — it's valid immediately and allows you to start driving that same day, provided you follow the permit rules.

Your permanent learner license card will arrive by mail in approximately 2 to 3 weeks. Until it arrives, carry the paper temporary license with you whenever you drive.

Can you start driving immediately? Yes — but only with a supervising driver. You must always have a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old sitting in the front passenger seat. You cannot drive alone under any circumstances.

Teens (under 18): You must hold your learner license for at least 6 months before you can take the driving skills test and apply for a provisional license. If your license is suspended during this period, the holding period extends by the number of suspension days.

If You Don't Pass

If you fail the written test, you must wait at least 24 hours before you can retake it. You'll need to schedule a new DPS appointment for the retake.

You get up to 3 attempts. After 3 failures, you'll need to repurchase the exam. There is no additional waiting period beyond the standard 24 hours — you can schedule your next attempt as soon as an appointment is available.

The questions are pulled from a large pool, so you'll get a different set each time. Study the Texas Driver Handbook thoroughly and take practice tests to identify your weak areas before retaking.

Learner License Rules

Your learner license is valid until your 18th birthday. If you get it at 15, it's valid for up to 3 years. Once you turn 18, your learner license expires and you transition to the full Class C license process.

You must carry your learner license every time you drive.

While driving with a learner license:

Provisional license GDL restrictions (after passing the driving test): Once teens pass the driving test and receive a provisional license, the following restrictions apply until age 18:

Parent-Taught Driver Education (PTDE)

Texas allows parents or guardians to teach driver education at home instead of enrolling in a commercial driving school. The program is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

The total PTDE course is 58 hours:

To get started, the teaching parent must be authorized by TDLR and purchase an approved curriculum from a licensed provider with a parent-taught endorsement. The parent must have a valid Texas driver license and meet specific eligibility criteria.

PTDE offers flexibility in scheduling and is often less expensive than a commercial driving school. However, the total hour requirements are the same, and the teen must still pass the written and driving tests at the DPS or an approved testing location.

International License Holders

If you hold a valid driver license from another country, you can drive in Texas for up to 90 days after arriving. After that, you must obtain a Texas license.

Countries with reciprocity (no test required): If your license is from France, Germany, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, or Taiwan, you can transfer your license to Texas without taking the knowledge or skills exams. You'll surrender your international license at the DPS.

All other countries: You must take both the written knowledge test and the behind-the-wheel driving skills test. You'll also need to provide your foreign license, passport and visa documentation, Social Security number (or SSA ineligibility letter), two proofs of Texas residency, and pass the vision test.

International applicants under 18 from any country (including reciprocity countries) must take the knowledge exam.

Out-of-State Transfers

If you have a valid driver license from another U.S. state, territory, or Canada, the transfer is straightforward. You can drive on your out-of-state license for up to 90 days after moving to Texas.

To transfer, visit a DPS office with an appointment. You'll surrender your out-of-state license, provide identity and residency documents, pass the vision test, and pay the applicable fee. You do not need to take the written or driving tests for a standard out-of-state transfer.

Teens under 18: Out-of-state transfers for minors require obtaining a Texas learner license first and completing the 6-month holding period, regardless of how long you held a license in your previous state. Alternatively, you can wait until age 18 to transfer without the holding period.

The Texas Driver Handbook

The Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) is the official study guide for the written test. Every question on the exam is based on information in this handbook. It covers Texas traffic laws, right-of-way rules, road signs and signals, safe driving practices, parking rules, and alcohol/drug laws.

The handbook is available as a free downloadable PDF from the DPS website. It's published in English and Spanish.

Focus on right-of-way rules, speed limits, road signs, and Texas-specific regulations like the move-over/slow-down law. These topics are heavily represented on the test.

Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the Texas written test. They help you identify knowledge gaps and get comfortable with the question format.

DMV Question Bank practice tests: For thorough preparation, you can take Texas DPS practice tests on DMV Question Bank. The question bank covers all topics from the Texas Driver Handbook and simulates the real test experience, including the same question format and scoring. Practice until you're consistently scoring above 85%.

A proven study strategy: read through the handbook once, take practice tests to find your weak areas, re-read those sections, and test again. Repeat until you're consistently passing with room to spare. Since the passing score is only 70%, strong preparation should put you well above the threshold.

Behind-the-Wheel Requirements

After getting your learner license, the next step is building up your driving experience before taking the behind-the-wheel driving skills test.

Where to take the driving test: You can take the behind-the-wheel driving skills test at a DPS office or through a Third Party Skills Testing (TPST) provider — typically an approved driving school. TPST locations often have more availability and flexible scheduling compared to DPS offices, which can have long wait times for driving test appointments.

Quick Reference

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