Texas driver's license
Get your first license in Texas after moving to the US.
How it goes
- 1You arriveYou have moved to Texas and you want to drive here.
- 2Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
- 3The written testYou take the written test.
- 4Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
- Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.
What it costs
A first license
$32 for issuance or renewal. A non-citizen credential valid for not more than one year is $24, a provisional or learner license is $15, an occupational license is $10, and renewing a Class M license is $43.
A current CPR certification from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or another nationally recognized association exempts you from any fee for an original or renewal license, unless your job or occupational license requires you to hold it. A veteran honorably discharged with a service-related disability of at least 60 percent who receives compensation for it is also exempt.
You pay this when you apply.
Documents you need
- Documents that are still validYour U.S. passport book or card, employment authorization document (I-766), foreign passport, and permanent resident card (I-551) must all be valid and unexpired.
Your Social Security Number
Giving your number, and who may see it
DPS collects and uses your Social Security number for identification purposes under state and federal law. It is released to government agencies only, and only for purposes the Texas Transportation Code authorizes.
The laws behind the request are printed on the application itself: federal Social Security and child-support enforcement statutes, the REAL ID rule, the commercial license rule, the Texas Family Code, and Texas Transportation Code sections 521.142 and 522.021.
Your Social Security number is stored in the DPS database but never printed on your card. State law closes the list of who can receive it to seven named recipients, including the attorney general's child support division, the Selective Service System, the Health and Human Services Commission, the secretary of state for voter registration, and another state's licensing agency.
Giving your Social Security number is mandatory for driver license and identification card applicants, but voluntary for election identification certificate applicants.
Tests you take
Eye test
You must appear at a driver license office at least once every 16 years for a vision exam and to update your photo, signature, and fingerprints.
Your vision is examined at the driver license office. Based on the results, you can be required to wear corrective lenses while driving, or be referred to your doctor if the results are inconclusive.
Drive test
You must pass a practical driving skills test.
Tries you get on the written test
Each paid application gives you three tries at each part of the exam. If you have not passed after the third try, you must submit a new application with the fee.
If you do not pass the knowledge and driving exams on your first attempt, your application is held for 90 days. After 90 days or three failed exams, a new application and fee are required.
The three tries are counted for each part separately, so failing the driving test three times does not use up your tries on the written parts. A third failure does not shut you out; it means a new application and a new fee.
Practice questions for the written test
Appendix C of the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) has study and review questions for Class C operators, referenced by chapter. The handbook is at dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdf.
Using an interpreter
Texas offers a Spanish version of the exam in every county for applicants who cannot take the regular exam in English. Even on the Spanish exam, the highway signs stay in English, because identifying English highway signs is itself part of what the test measures.
What to bring to the drive test
Who comes with you
If you are not eligible to drive in Texas, a licensed driver must drive the car to the driver license office and exam area. If you are not issued a license, that licensed driver must also drive you away.
For a motorcycle road test you must bring a passenger vehicle and a licensed driver to carry the examiner, who does not ride with you. If you do not bring them, the department can refuse to give any part of the road test.
The car and its insurance
You can use the vehicle's back-up camera for parallel parking, but an automated parking function is not allowed.
A vehicle with dealer temporary cardboard tags cannot be used for the driving exam.
The vehicle must match the license class on your application, and evidence of financial responsibility must be presented before the driving exam unless the vehicle is exempt under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act. If you are not eligible to drive in Texas, a licensed driver must drive the car to and from the exam.
Where to go
Who gives the tests
The department can authorize other entities, including driver education providers, to give the driving test.
Driver education schools certified by DPS under the Third Party Skills Testing program can give the driving test for Class C non-commercial licenses.
You can complete the tests at a DPS office or with a third-party provider.
The Texas Department of Public Safety tests every applicant. The third-party route through a certified driver education school requires an adult to already hold a valid restricted Texas driver license, so it is not open to a new arrival taking their first Texas test.
Booking an appointment
You can book an appointment at txdpsscheduler.com.
The DPS page at dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/appointments.htm has important information to review and a way to schedule.
Office locations
DPS publishes a Driver License Office Locations page for finding offices.
You can find an office near you at dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/appointments.htm.
Other states
U
Every source, quoted28 sources
Every fact on this page is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.
“Sec. 521.421. LICENSE FEES; EXAMINATION FEES. (a) The fee for issuance or renewal of a license not otherwise provided for by this section is $32.”
tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked July 27, 2026
“Sec. 521.1812. WAIVER OF CERTAIN FEES FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS WHO HOLD CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION CERTIFICATION. (a) A person is exempt from the payment of any fee for the issuance of an original or renewal driver's license, as provided under this chapter, if at the time of the application for an original or renewal driver's license the person submits to the department satisfactory evidence that the person: (1) holds a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation issued by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or another nationally recognized association; and”
tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked July 27, 2026
“Valid, unexpired U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-57.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
“ǂ According to state and federal law, DPS collects and uses SSN ... information for identification purposes. This information is released to ... government agencies only for purposes authorized by the Texas ... Transportation Code.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-57.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
“This information is solicited pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 405(c)(2)(C)(i), 42 U.S.C. section 666(a)(13)(A), 6 C.F.R. section 37.11(e), 49 C.F.R. section 383.153, Texas Family Code section 231.302(c)(1), and Texas Transportation Code sections 521.142 and 522.021.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-14A.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
“(b) The department shall enter an applicant's social security number in the department's electronic database but may not print the number on the applicant's driver's license or personal identification certificate.”
tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked July 27, 2026
“Disclosure of your social security account number is mandatory for identification card and driver license applicants, but voluntary for election identification certificate applicants.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-14A.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
“A person must appear in a driver license office at least once every sixteen (16) years for a vision exam and to update the photo, signature and fingerprints.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
“Your vision will be examined when you are at the driver license office. Depending on the results, you may be required to wear corrective lenses while driving if the lenses improve your vision and help increase the safety of your driving. If the results are inconclusive, you may be referred to your doctor.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
“Pass the written knowledge and a practical driving skills test to demonstrate your understanding of traffic laws and safe driving practices.”
dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-apply-texas-driver-licenseChecked August 4, 2026
“On payment of the required fee, an applicant is entitled to three examinations of each element under Subsection (b) for each application to qualify for a driver's license. If the applicant has not qualified after the third examination, the applicant must submit a new application accompanied by the required fee.”
statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“If you do not pass the knowledge and driving exams on your first attempt, your application will be held for 90 days. After 90 days or three failed exams, a new application and fee will be required.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
“(d) On payment of the required fee, an applicant is entitled to three examinations of each element under Subsection (b) for each application to qualify for a driver's license. If the applicant has not qualified after the third examination, the applicant must submit a new application accompanied by the required fee.”
tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked July 27, 2026
“Appendix C: Study and Review Questions for Class C Operators”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
“The department shall design and administer in each county of this state an alternate examination for Spanish-speaking applicants who are unable to take the regular examination in English.”
tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked August 3, 2026
“If you are not eligible to drive in Texas, a licensed driver must drive the car to the driver license office and exam area. If you are not issued a driver license then the licensed driver must also drive you away from the driver license office.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
“Sec. 521.166. MOTORCYCLE ROAD TEST REQUIREMENTS. (a) An applicant required to submit to a motorcycle road test must provide a passenger vehicle and a licensed driver to convey the license examiner during the road test. (b) The department may refuse to administer any part of the road test to an applicant who fails to comply with Subsection (a).”
tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked July 27, 2026
“you may use the back-up camera on your vehicle for parallel parking; however, the use of an automated vehicle parking function will not be allowed”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
“Dealers temporary cardboard tags may be used for demonstrating a vehicle for sale, or for transporting or servicing vehicles without a motor vehicle inspection. These vehicles may not be used for driver license driving exams.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
“The driving exam is given only after all other exams are passed and evidence of financial responsibility is presented or the vehicle is exempt under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
“The department may authorize an entity described by Subsection (a), including a driver education provider described by Section 521.1655, to administer the examination required by Section 521.161(b)(2).”
statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.521.htmChecked August 4, 2026
“The Third Party Skills Testing (TPST) program authorizes Driver Education schools that have been certified by the Department to administer the driving test for Class C non-commercial driver license applicants.”
dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/third-party-skills-testing-programChecked August 4, 2026
“You may complete the testing requirements at the DPS office or with a Third Party provider .”
dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/apply-texas-driver-licenseChecked August 4, 2026
“Pass the written knowledge and a practical driving skills test to demonstrate your understanding of traffic laws and safe driving practices. You may complete the testing requirements at the DPS office or with a Third Party”
dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/apply-texas-driver-licenseChecked August 4, 2026
“To schedule an appointment, please visit our website at https://www.txdpsscheduler.com .”
dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-services-appointmentsChecked August 4, 2026
“www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/appointments.htm”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-57.pdfChecked July 26, 2026
“Driver License Office Locations”
dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-apply-texas-driver-licenseChecked August 4, 2026
“Visit the DPS website at https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/appointments.htm to find an office near you and schedule your appointment.”
dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdfChecked August 4, 2026
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