Texas Driver’s License Requirements: Everything You Need Before Your DPS Appointment

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

The Texas driver license requirements first time applicants must meet go beyond a folder of documents. DPS also expects a driver education course if you are 18 to 24, an Impact Texas Drivers certificate, proof of insurance, a test vehicle, the fee and passing scores on three tests. This checklist covers each of those non-document items and who they apply to.

Key Facts

  • Course: a six-hour adult course for ages 18 to 24, unless you hold a valid out-of-state license. See driver education.
  • ITD certificate: ITAD or ITTD, printed and dated within 90 days of the driving test. See the ITD certificate.
  • Vehicle: valid registration and insurance for the road test. See the test vehicle.
  • Fee: $33 for a new license at ages 18 to 84. See the fee.
  • Tests: vision, knowledge and driving, in that order. See the three tests.
  • One card: a Texas ID card is surrendered when you apply. See surrendering an ID.

Texas Driver License Requirements First Time Checklist

The DPS Apply for a Texas Driver License page is the main source for this list. Here is who each item applies to.

RequirementApplies toThe rule in short
Adult driver educationAges 18 to 24Six-hour course, ADE-1317 certificate
Impact Texas DriversAges 18+ taking the driving testITAD or ITTD, printed, within 90 days
Form DL-14AEvery applicantOnline or at the office
DocumentsEvery applicantLawful presence, residency, identity, SSN
Insurance proofEvery applicantEach vehicle you own, or a no-vehicle statement
Test vehicleAnyone taking the road testValid registration and insurance
FeeAges 18 to 84$33 for eight years
TestsEvery first-time applicantVision, knowledge, then driving
Texas ID surrenderCurrent Texas ID holdersTurn it in when you apply

New residents with a valid out-of-state license follow a shorter list. See the exceptions below.

Requirement 1: Driver Education by Age

Texas law sets this rule. Under Transportation Code § 521.1601, in Chapter 521, DPS may not license a person under 25 without a driver education certificate. For adults 18 and older, a TDLR-approved adult course meets the rule.

DPS states it by age. Applicants “18 through 24 years of age and applying for your first Texas driver license” must finish a six-hour adult course. The page adds “(No driver education requirements for ages 25 and older).”

The course must come from a TDLR-licensed provider. You can check one with TDLR’s provider license search. The certificate it issues is the ADE-1317.

The Two-Year Limit

A course can include the highway sign and traffic law parts of the DPS knowledge test. Texas law (Transportation Code § 521.1655) lets a test passed there count for those parts. Ask your provider whether its course includes it.

Time matters, though. Under 37 TAC 15.55, applicants under 25 whose certificate is dated two or more years before they apply get no exams waived. The certificate still counts as proof of the course.

Requirement 2: An Impact Texas Drivers Certificate

DPS rule 37 TAC 15.62 covers every applicant 18 or older who takes the skills exam. Each one finishes ITAD or ITTD first, whichever they pick.

The DPS ITD page lists ITAD as a free, 1-hour video about distracted driving. Three rules from the ITAD FAQ stand out:

  • Order. Take ITAD after the six-hour adult course.
  • Window. The certificate is “only valid for 90 days.”
  • Paper. “You must print the certificate and submit a paper copy.”

The video has device rules too. The ITD website says to use a desktop or laptop with Chrome or Firefox. It does not work on a phone, tablet or iPad.

ITAD does not replace the adult course. It is a separate requirement. Our ITAD guide covers it in depth.

Requirement 3: Form DL-14A

Every applicant fills out Form DL-14A. DPS says you can complete the DL-14A online or at the office. You hand it in with your documents.

Requirement 4: Documents

DPS asks for proof of lawful presence, Texas residency and identity, plus your Social Security number. Each group has its own list of accepted papers. Our first-time document guide walks through every one.

Requirement 5: Insurance Proof

The apply page asks for “Proof of Insurance for each vehicle you own or a statement affirming you do not own a vehicle.” This rule is about your own vehicles, not only the test car.

If you own no vehicle, the statement takes the place of insurance proof. New residents who surrender an out-of-state license also show Texas registration for each vehicle they own.

Requirement 6: A Vehicle for the Road Test

You supply the car for the driving test. The DPS road test FAQ says you must “provide a vehicle with valid registration and insurance.”

The FAQ adds a few details:

  • You do not need to be named on the policy, but you “cannot be listed as an excluded driver.”
  • Metal plates with no sticker can work if both plates are attached and you bring the buyer’s receipt.
  • A car registered in another state can be used if it meets that state’s laws.

The Texas Driver Handbook adds one more rule. The vehicle must match the class of license you are testing for.

A self-check before a first Texas license visit, from the course certificate to the test vehicle

Requirement 7: The Fee

A first license costs $33 for anyone 18 through 84, according to the DPS fee page. That card runs eight years. Applicants 85 or older pay $9 instead.

DPS says a $1 administrative fee is already included in that amount. Offices accept credit cards, cash, checks, money orders and tap-to-pay. Our cost guide covers every fee, including retests.

Requirement 8: Three Tests

Every first-time applicant passes three tests. The handbook gives the driving test last, “only after all other exams are passed and evidence of financial responsibility is presented.”

The Vision Test

DPS rule 37 TAC 15.51 sets the standard. Uncorrected vision of 20/40 or better in each eye and both together means no restriction.

Weaker vision can add a lens restriction or other limits, and worse than 20/70 fails. DPS also checks color blindness for all original applicants.

If results are unclear, the handbook says you may be referred to your doctor. See our vision test guide.

The Knowledge Test

You need 70 percent or better, the handbook says. The test covers traffic signs and Texas traffic laws, among other topics in Transportation Code § 521.161. DPS does not publish the number of questions.

The Driving Test

Four skills are scored on the road: control, observation, positioning and signaling. Losing more than 30 points, breaking a law, refusing an instruction, or a crash or dangerous driving stops the application.

You can test at DPS or with a DPS-certified school. The handbook lists items such as parallel parking and backing about 60 feet, and our skills and maneuvers guide covers the full list.

If You Do Not Pass

Passing is part of the requirement, but you get more than one try. Texas law allows three attempts per application and fee.

The handbook says DPS holds your application for 90 days. After 90 days or three failed exams, a new application and fee are required. Keep your ITAD certificate inside its 90-day window too.

Requirement 9: Surrendering a Texas ID

DPS says, “If you already have a Texas ID, you will need to surrender it.” The DPS REAL ID page explains why: Texas law “only permits a person to hold a driver license or identification card, but not both.” Our license vs ID guide compares the two cards.

Once Every Requirement Is Met

After you pass, DPS issues a temporary license. The handbook says you may use it for 45 days or until the card arrives. Check its printed details before you leave.

DPS says the card “will typically arrive by mail within 2-3 weeks.” You can track it on the DPS Where’s My Driver License page.

Who Gets a Shorter List

Some applicants skip items on this checklist:

  • Ages 25 and older. No driver education is required. ITAD and the tests still apply. See our over-25 guide.
  • New residents with a valid license. The DPS Moving to Texas page says adults 18 and older are exempt from the course, ITD and the knowledge and skills exams. That covers a license that is valid or not expired over two years.

What Is Not on the List

A learner license is not an adult requirement. Texas law limits it to ages 15 to 17, and the DPS adult steps do not include one.

There is no teen-style six-month holding period for adults either. Our guide to getting a license at 18 without a permit explains why.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the DPS pages we checked on October 26, 2026, the apply page listed the ITD certificate only for applicants who will take the driving test. It said vehicle registration proof applies only to new residents surrendering an out-of-state license.

The road test FAQ allowed a car registered in another state if it meets that state’s laws. It also said you must apply before you book a road test.

Summary card of the DPS rules for the vehicle used in a Texas driving test

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from a DPS page, rule or the handbook:

  • Showing ITAD on a phone. DPS wants a paper copy.
  • Letting ITAD expire. It is valid for 90 days.
  • Borrowing a car you are excluded from. You cannot be an excluded driver on its policy.
  • Testing in the wrong vehicle class. The car must match the license class.
  • Keeping your Texas ID. You surrender it when you apply for a license.
  • Waiting two years after the course. Under 25, an old certificate waives no exams.

How Requirements Can Vary

Texas driver license rules come from state law, Texas DPS rules and TDLR rules, and they apply statewide. What you need still depends on your age, whether you hold a license from another state, and which tests you have already passed.

Laws, fees and office procedures can change. Check the Texas DPS and TDLR websites for current rules before you book an appointment or enroll in a course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need for my first Texas driver license?

You need documents, Form DL-14A, insurance proof and the $33 fee. Ages 18 to 24 also need the adult course, and anyone taking the driving test needs a printed ITAD or ITTD certificate.

Do I need my own car for the road test?

Yes, or a borrowed one. Its registration and insurance must be valid, and the policy cannot list you as an excluded driver.

Is ITAD required for everyone?

It is required for applicants 18 and older who take the driving test. New residents with a valid out-of-state license are exempt.

Can I keep my Texas ID card when I get a license?

No. Texas law lets you hold a license or an ID card, but not both. DPS asks you to surrender the ID when you apply.

What score do I need on the knowledge test?

The handbook sets the pass mark at 70 percent. The question count is not published by DPS.

What if I do not own a car?

You sign a statement that you do not own a vehicle. You still need a properly insured and registered car for the road test.

Is driver education required at 25?

No. DPS lists no driver education requirement for ages 25 and older. ITAD and the tests still apply.

Conclusion

First-time Texas applicants need more than documents: the right course for their age, a printed ITD certificate, insurance proof, a test vehicle, the fee and three passed tests. Check each item against the DPS pages before you book.

If you hold a Texas ID, plan to surrender it. For ages 18 to 24, you can start with Driving Logic’s online Texas adult driver education course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Texas and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas driver license and driver education rules are set by Texas law, Texas DPS and TDLR, and they can change. Check the official DPS and TDLR websites for current requirements before you apply.