How to Apply for a Texas Driver License as a Teen

You may use our interactive REAL ID Document Check Application to assist in preparing you for your Driver License Office Visit. Just follow the steps, and at the end, you will have a customized checklist of the documents to bring for your visit.

This page will provide you, as a teen, with information on:

• Applying for your first driver license
• Transferring your out-of-state driver license to Texas
• Applying for your motorcycle license

One of the more important decisions you and your parents or legal guardian can make is deciding when you should apply for your first driver license. There are many laws specific to teen drivers that you are required to follow when applying for and holding a driver license. These laws are designed to educate you about the rules of the road and ensure you practice safe driving habits before being allowed to graduate to the next step. These graduated steps provide you the chance to improve your driving skills over time in lower-risk environments.

If you are under 18 years of age, one of the first requirements is completion of a driver education course. You can begin the classroom phase of a driver education course at 14 years of age, but you cannot apply for a learner license until you are at least 15 years of age. There are four types of driver education to select from when taking this course:

1. A traditional driver education course offered by a certified driver training school
2. An online driver education course offered by a certified driver training school
3. Parent-taught driver education (PTDE)
4. Driver education offered in public school

To select one of the options and get started on your driver education course, visit Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Driver Education and Safety for more information.

Driver Licensing

There are two phases of licensing for all teens before graduating to a full driver license. This is called the Graduated Driver License Program.

Phase I - Learner License

• This entry-level restricted driver license allows you to practice driving with a licensed adult before you graduate to the next level.
• You must be between 15 and 17 years of age.
• You must have completed the first six hours of the driver education classroom instruction if you are using the concurrent method or all 32 hours of classroom instruction if you are using the block method.
• You must provide evidence that you:
  • Obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
  • Are a student enrolled in a public, private, or home school and attended school for at least 90% of the time in the fall or spring semester preceding the date of application; or
  • Are currently enrolled in a program to prepare you to pass the high school equivalency exam. You must have been enrolled for the previous 45 days from the date of applying for your learner license; or
  • If you are applying during the summer and are still enrolled in school, your last report card for the most recent school year is acceptable provided it has your name, a list of absences, and a complete listing of grades.

  Applying for your Learner License
  You must visit a driver license office and provide proof of the following to obtain a learner license.

  1. U.S. Citizenship or if you are not a U.S. Citizen, evidence of lawful presence,
  2. Texas Residency,
  3. Proof of Identity,
  4. Social Security Number*,
  5. Evidence of Texas Vehicle Registration for each vehicle you own. (New Residents who are surrendering an out-of-state driver license only),
  6. Proof of Insurance** for each vehicle you own,
  7. Texas Driver Education Certificate showing classroom completion.
     1. Certified Driver Training Schools – (DE-964)
     2. Parent Taught Driver Education – (DE-964)
     3. Public School Driver Education - (DE-964E)
     4. Does not apply to new residents who are 18 years of age or older and surrendering an out-of-state driver license, and
     1. VOE requires a signature (a stamped or computer generated signature of a school official is acceptable), and
     2. Is valid for 30 days from issuance, or
     3. Is valid for 90 days from issuance between the months of June through August, or
     4. A current report card for the most recent school year (see Phase I information above).

     * You will need to provide your Social Security Number (SSN). It will be verified electronically with the U.S. government. If it cannot be verified, your driver license cannot be issued or renewed. Learn more about this process at our Social Security Number website.

     **If you do not own a vehicle, you will sign a statement affirming this.

     Once you have gathered the necessary documents and completed the required courses, you will need to do the following:

     1. Complete the driver license application before arriving at your local office. (This form is also available at all driver license offices)
     2. Make an appointment at a driver license office. Bring a parent or legal guardian (If you are bringing a Legal Guardian, you must also bring a certified court order demonstrating guardianship).
     3. Provide the following documentation to the license and permit specialist:
        1. Application for the issuance of a driver license,
        2. U.S. Citizenship or if you are not a U.S. Citizen, evidence of lawful presence,
        3. Texas Residency,
        4. Proof of Identity,
        5. Proof of Texas Vehicle Registration,
        6. Proof of Vehicle Insurance* (see above),
        7. Texas Driver Education Certificate (DE-964 or DE-964E),
        8. Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE form) issued by a school, or a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
           • VOE requires a signature (a stamped or computer generated signature of a school official is acceptable, and
           • Is valid for 30 days from issuance, or
           • Is valid for 90 days from issuance between the months of June through August, or
           • A current report card for the most recent school year (see Phase I information above), and
        9. Evidence of successfully passing the driver knowledge exam. (If you have not taken this test during the classroom portion of driver education, you will take it at the driver license office).

        You may complete the testing requirements at the DL office or through a Third Party provider. Read about testing in other languages and driving test requirements.

        Once your learner license has been issued, you will receive a temporary driver license. Before leaving the driver license office, review the printed information on your temporary driver license for accuracy. If any of the information is incorrect, notify the License and Permit Specialist. Your new card will arrive in the mail in approximately 2 – 3 weeks. To check the mailing status of your card, visit our mailing status web page.

        Note: If you hold an identification card, you are not eligible to apply for a learner license unless you surrender your identification card at the time of application.

        Phase II – Provisional Driver License

        • You must have held your valid learner license for at least six-months, unless you have reached 18 years of age
        • You must be between 16 and 17 years of age
        • You must have completed behind-the-wheel portion of driver education, which includes:
          • 7 hours of in car observation sitting beside the instructor, watching the instructor demonstrate certain points of instruction
          • 7 hours of in car observation driving and demonstrating to the instructor that you have learned the points of instruction
          • 30 hours of behind the wheel driving practice, of which at least 10 hours must be at night with a licensed driver 21 years of age or older in the vehicle at all times

          Applying for your Provisional Driver License
          When you are ready to apply for a provisional driver license and have completed all the learner license requirements, you will need to visit a driver license office and provide additional documentation.

          1. Complete the driver license application before arriving for your appointment. (This form is also available at all driver license offices)
          2. Bring a parent or legal guardian or bring the notarized application signed by the parent or guardian and visit your local driver license
             office. Visit Driver License Services – Appointments to make an appointment at a driver license office.
          3. Provide the following documentation to the License and Permit Specialist:
             1. Application for the issuance of a driver license,
             2. U.S. Citizenshipor if you are not a U.S. Citizen, evidence of lawful presence,
             3. Proof of Identity ,
             4. Texas Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DE-964 or DE-964E),
             5. Evidence of successfully passing the driving test (if you took the driving test at a driver training school, the results must be provided by the school in a sealed envelope and provided to DPS at the time you are applying for your license), and
             6. Impact Texas Driver Program Certificate of Completion,

             You may complete the driving test requirements at the DL office or through a Third Party provider. Read about testing in other languages and driving test requirements. If you will be taking your driving test at a local driver license office, you will be required to:

             • Schedule an appointment online, and
             • Present proof of current registration and insurance for the vehicle you will be testing in at the time of the driving test.

             Once your driver license has been issued, you will receive a temporary driver license. Before leaving the driver license office, review the printed information on your temporary driver license for accuracy. If any of the information is incorrect, notify the License and Permit Specialist. Your new card will arrive in the mail in approximately 2 – 3 weeks. To check the mailing status of your card, visit our mailing status web page.

             You are eligible to renew your driver license up to 30 days prior to the expiration date, which will occur on your 18th birthday. You are eligible to renew online by using our online renewal process. The cost is the same as renewing at a driver license office. If you choose to renew in person before you turn 18, you will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If you renew in person after your 18th birthday, you will no longer need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian; however, you must make alternate transportation arrangements to visit your local driver license office, as it is a violation of state law to operate a motor vehicle with an expired driver license.

             Motorcycle License

             For information on how to obtain a Class M license, see Motorcycle Licenses.

             Transferring/Presenting an out-of-state driver license

             If you are under the age of 18 and transferring your out-of-state learner permit or provisional driver license to Texas, the following may apply to you:

             Learner license without proof of driver education
             If you are transferring/presenting a valid out-of-state learner license and are not able to provide proof of successfully completing a teen driver education course, you will be issued a Texas learner license. The Texas learner license must be held for 6 months or until the age of 18, whichever comes first, regardless of how long you held a learner license in another state. You will be required to complete a Texas driver education course, the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program, and the driving test before being issued a provisional driver license.

             Learner license with proof of driver education
             If you are between 16 - 17 years of age and are transferring/presenting a valid out-of-state learner license that you have held for at least six months, and present proof of successful completion of a teen driver education course, you will be required to complete the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program, provide verification of school enrollment and attendance, and successfully pass the driving test before being issued a provisional driver license.

             If you are between 16 – 17 years of age and are transferring/presenting a provisional driver license, you will be issued a Texas provisional driver license.

             All applicants under 18 must take the skills exam even if they hold a valid driver license from another state or country.

             Hardship License

             A minor's restricted driver license (MRDL), also known as a hardship license, may be issued under certain instances where it has been established that there is a necessity to drive and the applicant is under 16 years of age. A hardship license applicant must complete all of the regular licensing requirements listed above, with the exception of holding a learner license for a minimum of six months, and must be at least 15 years of age. A hardship license expires on the applicant's next birthday.

             For more information and to review the types of hardships that qualify for a hardship license, please review the hardship license application.

             Tobacco Awareness

             Individuals under 18 years of age who are convicted of possession, purchase, consumption or receipt of cigarettes or tobacco products must attend a tobacco awareness program approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Failure to complete the program within 90 days could result in the suspension of the individual's driver license (or driving privilege if not licensed).

             Alcohol Awareness

             Texas enacted laws to discourage drivers from drinking and driving to make Texas roads safer. These laws include a Zero Tolerance for minors (under 21 years of age) who commit any alcohol related offenses. Zero tolerance means that a minor may not purchase, attempt to purchase, consume, or possess an alcoholic beverage. If any detectable amount of alcohol is in their system while operating a motor vehicle, including a watercraft, in a public place, it is a criminal offense of Driving under the Influence of Alcohol by a Minor (DUIA by a Minor). For more detailed information, download and review our Alcohol Related Laws for Minors brochure.

             For more information on enforcement actions, please visit the web pages listed under Suspensions & Reinstatement.

             For all available collision reports and summaries related to teen drivers, please visit the Collision Report and Summary page.