Texas charges different fees depending on what you're doing — applying for the first time, renewing, replacing a lost card, or upgrading to a commercial license. The amounts are set by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), but what you actually pay depends on your license type, age, transaction type, and in some cases, your driving record.
Here's how the fee structure generally works across the most common Texas driver's license transactions.
Texas driver's license fees aren't one-size-fits-all. Several factors determine what a specific applicant or renewal customer pays:
Texas sets its base license fees by license class and validity period. As of the most recently published Texas DPS fee schedule, the following ranges apply for a standard Class C (non-commercial) license:
| Transaction | Typical Fee Range |
|---|---|
| Original license (under 18) | ~$16 |
| Original license (ages 18–84) | ~$33 |
| Renewal (6-year cycle, ages 18–84) | ~$33 |
| Renewal (2-year cycle, age 85+) | ~$9 |
| Duplicate (lost/stolen replacement) | ~$11 |
| Motorcycle (Class M) license | ~$33 (same cycle) |
⚠️ These figures reflect published Texas DPS rates and are subject to change. Always confirm current fees directly with Texas DPS before visiting a driver's license office.
Texas licenses for most adults are valid for six years, which makes the per-year cost relatively low compared to states with shorter renewal cycles. Drivers 79 and older receive two-year licenses.
Texas CDL fees are structured differently from standard licenses, and costs increase based on what you're adding to the license.
CDL classes in Texas:
| CDL Transaction | Typical Fee Range |
|---|---|
| Original CDL issuance | ~$91 |
| CDL renewal | ~$91 |
| CDL with endorsements | Additional fees per endorsement |
| CDL knowledge test (per attempt) | ~$11 |
| CDL skills test | ~$40–$60+ (varies by third-party examiner) |
CDL applicants in Texas must also pass federal medical certification requirements, maintain a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate, and meet FMCSA standards — costs associated with those medical exams fall outside the DPS fee schedule.
Endorsements such as Hazmat (H), Tank (N), Passenger (P), and School Bus (S) each require separate written tests and, in some cases, additional federal background checks.
Beyond the base license fee, certain transactions carry supplemental costs:
Texas offers Real ID-compliant licenses alongside standard licenses. The card fee is the same whether you choose Real ID or standard — but getting a Real ID requires additional identity and residency documents at the time of application or renewal, which you must gather in advance at your own cost (e.g., certified copies of a birth certificate, if you don't already have one).
The Real ID designation becomes relevant when using a driver's license for federal identification purposes — boarding domestic flights, entering federal buildings, or accessing military bases.
Paying the license fee handles the card issuance itself. It does not cover:
The figures above reflect published Texas DPS rates for the most common transactions, but your total out-of-pocket cost depends on factors specific to your situation: whether you're applying for the first time or renewing, which license class you need, whether you require CDL endorsements, your age bracket, and whether your license is currently in good standing.
Texas DPS updates its fee schedule periodically, and fees for specialized transactions — particularly CDL skills tests administered through third parties — can vary by provider and region. The fee you see at the counter reflects the combination of those variables applied to your specific record and transaction.