What Texas requires before you can get your first license

Texas issues a Learner License first, then a Provisional License, and finally an unrestricted Driver License. You cannot skip straight to a full license — you must hold each one for a set time and meet specific requirements before moving to the next. The whole process typically takes at least 14 months from start to finish.

You must be at least 14 years old to get a Learner License, 16 to get a Provisional License, and 18 to get an unrestricted license. If you are under 18, you also need a Certificate of Completion from an approved driver education course — either classroom-based or online — before you can take the written test at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

You will need to bring your Social Security number, proof of identity (birth certificate, passport, or consular report of birth), proof of Texas residency (utility bill, lease, or school enrollment), and your Certificate of Completion. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign your process.

Key Takeaways

  • Texas requires you to complete an approved driver education course before you can test for a Learner License if you are under 18.
  • You must hold a Learner License for at least 6 months and practice with a licensed adult before you can test for a Provisional License at age 16.
  • A Provisional License comes with restrictions: no phone use, no driving between midnight and 5 a.m., and no passengers under 21 for the first 6 months.
  • You cannot get an unrestricted license until you turn 18, even if you have held a Provisional License for years.
  • The written test and driving test are separate appointments at a DPS office, and you must pass both to move to the next license type.

Getting your Learner License at 14

Before you go to the DPS office, you must finish a driver education course. Texas accepts classroom courses (usually 6 to 8 hours) and online courses (usually 6 to 8 hours plus a 1-hour in-person component). Both types teach the same material and satisfy the requirement. You can take the course through your school, a private driving school, or an online provider — the DPS website lists approved providers by county.

Once you have your Certificate of Completion, go to your local DPS office with your documents and your parent or guardian. You will take a written test covering Texas traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. The test is 30 questions; you need 21 correct to pass. If you fail, you can retake it the same day or come back later.

If you pass the written test, you will receive your Learner License on the spot. It is valid for 2 years. You can now drive, but only with a licensed adult (age 21 or older) in the front passenger seat. You cannot drive alone.

Holding your Learner License and practicing to drive

You must hold your Learner License for at least 6 months before you can test for a Provisional License. During this time, you should practice driving with a licensed adult. Texas does not require a set number of practice hours, but the DPS recommends at least 10 hours of supervised driving, including at least 2 hours at night.

While you hold a Learner License, you cannot use a cell phone or other wireless device while driving, even hands-free. You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian, or licensed adult age 25 or older is in the vehicle. You cannot drive on a limited-access highway (interstate) unless a licensed adult is with you.

If you are cited for a traffic violation while on a Learner License, you may face additional restrictions or delays in moving to a Provisional License. Keep your license clean during this period.

Testing for your Provisional License at 16

After you have held your Learner License for at least 6 months, you can test for a Provisional License. You must be at least 16 years old. Go back to the DPS office with your Learner License, your documents, and your parent or guardian.

You will take a driving test with a DPS examiner. The test lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and covers basic driving skills: starting, stopping, turning, parking, and following traffic laws. The examiner will direct you where to drive. You must pass this test to get your Provisional License.

If you fail the driving test, you can retake it, but you must wait at least 1 week. You can take it as many times as you need. Once you pass, you will receive your Provisional License, which is valid for 2 years.

Restrictions on your Provisional License

A Provisional License is not a full license. It comes with rules that do not explore to adults. For the first 6 months you hold it, you cannot have passengers under 21 in the vehicle unless a parent, guardian, or licensed adult age 25 or older is also in the car. After 6 months, you can have one passenger under 21; after 12 months, you can have up to three passengers under 21.

You still cannot use a cell phone or wireless device while driving, even hands-free. You cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian, or licensed adult age 25 or older is in the vehicle. These restrictions stay in place for the entire time you hold a Provisional License, even after the passenger restrictions ease.

If you are caught violating these restrictions, you may face a fine, a ticket, or suspension of your license. A violation can also delay your path to an unrestricted license.

Moving to an unrestricted license at 18

You cannot get an unrestricted license until you turn 18, even if you have held a Provisional License since you were 16. On your 18th birthday, you can go to the DPS office and exchange your Provisional License for an unrestricted Driver License. You do not need to take another test.

Bring your Provisional License, your documents, and proof of your birthday (your birth certificate or passport). The DPS will issue your new license on the spot. An unrestricted license is valid for 5 years (or 8 years if you are 60 or older).

Once you have an unrestricted license, you can drive alone, carry passengers of any age, and drive at any time of day. The cell phone restrictions still explore under Texas law, but the Learner and Provisional License rules no longer do.

What happens if you break the rules

Violating the restrictions on a Learner or Provisional License can result in a traffic ticket, a fine, and points on your driving record. More seriously, it can delay your progress to the next license type or result in suspension of your current license.

If you are cited for a violation while on a Learner License, the DPS may require you to hold that license longer before testing for a Provisional License. If you are cited while on a Provisional License, you may be required to hold it longer before you can exchange it for an unrestricted license at 18.

A serious violation — such as reckless driving, driving under the influence, or causing an accident — can result in when ready suspension. If your license is suspended, you cannot drive at all until the suspension is lifted and you have paid any required fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my Learner License before I turn 14?

No. Texas law requires you to be at least 14 years old to hold a Learner License. You can take your driver education course before you turn 14, and your Certificate of Completion will be valid when you reach 14, but you cannot test for the Learner License until your 14th birthday.

Do I have to take driver education through my school?

No. You can take it through your school, a private driving school, or an online provider. All approved courses teach the same material and satisfy the requirement. The DPS website lists approved providers in your county. Online courses are often cheaper and more flexible, but they may include an in-person component you must complete at a testing center.

What if I fail the written test or driving test?

You can retake it. For the written test, you can usually retake it the same day or come back anytime. For the driving test, you must wait at least 1 week before retaking it. There is no limit to how many times you can retake either test, but each attempt may have a fee.

Can I drive to school on my Learner License?

Only if a licensed adult age 21 or older is in the front passenger seat. You cannot drive alone, even to school. Once you have a Provisional License, you can drive alone to school during the day, but not between midnight and 5 a.m.

What if I turn 18 before I get my Provisional License?

You can still get a Provisional License after you turn 18, but you do not have to. At 18, you can go straight to an unrestricted license if you have held a Learner License for at least 6 months and pass the driving test. You skip the Provisional License stage entirely.