Whether you’re eligible to get a driver’s license in Texas depends on your circumstances. It’s one thing to apply for a license when you’re a teenager and another thing to do it after your driving privileges have been suspended or revoked. Your residency status comes into play, too.
With that in mind, here’s what you should know about Texas license eligibility based on age, residency, current licensing status, and other factors.
Texas Driver’s License Eligibility: What Does ‘Eligible’ Mean?
You may have heard that driving is a privilege, not a right. That’s true to some extent. Not everyone is eligible for a driver’s license due to certain medical conditions, legal issues, or a history of bad driving.
“Eligible“ means you meet the criteria to hold a driver’s license. These requirements vary based on factors like age and licensing status.
For example, a 19-year-old Texas resident who has completed driver’s education and passed all examinations should be eligible for a driver’s license in the Lone Star State.
Consequently, “not eligible“ means you don’t meet the requirements to drive a motor vehicle.
Returning to the above example, a 19-year-old Texas resident with severe physical or mental disabilities may not be granted the right to drive.
The same applies to those who have previously held a license but had it suspended or revoked for unpaid tickets, serious crimes (e.g., DUIs), or health disorders that interfere with their driving abilities.
License “Not Eligible”? How to Get a Suspended License Reinstated
The Texas DPS may suspend your driver’s license if you commit:
- 4+ moving violations within 12 months
- 7+ moving violations within 24 months
- 2+ violations that conflict with a license restriction or endorsement
- Major offenses, such as causing an accident while driving under the influence
If you’ve lost your driving privileges, you should be able to have them reinstated once the suspension period is over.
To check your eligibility, visit the state’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) website.
If you see the message “not eligible,” check what’s required to reinstate your license. For example, you may need to pay reinstatement fees or submit compliance documentation, such as proof of completing driver safety courses (also known as defensive driving courses).
This information will be available on the license eligibility web page. Here you can also review and pay the reinstatement fees and other outstanding charges with a credit card. Online payments are usually processed within 24 to 48 hours.
Mail the compliance documents (if necessary) along with a copy of the suspension notice to:
Texas Department of Public Safety
Enforcement and Compliance Service
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773-0320
Alternatively, send them by fax to the DPS at 512-424-2848 or email them in PDF format to driver.improvement@dps.texas.gov.
If, for some reason, you cannot pay the reinstatement fees online, mail the payment and compliance documents to:
Texas Department of Public Safety
Central Cash Receiving
P.O. Box 15999
Austin, TX 78761-5999
Expect to hear back within three weeks.
The best thing you can do is prevent your license from being suspended in the first place. If you were recently charged with a minor traffic violation, you can go to driver safety school to dismiss your ticket.
Our driver safety course is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and accepted by all state courts. Plus, you can complete it online in as little as six hours.
Eligibility Criteria for Obtaining a Texas Driver’s License
License eligibility in Texas depends largely on your age and residency status. For example, teenagers are subject to stricter requirements than aspiring drivers aged 18 or older.
For starters, use the Real ID Document Check App to get the information you need before applying for a driver’s license.
This interactive tool will generate a custom checklist of documents required for your Texas DPS appointment. Simply answer a couple of questions and follow the instructions provided.
Below is a quick breakdown of the key eligibility requirements, so you might want to check them out.
Texas Driver’s License Requirements for Over 18-Year-Olds
- Be a Texas resident.
- Have a valid SSN.
- Complete six hours of driver’s education (only required for applicants under 25 years old).
- Complete the Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) Program (only required for applicants under 25).
- Pass the required tests:
- Vision exam
- Written knowledge test
- Driving test
Texas Driver’s License Requirements for Under 18-Year-Olds
- Be at least 15 years old.
- Have Texas residency.
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent or provide a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form.
- Complete a state-approved driver’s education course (32 hours).
- Complete the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) program within 90 days of taking the road test.
- Obtain a learner’s permit and hold it for at least six months or until age 18, whichever comes first.
- Complete at least 44 hours of behind-the-wheel training, including 10+ hours of night driving).
- Pass the mandatory tests:
- Vision exam
- Written knowledge test
- Driving test
- Get a provisional license.
Out-of-State Applicants
- Submit proof of Texas residency (e.g., a current residential lease or utility bills).
- Surrender a valid out-of-state driver’s license within 90 days of moving to Texas.
- Pass the road test (only required for applicants under 18, including those who have a valid out-of-state license).
- Register your vehicle in Texas within 30 days of establishing residency.
If your out-of-state license is valid at the time of application, you don’t have to take any tests or complete driver’s ed and the ITAD/ITTD program. If your driver’s license has expired for more than two years, you must take and pass all mandatory tests, including the knowledge exam.
The law doesn’t require under-18 applicants who hold a valid out-of-state license to complete the ITTD program and driver’s ed. Also, they don’t have to take the knowledge test unless they come from countries other than the U.S. or Canada.
How to Get a Texas Driver’s License
The first step to getting a driver’s license in the Lone Star State is to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements. If everything looks good, sign up for a Texas by Texas (TxT) account to schedule DPS appointments and manage your application.
Here’s what you must do next:
- Take a state-approved education course (only required for applicants under 25).
- Complete the ITTD program (if you’re under 18) or the ITAD Program (if you’re under 25). Both programs consist of a short video course.
- Apply for a learner’s permit (if you’re under 18) or a restricted driver’s license (if you’re 18 to 24 years old).
- Complete the mandatory 44 hours of behind-the-wheel training (if you’re under 18).
- Gather the required documents:
- Proof of identity, such as a valid Texas ID card or U.S. passport
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence
- Proof of Texas residency
- Social Security card (applicants who don’t have an SSN must fill out a Social Security Affidavit form at the DPS)
- Vehicle title or registration and proof of insurance (if you own a car)
- Driver Education Certificate (if you have completed driver’s ed)
- Book an appointment with the Texas DPS. (Get some tips on how to get a DPS appointment.)
- Fill out the driver’s license application (Form DL-14 A) online or at a DPS office. Have it signed by a parent or legal guardian if you’re under 18.
- Pay an application fee ($16 for applicants under 18, $33 for those aged 18 or older).
- Bring your documents to the DPS.
- Provide your signature and thumbprint.
- Have your photo taken.
- Undergo a vision test.
- Pass a written knowledge test.
- Take and pass a behind-the-wheel test.
Applicants aged 25 or older can start directly with step No.5.
Once these steps are completed, you’ll receive a temporary driver’s license that’s valid for 60 days. The DPS will send you a permanent license by mail within two to three weeks.
If you ever lose your Texas driver’s license, you can request a new one online or in person. This process is fairly simple unless your license has been stolen.
Applicants aged 16 to 17 who complete the above steps will get a provisional driver’s license that expires when they turn 18. This document allows you to drive unsupervised, but only under certain conditions.
For example, you may not operate a vehicle between midnight and 5 a.m. unless you’re having a medical emergency or must go to school or work.
After you turn 18, you can convert your provisional license to a full, unrestricted license. At this point, there’s no need to retake any tests or complete further training.
Keep Your Driver’s License in Good Standing
You may think that getting a driver’s license is hard, but the real challenge lies in keeping it in good standing. Sometimes it takes just one mistake to lose your license and, consequently, your right to drive.
In Texas, driver’s licenses are automatically suspended based on the number of traffic offenses committed when a car is in motion. However, you can also get your license suspended after one major violation like:
- Driving under the influence and refusing a breath or chemical test
- Failure to appear in court for a traffic citation
- Fleeing the scene of a car accident
- Using fictitious license plates
- Operating an uninsured vehicle
- Driving recklessly
- Engaging in speed contests
- Road rage (e.g., assaulting another motorist)
In some cases, the state can even suspend your license for non-traffic-related offenses, such as failure to pay child support. If you’re under 21, you could lose your license and be charged with a misdemeanor for buying, attempting to buy, or possessing alcoholic beverages.
Avoiding these behaviors is just one piece of the puzzle. You must also:
- Maintain proper insurance coverage
- Renew your license every eight years
- Respond to all DPS notices promptly
- Pay your traffic tickets on time
- Change the address on your driver’s license within 30 days of moving
- Comply with license restrictions or endorsements
Apart from that, make sure you steer clear of illegal drugs. In Texas, drug-related convictions can result in license suspension and other more severe penalties.
Go to Driver Safety School to Avoid License Suspension
Another way to keep your driver’s license in good standing is to take a Texas defensive driving course (also known as a driver safety course). Not only does this option help you maintain a clean driving record, but it can also prevent your insurance rates from increasing after a traffic offense.
To qualify for defensive driving, you must plead guilty or no contest and pay the fine associated with your ticket. You’ll also need to submit an affidavit to the court stating that you haven’t taken the course for dismissal of another offense within the past 12 months.
This option is available to most drivers, except those charged with excessive speeding (25+ miles per hour over the limit) and other major violations, such as hit-and-runs or reckless driving.
The course takes only six hours to complete, and if you sign up with Traffic Safety Institute, you can study online at your own pace.
We offer 24/7 support, unlimited retakes, and free audio read-alongs. Plus, we’ll submit your certificate of completion to the TDLR within 24 hours.
Plus, at Traffic Safety Institute, you pay only after you pass. You can register for free, take our driver safety course as many times as you need, and pay when you finish.
Start our Driver Safety course for FREE today.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know more about Texas license eligibility, take the steps needed to earn your right to drive.
If you’re under 18, start by completing driver’s education. Things are a bit easier for applicants aged 25 or older, who only need to pass a knowledge exam and road test.
After you get your license, do your best to maintain a clean driving record and comply with traffic laws. If something goes wrong and you receive a ticket, consider going to driver safety school.
Our defensive driving courses are recognized by all Texas courts, including those in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, and other counties. Sign up for FREE and set a few hours aside to finish the course and get your ticket dismissed.
