How to Get a Driver's License in Texas When You’re Over 18

The process for getting a drivers license in Texas when you are over 18 is easier than you might think! Our 6-hour Adult Drivers Ed course makes it easy and fast to get your license and get on the road.

Texas drivers license eligibility

Texas law requires that people who are 18 to 25 years old complete a 6-hour drivers ed course. I Drive Safely makes it easy and stress-free to get your license by offering everything you need online. 

TXl DL Eligibility: You Are Elligible to Get a Drivers License in Texas If:

• You are at least 16 years old (24-hour teen driving course and 44 hours of behind-the-wheel practice are required)
• You are between the ages of 18 and 24 and need a Texas drivers license (6-hour drivers ed course is required for this age group).
• You are an adult who moved here from another country and is licensed to drive in that country (drivers ed is not required, but you must take and pass the written and driving tests to get a Texas drivers license if you’re from another country.)
• You are 25 or older and need a Texas drivers license (drivers ed is not required if you are 25 or older, but it is highly recommended.)

Under 18 but still need to get your texas drivers license? Teen drivers between the ages of 15-17 are required to complete a state-approved teen drivers education course.

Steps to Get a Driver's License in Texas Over 18

Step 1: Complete a 6-hour Adult Drivers Ed Course. Texas law requires that people who are 18 to 25 years old complete a 6-hour drivers ed course. I Drive Safely makes this step easy and stress-free by offering everything you need online. You can even take the final exam online–which means no going to the DPS to take a test! Once you pass the exam, we’ll email you a course completion certificate that you’ll bring with you to the DPS. 

Note: Driver education is not required if you are 25 years of age or older, but an adult drivers ed course  is highly recommended!

Step 2: Complete the Impact Texas Adult Drivers Program. The Impact Texas Adult Drivers program (ITAD) is a free, 1-hour video course about the dangers of distracted driving. You’ll need to register with DPS in order to watch the video. Drivers who are 18-25 years old must complete the ITAD program no more than 90 days before taking the driving skills test. 

Step 3: Get a Learners Permit. If you want to practice driving before taking your road test, then you’ll need to get your learners permit. Your driving practice must be done either with a local driving school or with an individual who is at least 21 years old and has a current Texas drivers license.

Step 4: Pass the Driving Test and Go the DPS to Get Your License!

You can take the driving test with a third party (such as a driving school) or at the DPS when you go to get your license. You’ll need to make an appointment at the DPS for a license appointment either way. Sometimes these appointments are hard to get, so plan accordingly.

How Do I Get a Driver’s License in Texas If I’m Younger than 18?

Texas teens have a few additional requirements to fulfill before they are eligible to apply for a new drivers license.

Step 1: Purchase a drivers ed course. Teen drivers between the ages of 15-17 are required to complete a 24-hour state-approved teen drivers education course, which can be done online or in a classroom setting. Our Parent-Taught Driver’s Ed course is a great option for teens who would like the convenience of learning to drive from the comfort of their own home and on their own schedule.

Step 2: Choose a parent instructor and order the PTDE Packet. Go to the TDLR website and click on the link to designate a parent instructor. You’ll need to pay TDLR a fee of $20. Once TDLR processes the request, they will email you a parent-taught program guide. 

Step 3: Complete Level 1 of the I Drive Safely Course. Once the teen completes Level 1 of our course, they will receive a 6-hour permit qualification certificate (DE-946E) via email. They will need to take this certificate with them to the DPS when they go to get their learner permit.

Step 4: Go to DPS to get a learner permit. 

To get their learner license (aka permit) a teen must:

• Be at least 15 years of age
• Have completed the first 6 hours of driver education (Level 1 of our course)
• Have received a Texas driver education certificate of completion (DE-964), which we will email to you once Level 1 of our course is completed and your teen passes their online permit exam (which they’ll take in our course).

Once the teen has met these requirements, they can get their permit! They’ll need to bring all the required paperwork! 

Step 5: Complete classroom and driving hours. Once a teen has their permit, they’ll continue taking our course. After they have passed the course final exam, we’ll send them a certificate of completion. While they are completing their coursework, teens can also begin their 44-hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction. 

Step 6: Take the ITTD Program. Complete the free 2-hour Impact Texas Teen Driving course no more than 90 days before the driving test. 

Step 7: Go to the DPS to get a license!

A teen is eligible to get their drivers license in Texas when they:

• Have held a valid learner license for at least six months, unless they have reached 18 years of age 
• Are between 16 and 17 years of age
• Have completed behind-the-wheel portion of driver education, which includes:
• Have completed 7 hours of in-car observation 
• Have completed 7 hours of demonstrating to the instructor that they have learned the points of instruction during the in-car observation period
• Have completed 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
• Have completed the Impact Texas Teen Driver Program within the previous 90 days of taking the skills test (aka driving test)
• Have passed the driving test

To get their license, a teen will need to bring the following with them to the DPS: 

• Drivers license application
• Texas Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DE-964 or DE-964E) 
• ITTD completion certificate
• Evidence of successfully passing the driving test (The DPS allows you to take a driving test at a third party provider, such as a driving school. If a teen takes the driving test at a driving 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)
• Application fee
• Proof of Identity
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or evidence of lawful presence
• Proof of Texas Residency
• Social Security Number
• Proof of Texas Vehicle Registration
• Texas Driver Education Certificate (DE-964 or DE-964E)
• Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE form) issued by a school, or a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Provide proof of Vehicle Insurance (if your teen will be taking the driving skills test at the DPS)
• Glasses or contacts (if needed) for the vision test
• Driving logs