Texas Permit Test: Quick Facts
- Format: 30 multiple-choice questions
- Passing score: 70%
- Where to take it: In online driver education or in-person at a DPS office
Who Needs to Take the Permit Test?
The Texas permit test is required for most people applying for a license, with very few exceptions.
You must take the written test if:
- You are a first-time driver of any age.
- Your license has been expired for more than two years.
You do not need the written test if:
- You hold a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, or a country with licensing reciprocity.
- You are renewing an existing Texas license that is unexpired, or expired for less than two years.
Where Can You Take the Permit Test?
There are two main ways to take the Texas permit exam: online through an approved driver education provider such as NextDoorDriving.com, or in person at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) driver license office. The format, scoring, and broad subject matter will be the same wherever you take the permit test, although online providers can have different rules for re-testing.
Taking the Test Inside a Driver Education Course
For many new drivers, taking the Texas permit test online in a driver education course is the most convenient and stress-free option, since you can complete the test at home. Where the online permit test factors into your Texas driver’s ed depends on your age and course track.
How It Works for Teens
Texas teens can begin driver education at age 14, but must be 15 to apply for a learner’s permit. Texas teen driver’s ed requires 24 classroom hours, but the state allows two instructional methods that can determine when you head to the DPS to get your permit.
- Concurrent method: After completing the first six hours, you take an official Texas permit test as your Module 1 exam. When you pass, you receive a certificate of partial course completion and can head to the DPS to apply for a learner’s permit. You then complete the remaining 18 classroom hours while simultaneously working on your behind-the-wheel training.
- Block method: You complete all 24 classroom hours before taking the permit test as your final course exam. You can then head to the DPS with your driver’s ed completion certificate to apply for a learner’s permit.
Teens who prefer the concurrent method usually opt for the Texas Parent-Taught Driver Education (PTDE) Online course, while those who prefer the block method and professional driving lessons choose the Instructor-Led Online Teen Driver’s Ed Course. The good news? As a certified TDLR course provider, NextDoorDriving.com can help you with either one of these courses, you can take them right here online!
How It Works for Adults
An adult driver education course is mandatory for license applicants aged 18–24. In Texas, adult driver’s ed is a single six-hour module. If you take a state-certified Adult Driver Education Online course, the written knowledge test is your final exam (yes, the course you are seeing at NextDoorDriving.com includes a written knowledge test at no extra charge). When you pass the course, you receive a completion certificate which you present at your license appointment to waive the in-office permit test.
Formal driver’s ed is optional for adults after turning 25, although strongly recommended. Many adults over 25 voluntarily choose to take the adult driver education course to take the written test online and feel more prepared for driving. If you are over 25 and do not take driver’s ed, you can use the official Texas Driver Handbook as a study guide and take the written test at a DPS office.
Taking the Permit Test In-Person at a DPS Office
If you choose not to take the Texas written test within an online course, you will take a computerized exam at a DPS office. Taking the permit exam at the DPS is tied directly to your $16 license application fee, and your fee covers up to three attempts within 90 days. If you fail the permit test three times or do not pass within 90 days, your application expires, requiring you to start a new application.
Note for in-office accommodations: DPS workstation tests are available in English and Spanish. Texas law also gives license applicants the right to request a written paper exam or an oral reading of the test if needed. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can also request an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter by contacting the DPS at least four business days before an in-person appointment. Accommodation requests can also be made through the Texas Scheduler online portal.
Knowledge Test Format
The Texas knowledge test is designed to be straightforward without trick questions, but passing requires a solid understanding of your driver’s ed material or the official Texas handbook. The written test consists of 30 multiple-choice questions split evenly into two sections: 15 questions covering road signs and 15 questions focusing on general traffic laws. To earn a passing score, you must score at least 70%, which means answering at least 21 questions correctly. When taken online through a licensed driver’s ed provider, the exam is untimed, whereas sitting for the test at a DPS office may have a 60-minute time limit.
Try Texas permit practice tests: Before taking the Texas permit test, using online Texas permit practice tests can help you become familiar with the types of questions you may see. Practicing will reinforce your knowledge, reveal your weak areas, and help you feel more confident going into the real permit test.
Test Topics
The questions on the Texas written test are drawn directly from the Texas Driver Handbook and focus on four main subjects:
- Road signs and markings, to include identifying regulatory, warning, and construction signs by shape, color, and symbol, along with interpreting pavement markings like solid vs. broken lane lines.
- Right-of-way rules, including who proceeds first at four-way stops, uncontrolled intersections, left-turn scenarios, and pedestrian crossings, as well as obeying the Move Over law for emergency vehicles.
- Alcohol and drug laws, including legal limits (such as the 0.08% BAC threshold for adults), the Zero Tolerance law for minors, and the automatic penalties under Implied Consent laws.
- Safe driving practices, including obeying speed limits, safe following distances, headlight usage, and state restrictions on distracted driving and mobile device use.
What Happens After You Pass?
Passing the Texas permit test is a major accomplishment, but it is only the beginning of your practical driver training.
Next, you will:
- Complete an in-person application process by visiting a DPS office with all required training and identity documents. Minors will need to provide proof of school attendance with a VOE form (or evidence of graduation). All applicants must pass a vision test, with or without corrective lenses, and provide biometrics (photo, signature, and thumbprints).
- Receive your Texas driving permit after paying the $16 Learner License fee or $33 B-restricted adult license fee. You will receive a temporary paper permit that is valid for 60 days, and your plastic card will arrive by mail in 2–3 weeks.
- Follow all Texas permit restrictions. Drive only while accompanied by a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old, has at least one year of driving experience, and sits in the front passenger seat.
- Complete behind-the-wheel training and/or practice. Minors must hold their permit for at least six months and complete 44 hours of driving practice (7 hours of in-car training, 7 hours of observation, and 30 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night) before taking the road test. If a teen turns 18, the permit-holding rule and other minor license requirements expire. Adults do not have a B-restricted license holding period or set number of practice hours, and may take the road test when they feel ready.
- Complete the mandatory Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) or Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) online video course and print your certificate to become eligible for the road test.
- Pass the road skills test, either at the DPS or a licensed third-party testing provider, and finalize your application for a provisional license (minors) or unrestricted license (adults).
Texas Permit Test FAQs
How much does the Texas permit test cost?
Texas does not charge a separate state fee just for the written knowledge test. For drivers under 18, the DPS fee for a learner’s permit is $16. For those applying for a standard adult driver license, the application fee is $33. Each application fee includes three written test attempts within 90 days. However, the permit test is included in TDLR-approved driver education courses, and most new drivers take it this way. Online driver’s ed courses generally cost about $25 to $120, depending on the provider and course type. In-person programs that include behind-the-wheel training can cost substantially more. So, the typical overall cost for a Texas learners permit is the DPS application fee plus the price of any required driver education course.
How do I prove school attendance for my permit and driver license?
Texas high school students aged 15–17 prove attendance by bringing a signed Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form from their school administration, confirming they meet state attendance standards. Homeschool parents can complete the VOE form, while high school graduates or GED holders simply present their diploma or certificate instead. License applicants age 18 and older are exempt from the school enrollment verification requirement.
Do I need to take the Impact Texas Drivers course to get a learner’s permit?
You do not need to take the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course to get the learners permit. ITD is a free, state-mandated video about distracted driving that is required after finishing driver’s ed and before taking a road test. Because the ITD completion certificate is only valid for 90 days, you should wait to take it until after you finish your driving practice and are ready to schedule your driving exam. The Impact Texas program is divided by age, so teens aged 15–17 should view the 2-hour Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) video, while adults complete the 1-hour Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) video.
What happens if I fail the Texas permit test?
If you fail the permit exam inside an online driver education course, you can usually retake the test for free after reviewing the material. If you fail at a DPS office, your $16 application fee covers up to three attempts within 90 days.
How long is my driver education certificate valid?
Texas teen and adult driver education completion certificates do not expire.
Do I have to retake the written test if my Texas license is expired?
If your Texas drivers license has been expired for two years or more, you cannot renew it. You must apply for a new license and retake both the written knowledge test and the road driving test.
