How to Get a Driver’s License in Texas at 18 (Step-by-Step)

Turning 18 changes the process completely. Teens follow a long graduated licensing path with a permit, logged driving hours and restrictions. At 18 the path is shorter, but there are still a few required steps, and missing one is the most common reason people get turned away at the DPS counter. Here is the whole process in order.

Step-by-step: how to get your Texas driver’s license at 18

1. Take a 6-hour adult driver education course. If you are 18 to 24, Texas requires a TDLR-approved adult driver education course before you can get a license. It covers traffic laws, signs and safe driving, and you can take it online. When you finish, you get an adult driver education certificate (form ADE-1317). Some online courses, including ours, include the knowledge test, so you may not have to take the written exam at DPS. Learn more about the Texas adult driver education course.
2. Get a learner license if you want practice time (optional). Adults are not required to hold a learner license, and there is no required number of practice hours. If you have never driven, a learner license lets you practice legally with a licensed adult in the car before your road test.
3. Complete the ITAD video. Impact Texas Adult Drivers is a free, 1-hour DPS video program about distracted driving, split into three short modules. Everyone 18 and older must complete it before the driving test. The certificate is only valid for 90 days, so take it close to your test date and print it.
4. Gather your documents. You will need proof of citizenship or lawful presence (such as a birth certificate or passport), proof of identity, your Social Security number, and two documents showing a Texas address, such as a lease, utility bill or bank statement. Bring proof of insurance and registration for the vehicle you will drive on the test.
5. Book a DPS appointment and apply. Schedule online through the DPS appointment system; slots in large cities often book weeks out. At the office you will complete the application, pay the fee, have your photo and thumbprints taken, and take a vision test. Bring your course certificate so you can skip the written test if your course included it.
6. Pass the driving test. You can take the road test at DPS or with an authorized third-party testing provider, which is often faster. You need 70 out of 100 points to pass; see how many mistakes are allowed on the Texas driving test.
7. Get your license. Once you pass, you receive a temporary paper license and your card arrives by mail.

Do you need drivers ed at 18 in Texas?

Yes, if you are 18 to 24. Texas requires everyone in that age group to complete an approved 6-hour adult driver education course before getting a first license. At 25 and older the course is optional, but you still need to pass the knowledge test, so many adults take the course anyway because it can include that test and teaches what is on it.

How is getting a license at 18 different from getting one as a teen?

Teens under 18 must hold a learner license for at least six months, complete a longer drivers ed course with logged driving hours, and then drive with a provisional license that limits passengers and nighttime driving. At 18, none of that applies. You do not need a permit first, there are no required practice hours, and the license you receive has no teen restrictions. That is why many people who were close to 18 choose to wait.

How long does it take to get a license at 18?

The coursework can be finished in a day: the adult course is 6 hours and the ITAD video is 1 hour. The real wait is usually the DPS appointment. Plan on anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on your area, and remember the 90-day window on your ITAD certificate.

Common reasons 18-year-olds get turned away at DPS

• An expired ITAD certificate, older than 90 days
• Only one proof of Texas residency, or documents in someone else’s name
• No proof of insurance or registration for the test vehicle
• Forgetting the adult driver education certificate