Minimum Driving Age
- Learner License (Instruction Permit): Available at 15 years old.
- Provisional License: Eligible at 16 years old, after holding a learner license for at least six months and meeting other requirements.
- Full (Unrestricted) License: Available at 18 years old, granting full driving privileges.
Texas Provisional License as a Teen
Learner’s Permit Rules
- Supervision: Permit holders must be accompanied by a licensed driver aged 21 or older, seated in the front passenger seat.
- Holding Period: Must hold the learner license for at least six months before applying for a provisional license.
- Practice Hours:
- 30 hours of supervised driving, including:
- 10 hours at night
- 10 hours at night
- 30 hours of supervised driving, including:
- Driving Restrictions:
- No use of cell phones or wireless communication devices, including hands-free, unless in an emergency.
- Must be enrolled in or have completed a driver education course.
- Must provide a Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form from school.
- No use of cell phones or wireless communication devices, including hands-free, unless in an emergency.
License Types
- Learner License (Instruction Permit): For practicing with a licensed adult.
- Provisional License: Allows unsupervised driving with certain restrictions.
- Full (Unrestricted) License: Full driving privileges granted at 18 years old.
- Minor Restricted Driver License (Hardship License): Available under certain circumstances for minors aged 15 or older.
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL): Required for operating commercial vehicles.
- Motorcycle License: Required for operating motorcycles; applicants must pass a motorcycle knowledge test and skills test.
Required Documents for Driving
To apply for a permit or license in Texas, applicants must provide:
- Proof of Identity: Such as a birth certificate or valid passport.
- Proof of Social Security Number: Social Security card or approved document.
- Proof of Texas Residency: Two documents, such as utility bills, lease agreements, or school transcripts.
- Parental Consent: Required if under 18; parent or guardian must accompany the applicant or provide a notarized signature on the application.
- Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE): Required for applicants under 18.
Seatbelt and Car Seat Laws
- Children under 8 years old or under 4 feet 9 inches: Must be secured in an appropriate child safety seat.
- Children aged 8 to 17: Must wear a seatbelt in any seating position.
- Adults (18 and over): Required to wear seatbelts in the front seat.
- Penalties: Violations may result in fines up to $250, plus court costs.
Cell Phone and Distracted Driving Rules
- Handheld Device Use: Prohibited for drivers under 18 and all school bus drivers.
- Texting While Driving: Prohibited for all drivers.
- Hands-Free Use: Permitted for drivers aged 18 and over, except in school zones where all device use is prohibited.
- Penalties:
- Fines up to $200, plus court costs.
DUI Laws
- Legal BAC Limits:
- 21 and over: 0.08%
- Under 21: 0.00% (Zero Tolerance Policy)
- 21 and over: 0.08%
- Penalties:
- First Offense (21 and over):
- Fine: Up to $2,000
- Imprisonment: 3 to 180 days
- License Suspension: 90 days to 1 year
- Fine: Up to $2,000
- First Offense (Under 21):
- Fine: Up to $500
- License Suspension: 60 to 180 days
- Community Service: 20 to 40 hours
- Mandatory alcohol awareness classes
- Fine: Up to $500
- First Offense (21 and over):
Speed Limits
- School Zones: 15–25 mph during school hours
- Residential Areas: 30 mph
- Urban Districts: 30 mph
- Highways: 60–75 mph
- Rural Interstates: Up to 85 mph in certain areas
Reckless Driving Laws
- Definition: Operating a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
- Penalties:
- Classification: Misdemeanor
- Fine: Up to $200
- Imprisonment: Up to 30 days
- Classification: Misdemeanor
License Suspension: Possible upon multiple offenses
Points System
- Point Accumulation:
- Texas does not use a traditional point system.
- However, moving violations are tracked, and accumulating too many can lead to surcharges and license suspension.
- Texas does not use a traditional point system.
- Surcharges:
- Previously, Texas imposed surcharges for certain violations, but the Driver Responsibility Program was repealed in 2019.
Information About Traffic Cases
Insurance Requirements
- Liability Insurance: Texas requires minimum coverage of:
- Bodily Injury: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident
- Property Damage: $25,000 per accident
- Bodily Injury: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident
- Proof of Insurance: Must be carried in the vehicle at all times and presented upon request by law enforcement.
Renewal Frequency and Testing
- License Renewal:
- Under 85: Every 6 years
- 85 and over: Every 2 years
- Under 85: Every 6 years
- Vision Test: Required at each renewal for drivers aged 79 and over.
- Written/Driving Test: May be required if there are medical concerns or after certain violations.
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