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As in any state, you need a valid driver’s license to drive a vehicle in Texas. If you want to drive for the first time, you need to have a provisional driver’s license. You can later upgrade this to a regular driver’s license after completing all the necessary steps. You are required to complete the Impact Texas Drivers Program before you can get a provisional driver’s license.
Testing and Preparing to Drive
There are several tests that you need to pass to get a driver’s license in the state of Texas. You will have to complete the Impact Texas Driver Program. You will also have to pass a vision exam as well as the knowledge and driving tests. If you pass all of these tests, you can get your license. If you do not pass all of these tests, If you are a teen applying for a Texas driver’s license, you will also have to complete one of the three following driver education courses:
- Driver education provided by your public school
- Parent-taught driver education
- Traditional driver education course offered by a certified driver training school
If you are a new Texas resident applying for a Texas driver’s license, the process is different for you. You will have to surrender your unexpired driver license but you do not have to pass a driving test if you are surrendering an unexpired driver license from another state and you are more than 18 years old. You can learn more about this process by contacting your local TX DPS office.
Provisional Driver’s License and Driver’s License
You have to have held a valid TX learner license for at least 6 months and completed the behind-the-wheel portion of driver education. This includes multiple components, which are:
- 7 hours of in-car observation sitting beside the instructor and paying attention to the demonstration of certain instruction points
- 7 hours of in-car observation driving and demonstrating that you have learned these points of instruction
- 30 hours of driving practice, including a minimum of 10 hours of night driving with a licensed driver 21 years or older in the vehicle at all times
You also have to complete the Impact Texas Teen Driver Program within the previous 90 days of taking the skills test and pass your driving test. To upgrade to a regular TX driver’s license, you must be at least 18 years old and you need to bring proof you completed the six-hour adult Driver Education Course and Impact Texas Driver Program.
After providing proof of your identity, you must pay the application fee, provide your thumbprints, and have your picture taken. You will get your regular driver’s license after you do all this and pass the vision exam, knowledge test, and driving test.
Impact Texas Driver Program
The Impact Texas Driver Program is an educational program to educate drivers and reduce the risk of auto accidents. This program focuses more specifically on auto accidents caused by distracted driving. You have 90 days from when you complete this program to pass the driving skills exam. You can learn more about this program here.
Defensive Driving Courses
You can also take a number of defensive driving courses. For your convenience and safety, you can take these courses in a classroom or in an online setting. You can find an approved defensive driving course to take in Texas.