Texas driver license permit

Just follow the steps, and at the end, you will have a customized checklist of the documents to bring for your visit. The Department issues driver licenses valid for up to eight years to Texas residents 18 years of age and older. You will need to provide proof of the following to apply for a driver license:. You may download this brochure for information to assist you in determining which documents you may have that will meet these requirements.

Once you have gathered the necessary documents and completed the required courses, you will need to do the following:. New residents who have recently moved to Texas and hold a valid, unexpired driver license from another state or country should read the information found on our New Texas Residents page.

Individuals under 18 years of age applying for a Texas driver license must meet additional requirements. For more information, visit the Teen Drivers page. Temporary visitors and foreign students applying for a Texas driver license must meet additional requirements.

For more information, visit the U. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement page. For motorcycle applicants, visit our Motorcycle License page for more information on obtaining a Class M license. Some disabled veterans may qualify for a fee exemption on their driver license or ID card. Check eligibility. On this page Texas driver license applications Driver license and ID application requirements Driver license fees Driver license and ID, renewals, and replacements Driving eligibility and reinstatement fees.

All new drivers must: Submit a driver license application with required documentation Schedule an appointment at a driver license office Pay the driver license application fee Provide thumbprints for a criminal background check Get their photo taken Pass a vision exam Complete and pass knowledge and driving tests from the state or certified third-party provider.

Some drivers need extra steps and documentation for their type of application including: New Texas residents Teen drivers Temporary visitors and foreign students Motorcyclists U. License and Permit Specialists specialists , formerly known as Customer Service Representatives, are on the front lines in keeping Texas secure and providing excellent customer service to over 20 million Texas residents.

Specialists have the responsibility of serving the general public for the issuance of various types of driver licenses and identification cards. Specialists are entrusted with sensitive, protected, and confidential information and have a common goal to provide our customers with a faster, easier and friendlier driver license experience and a safer Texas.

The information provided here will help explain the tasks a specialist performs, and how driver services have changed over the past decade. From to the s, a Driver License was a tool to indicate the license holder had the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. However, throughout the years it has shifted from certification that a license holder has the ability to drive a motor vehicle to being an identity document. This change in duties has expanded the role of the License and Permit Specialist and lengthened the time of a transaction.

Descriptions of the various modifications to the Driver License transaction process since are below. If you are still having difficulties finding an answer to your problem, please let us know. You can ask questions directly by sending an e-mail to our Customer Service Center. Please include an e-mail address and phone number in the text of your e-mail to ensure that you receive a response.

License and Permit Specialist Responsibilities September 30, Why does a Driver License transaction take so long? Specialists review an applicant's driver history from other states to prevent driver license DL issuance to persons with outstanding violations and enforcement actions. Specialists must reject applications from customers with violations from other states causing them to be ineligible to receive a license.

NDR holds problem driver information from all US jurisdictions and points the inquiring entity to the State of Record SOR to assist in determining whether or not to issue a new or renewed driver license. Texas began issuing commercial driver licenses CDL in CDLIS was developed to provide information on outstanding violations and enforcement actions to other states to prevent CDL issuance to ineligible drivers.

The NVRA requires specialists to provide customers the opportunity to submit voter registration applications at the time of their Driver License transaction. Specialists must explain that voter registration is available through the DL offices and assist customers with questions about completion of the voter registration applications. This program also required DL office personnel to establish relationships with local voter registrars for secure delivery, by DPS personnel, of voter registration applications for processing.

The manual process for registration applications continued until the Driver License System DLS was implemented in Specialists must ask customers specific questions about providing anatomical gift donations for eyes, tissue, or organs.

Specialists provide information to customers so they can make informed decisions regarding donations. SSNs are collected for original, renewal, and duplicate DL transactions. Specialists must explain the document requirements, and are trained to assist in recognition of valid and fraudulent social security cards. Customers without proof of a SSN are required to leave the transaction and return at another time with proper documentation.

Parent taught driver education PTDE begins. PTDE allows parents to provide driver education to their children. Specialists must inspect the logs for accuracy and completeness.

Applicants must complete all parts of the transaction at the same location and offices must maintain all related documents until the permit phase of licensure is completed.

Application requirements increased for identification, SSN, signature, proof of citizenship, and county of residence. Specialists must explain the new requirements and detect fraudulent documents. Customers without proper documentation are required to return to the office with additional documents to complete the transaction. The GDL program mandates multiple visits to the DL office and additional document requirements for teen applicants.

Specialists must explain the additional restrictions on teen drivers and increased education and document requirements during the GDL phases. Sex offender document expiration decreases to one year. Specialists must explain the voluntary donation to applicants and record the donation. Requirements for proof of citizenship status expands. Specialists are trained to recognize legitimate and fraudulent documents. Customers without proper documentation must return to the office with additional documents to complete the transaction.

Specialists must explain registration requirements and options for alternative service with all applicants to whom SSS registration is applicable, increasing transaction time.