The Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Division has five office centers in Houston where you can conduct motor vehicle business. Houston DMV centers are the place to go for renewing a driver’s license or state ID card, applying for a learner’s permit or commercial driving license, or reinstate a suspended or revoked license, as well as many other transactions.
Houston DMV has three MegaCenters and two smaller offices. Some vehicle transactions in Texas are also handled by local tax department offices. All Texas vehicle registration locations are open from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
Houston DMV Mega Centers
To handle the growing population in Texas, DMV has constructed DMV MegaCenters around the state with up-to-date technologies, large support staff, and numerous service windows to improve service and wait times.
The three Houston MegaCenters are located at:
- Houston Gessner MegaCenter, 12220 S. Gessner Rd.
- Houston North MegaCenter, 8418 Veterans Memorial Dr.
- Houston Southeast MegaCenter, 10810 Galveston Rd.
If you need to go in-person for driver’s license renewal in Houston, you can save time by going to a Mega Center. Texas DMV MegaCenters are also located in many other metropolitan areas including Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.
Before you go to a MegaCenter, you can claim a place in line by going online to the DMV office website and clicking the button to ‘get in line online.’ You will be given an approximate time for your appointment, and you must be at the office ten minutes before this time. Your actual wait time will vary depending on how many other customers are there at the time and other factors. However, scheduling a place in line before you go can save you substantial time when you arrive.
At DMV MegaCenters you can get in line online for:
- Renewing and replacing driver’s licenses and state ID cards
- Applying for a license or ID card for the first time
- Making changes to your address or name
- Taking written DMV tests
- Adding an endorsement to a commercial license.
You can also use the online service to schedule a driving test and to check the status of a Texas driver’s license.
Other Houston DMV Service Centers
The two other DMV branch offices in Houston are:
- Dacoma DMV Branch 4545 Dacoma St.
- Houston East DMV Branch 11039 East Freeway, #B
Vehicle registration and title transactions are done at local county tax offices in Texas. Use the tax office locator page at Texas DMV to find the tax office for your area.
Houston DMV Online, Mail, and Third-Party Services
Many everyday DMV transactions can be entirely done online, by mail, or through a for-profit, third-party business.
The renewal notice you receive from DMV indicates whether you are eligible to renew your driver’s license online or by mail. If you have gone in to renew your license or ID card in-person last time, these renewal methods may be available to you, if you meet certain other conditions.