Texas residents over the age of 18 can apply to receive their unrestricted driver's license through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Unlike younger drivers, people over the age of 18 aren't required to hold a learner's permit before getting their Texas driver's license.
Drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 who want to get their Texas driver's license in Houston must complete a state-approved six-hour driver education class. You can choose to complete the course online or you can take an in-person driver's ed class. Either way, it's crucial that the class is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program Requirements
Before you can apply for your Texas driver's license, you must watch the Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD) videos if you are between the ages of 18 and 24. Houston drivers aged 25 and older aren't required to watch the Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) videos, but Texas DPS highly recommends it.
The videos showcase the dangers of distracted driving and shares stories of people who were negatively impacted by distracted driving.
ITYD videos for drivers between 18 and 24 are one hour. You can watch the videos on your own on any device with an internet or cell connection.
Who Has to Take Driver's Ed in Houston?
Residents of Houston must meet the Texas state requirements for getting a driver's license. Drivers aged 18-24 must complete an online or in-person six-hour course offered by a licensed driver's ed provider. While driver's ed is optional for Texas residents over the age of 25, it's recommended.
After you complete the driver's education course, you'll receive a completion certificate, which you should bring with you to get your Texas driver's license.
How to Take a Houston Adult Drivers Ed Class
There are a few ways to take Houston adult driver's ed:
In-person driving schools. This is good if you're a hands-on learner, but it's typically expensive.
Your local community college. A community college offers you in-person classes, but these can be time-consuming if you're on a tight schedule.
An online driver's ed class. This is the more affordable and convenient option, as you can complete it anywhere and anytime.
You can register for our Texas adult driver education course online. This course is approved by the state of Texas and fulfills the requirements of Houston-area DPS offices. You can complete the course at your own pace, and work through the modules using any device with a stable internet or cellular connection.
The iDriveSafely Texas driver's ed course also includes the Class C knowledge exam, so you won't have to take the test at a Texas DPS office. There are 30 multiple-choice questions on the test, and you'll have three chances to pass. You must get 21 out of 30 questions correct for a passing grade.
If you are a first-time driver's license holder over the age of 25 and choose not to complete Texas driver's ed, you will have to pass the class C knowledge exam at the DPS office. You can take the exam a maximum of three times within a 90-day window. If you fail the exam three times, you must start over with the application process.
How to Get a Driver's License in Houston
Before you can get a driver's license in Houston, you must schedule an appointment at a Houston DPS office. There are several DPS offices in the Houston area that offer driver's license services, including:
8418 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston: (281) 449-2685
12220-A, S Gessner Rd, Houston: (713) 219-4100
10810 Galveston Rd, Houston: (281) 929-5300
4740 Spring Cypress Rd #100, Spring: (281) 517-1620
Ready to sign up for a Texas driver's ed class? You can get started right away with iDriveSafely.