Texas Driver’s License Requirements for 18-Year-Olds

Step 1: Take the 6-Hour Adult Drivers Ed Course

Adults 18 to 24 applying for a first-time Texas license are required to complete a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)-approved 6-hour adult driver education course. The course covers right-of-way rules, traffic control devices, sharing the road, and the effects of drugs, alcohol, and distracted driving.

The course ends with a final exam. Pass it, and your provider issues an ADE-1317 certificate that's state-authorized as a substitute for the DPS Class C written test. That's the part most people miss: this isn't just a course, it's a way to skip the DPS test entirely. You can finish the whole thing online in a single weekend.

Adults 25 and older aren't required to take the course, but many do anyway because the DPS written test waiver applies regardless of age. If you're not eager to study a 80+ page driver handbook before your license appointment, the course handles it for you.

Step 2: Watch the Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD) Video

After the 6-hour course, you'll watch a free 1-hour Impact Texas Young Drivers (ITYD) video on the dangers of distracted driving. The video shares real stories of crashes caused by distracted driving and is required for first-time license applicants 18 to 24 who completed adult drivers ed.

The ITYD certificate is valid for 90 days from the day you watch it, so don't watch it too early. Time it so your DPS appointment falls within that 90-day window. Information for registering and viewing the video is available on the official Texas DPS ITYD page.

Step 3: Gather Your DPS Documents

Bring originals to your DPS appointment; copies are not accepted. You'll need:

Step 3: Gather Your DPS Documents

Bring originals to your DPS appointment; copies are not accepted. You'll need:

• Proof of identity (U.S. birth certificate, valid passport, or permanent resident card)
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence
• Proof of Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2, or paystub showing full SSN)
• Two proofs of Texas residency (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, current school report card, or recent paystub)
• Proof of vehicle insurance and registration for the test vehicle
• Your ADE-1317 certificate (drivers ed completion)
• Your ITYD certificate (within the 90-day window)
• Application fee

For a complete document checklist, our Texas DPS documents guide covers every required item. If you don't own a vehicle, you'll sign a statement affirming you're not a vehicle owner.

Step 4: Pass the Vision Exam and Road Test

At your DPS appointment, you'll have your photo and thumbprint taken, pay the application fee, and pass a vision exam. Then you'll take the on-road skills test, which lasts about 20 minutes and covers parking, turns, lane changes, intersections, and signal use.

Because your ADE-1317 certificate substitutes for the DPS written test, you skip that part of the appointment entirely. If you pass the road test, you'll leave with a temporary license, and your permanent card arrives by mail within a few weeks.

What If You're Moving to Texas From Another State?

If you're 18 to 24 and held a valid out-of-state driver's license in good standing, the rules change. You generally do not need to take the 6-hour adult drivers ed course or the ITYD video. You'll still need to pass the vision exam and provide your identity and residency documents at the DPS, but the road test and written test waivers depend on your previous state. The DPS confirms reciprocity at your appointment based on the issuing state and the status of your previous license.

If your out-of-state license is expired or suspended, you may be treated as a first-time applicant and need to complete the full process.

What Can Slow Down Your Texas License at 18

• Choosing a non-TDLR-approved drivers ed course. The certificate won't be valid and you'll have to redo the course.
• Missing the 90-day ITYD window. The certificate expires and you'll have to rewatch the video.
• Incomplete residency proof. You need two documents, both recent and showing your physical Texas address.
• DPS appointment backlogs. Major metros (Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio) book months in advance. Schedule as soon as your documents and certificates are ready.
• Failed road test. Texas allows three attempts within 90 days, but each requires a new appointment.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, our 6-step guide to getting your Texas license at 18 covers each phase in detail.

You're closer to your Texas license than you think.

Texas requires adults 18 to 24 to complete a 6-hour drivers ed course before any first-time license. We built ours to fit into a single weekend, and the final exam doubles as your DPS Class C knowledge test. So you skip the part of your DPS appointment that trips most adults up.

• Built specifically for first-time license applicants 18 to 24
• Final exam replaces the DPS Class C written test
• ADE-1317 certificate issued the moment you pass
• Most students finish in a single weekend