Texas teen license guide
How to Get a Driver's License in Texas at 16
The Texas teen licensing process has six steps and a few deadlines that sneak up on families. Here is the whole path, in order, with what to do at each stage.
The six steps
From first course to full license
Texas uses a graduated licensing system for drivers under 18. Each step unlocks the next — here's the exact order.
1. Complete a 24-hour driver education course
Texas requires teens under 18 to finish a state-approved 24-hour classroom (or online) driver ed course before applying for a learner's permit. You can start the course at 14, but you must be 15 to get the permit.
2. Get your learner's permit at DPS
Bring your driver ed certificate (DE-964), proof of identity, and a parent or guardian to a Texas DPS office. You'll take the written knowledge test there — it's waived if your course included it. The permit lets you drive with a licensed adult 21+ in the front seat.
3. Log 7 hours behind the wheel + 1 observation hour
The state minimum is 7 hours of driving with a certified instructor, plus 1 hour observing another student. On top of that, Texas requires 30 hours of practice with a parent or guardian (10 of them at night). This is where most families bring us in — our teen packages cover the instructor hours one-on-one.
4. Hold your permit for 6 months and turn 16
You must be at least 16 and have held the learner's permit for a minimum of 6 months before taking the road test. Use that time to build real skill — merging, highways, night driving and parking.
5. Finish the 2-hour ITTD certificate
Impact Texas Teen Drivers is a free 2-hour video course from Texas DPS, required within 90 days before your road test. Print the certificate — it expires, so don't take it too early.
6. Pass the DPS road test
Take the road test at a DPS office or an authorized third-party site. You can use our insured, dual-brake vehicle for the test — we'll even do a 1-hour warm-up beforehand so nothing on the exam is a surprise.
Where we fit in
Teen packages that cover the state requirements
Both packages are one-on-one with a licensed instructor in a dual-brake car, with free pickup and drop-off within 15 miles.
One-time program
Basic Teen — $495
Covers the state-required 7 behind-the-wheel hours plus the 1 observation hour — everything Texas requires from a certified instructor.
Most complete
Premium Teen — $895
The required instructor hours plus extra practice and road test preparation — for teens who want to walk into the DPS exam already confident.
18 or older? The rules are different — see our adult Texas license guide.
Common questions
Teen license FAQ
How early can my teen start?
The driver ed course can start at 14, the learner's permit at 15, and the license at 16 — as long as the permit has been held for 6 months and all hours are complete.
Do the 7 instructor hours have to be with a driving school?
They must be with a certified driving instructor. Parent-taught driver ed families often book our 7-hour package to cover exactly this requirement.
What if my teen is nervous behind the wheel?
That's normal. Every lesson is one-on-one in a dual-brake car, at the student's pace — no other students in the car, no pressure.
Drivers ed in Fort Worth, TX and across DFW
North Star Driving Academy is based in North Richland Hills and teaches teen drivers across Fort Worth, Keller, Hurst, Euless, Bedford and the rest of Tarrant County. Our certified instructors pick you up at home or school, so the behind-the-wheel part of your Texas license happens on the same Fort Worth roads you'll drive on test day.
Driving school in Fort Worth · North Richland Hills · Keller
Personal license planner
Get your Texas checklist and next steps
Tell us your age and where you are. We'll build your checklist and suggest the package that fits.
Ready to start your teen's driving journey?
Call (469) 822-3401 or book a package online — we'll map out the exact steps for your family's timeline.