How long do I need to hold my permit before getting a license?

You must hold your learner permit for at least 6 months and be at least 16 years old. If you turn 18 before the 6-month mark, you can get your license without waiting the full 6 months.

When should I take the ITTD course?

Take ITTD within a few weeks of your planned DPS visit. The certificate is only valid for 90 days, so completing it too early means it could expire before you get to DPS. It takes about 2 hours and must be done on a desktop or laptop computer using Chrome or Firefox.

Should I take the road test at DPS or a third-party school?

Both are valid. DPS is free but you need to bring your own vehicle and appointments can be harder to get. Third-party schools charge $50-75 but provide the vehicle, often have faster availability, and some families find the experience less stressful. Either way, you still need to visit DPS to complete the licensing.

What if I fail the road test?

You can retake it. At DPS, you will need to schedule a new appointment. Third-party schools have their own policies — some allow same-day retakes for an additional fee. Use the time between attempts to practice the areas where you struggled.

Does the DE-964 provisional certificate also need to be printed in color?

If your provisional certificate has a green background, print it in color — DPS will not accept a black-and-white printout of the green version. Newer black-and-white certificate versions can be printed in B&W.

Get Your Texas Provisional License - Final PTDE Step (2026)

Q: Do the provisional license restrictions ever go away?

Yes. All provisional license restrictions (passenger limit, night curfew, phone ban) are automatically lifted when you turn 18. You do not need to visit DPS or get a new license — the provisional restrictions are automatically lifted when you turn 18.

You've completed the course and logged all your driving hours. Now it's time for the final steps: complete the ITTD course, pass the road test, and get your provisional license.

Requirements

Before you can apply for your provisional license, you need to meet all of these requirements:

Be at least 16 years old
Have held your learner permit for at least 6 months
Have completed all 24 hours of online coursework
Have completed all 44 hours of behind-the-wheel training
Have completed the ITTD course (certificate valid only 90 days)
Have passed the road test (at DPS or third-party)

Turning 18 Soon?

If you will turn 18 before the 6-month permit waiting period ends, you can get your license without waiting the full 6 months. Once you are 18, the learner permit holding period no longer applies.

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD)

ITTD is a free, 2-hour video course required by Texas law. It covers the dangers of distracted driving through real stories from Texas families and crash statistics. The course is separate from the parent-taught program — it is run by DPS, not by us.

Important details

Free — no cost to take the course
Desktop or laptop only — the course does not work on phones or tablets. Use Chrome or Firefox.
Certificate valid 90 days — this is the critical part. The ITTD certificate expires 90 days after you complete the course. If it expires before your DPS visit, you have to take the entire course again.
Must be printed — DPS does not accept a digital or screenshot version. Print the certificate on paper.

Don't Complete ITTD Too Early

Time your ITTD course so the certificate is still valid when you go to DPS. If your road test is 3 months away, wait. Take it within a few weeks of your planned DPS visit to be safe.

Take the ITTD Course (Free)

The Road Test

You have two options for the road test. Both are accepted by DPS.

Option 1: Test at DPS

Schedule a road test appointment at any DPS location. You will need to bring your own vehicle — it must have current registration, insurance, and inspection. A family car works fine. The DPS examiner rides along and scores your driving.

Schedule at public.txdpsscheduler.com. The same 9:30 AM same-day slot tip from your permit appointment applies here too.

Option 2: Third-party driving school

Many driving schools are approved by DPS to administer the road test. They typically charge $50–$75 and provide the vehicle, so you do not need to bring your own. Availability is often faster than DPS. After you pass, the school gives you a sealed envelope with your results that you bring to DPS to complete the licensing process.

What the road test covers

The examiner evaluates your ability to operate a vehicle safely in real traffic. Expect to demonstrate:

Vehicle safety check (lights, signals, mirrors)
Parallel parking
Backing up
Lane changes
Turns (left and right)
Obeying traffic signs and signals
Overall safe driving behavior

Practice all of these during your 44 hours. Parallel parking trips up a lot of new drivers — spend extra time on it before the test.

Documents for Your Final DPS Visit

This DPS visit requires more paperwork than the permit visit. Bring everything on this list:

DE-964 provisional certificate — this proves you completed all 24 hours of classroom instruction and 14 hours of in-car instruction. Print in color if it has a green background; newer black-and-white certificates can be printed in B&W.
30-hour practice log — completed log with all entries signed by the supervising adult. The DL-91B (14-hour instruction log) is recommended to bring as well, though it is not confirmed required at DPS.
ITTD certificate — must be printed on paper. Digital versions not accepted. Must be within 90 days of completion.
Current learner permit — this will be surrendered. You are trading it in for the provisional license.
Road test vehicle (if testing at DPS) or sealed third-party results (if you tested at a driving school).
Parent/guardian with valid ID — required if the student is under 18.
$16 license fee — cash, check, or card accepted.

For the full pre-visit checklist, see the Road Test Checklist.

Provisional License Restrictions

Once you pass the road test, you will receive your provisional license. But until you turn 18, there are restrictions on how you can drive:

Passenger limit — no more than 1 passenger under 21 who is not a family member. Family members do not count toward this limit.
Night curfew — no driving between midnight and 5:00 AM. Exceptions exist for driving to or from work, school-related activities, or medical emergencies.
No phone use — no cell phone use at all while driving, including hands-free. The only exception is calling 911 in an emergency.

These restrictions are automatically lifted when you turn 18. You do not need to visit DPS or apply for a new license — the provisional restrictions are automatically lifted when you turn 18 — no DPS visit needed. You will eventually need to renew your license to convert it to a standard under-21 license, but the restrictions themselves lift automatically.

Congratulations

Once you have your provisional license, the parent-taught program is complete. You have finished all 24 hours of coursework, logged 44 hours of supervised driving, passed the written exam and road test, and are now a licensed Texas driver. Drive safely.

Get Your Texas Driver's License