Getting your driver’s license in Houston, Texas, is easy. You just need to make sure you follow the right steps. You’ll need to gather the right documentation, take driver education coursework, and pass a driver’s test. Here’s are the steps on how to get a Texas driver's license in Houston.
Getting Started With a Texas Driving License in Houston
First, you'll need to get some basic paperwork ready. At your local Houston DMV, you’ll need to bring proof of:
US citizenship
Texas residency
Your Social Security number
Identity
Vehicle registration
Car insurance
This page from the Texas Department of Public Safety goes over the specific types of documents you’ll need.
Take the Right Texas Driver's Ed Classes
Education is a big part of getting your driver’s license in Houston. Teens have to take 32 hours of classroom instruction. If you are between 18 and 24, you only need to take a six-hour adult driver’s education course. However, if you are 18 years or older and have held a driver’s license in another state, this requirement is waived.
If you’re under 25 and have taken a teen or parent-taught driver's ed course, you must take the Impact Texas Driver course. It’s a free two-hour informational class that focuses on the dangers of distracted driving. If you're over 18 but under 25 and took an adult driver's ed course, you just need a one-hour Impact Texas Young Drivers course.
Make an Appointment at the Houston DMV
Once you complete the required education, you’ll need to fill out a driver’s license application before making an appointment at a Texas driver's license office. There are nine Texas driver's license offices in the Houston area; you can find the one closest to you here.
At the DMV, you’ll need to pay an application fee, give thumbprints, pass a vision test, and have your photo taken. Adults can then take their driving test and get their license. But teens will get a learner's license and take their test in six months.
Additional Texas Driver's License Requirements for Teens
With a learner’s license, you must have a licensed driver who is 21 or older with you in the front seat at all times when you operate a vehicle. If you are 16 or 17 years old, before you can apply for your license, you also need to complete the behind-the-wheel section of driver education. That includes:
7 hours of watching an instructor teach important driving strategies
7 hours of behind-the-wheel experience where you execute what your instructor taught you
30 hours of practice with a 21-year-old driver in the vehicle; 10 hours must be done at night
After all this, you can apply for a provisional license. Your provisional license expires on your 18th birthday. You need to visit your local Houston DMV office to renew it within 30 days of the expiration date.
Now that you know how to get a driver's license in Houston, you'll be ready to crush it. And remember that Texas driving schools online is a convenient and easy way to take care of all your education requirements.