Minimum Driving Age in Texas
For individuals in Texas who wish to drive, obtaining a learner’s permit is the first step. A learner’s permit can be obtained by anyone 15 years of age or older, provided they can show proof that they are enrolled in a driver education program approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and have maintained a clear vision of at least 20/40 in one eye without glasses or contact lenses.
Once you’ve successfully completed a driver education program and demonstrated your ability to operate a vehicle properly, you may upgrade to an intermediate license after your 16th birthday . In order to receive an intermediate license, you must have held your learner’s permit for at least six months prior to your application for an intermediate license. If you’re under 18 years old you will also need to have completed a driver education program and logged at least 30 hours of behind-the-wheel practice, in addition to 10 hours of practice at night.
If you are at least 60 years old, simply pass the driving exam to obtain an intermediary license. Motorists aged 18 or older are required to hold an intermediate license for only six months before upgrading to a full driver’s license.
Texas’ Learner Permit Quirks
In Texas, the process for obtaining a learner’s permit can be both exciting and overwhelming for new drivers. The learner permit is the first crucial step in the licensing process and serves as a valuable tool to help adolescents become responsible drivers.
Teenagers in Texas must be at least 15 years old to qualify for a learner permit. To obtain the permit, applicants must have their parents or guardians’ signature as consent. There are several ways for qualified applicants to get their learner’s permit — they can apply online, in person at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) location, or in some cases, at their school.
Although it may seem like a hassle, the learner permit application process is designed to ensure that applicants are fully informed before they’re on the road. Aside from providing parental consent, the applicant must also gather documents such as a certificate of enrollment in a public or private school, proof of identity, and proof of residency. If applicants are over the age of 17, they will not be required to provide the certificate of enrollment.
After obtaining their learner permit, new drivers have to complete 30 hours of driver education instruction and pass the driving portion of the test in order to advance to an intermediate or full license. It’s important for them to remember that all traffic laws and regulations must be observed at all times. If they violate any state driving laws, they may risk getting points added to their driving record, facing fines, or even losing their learner permit.
While the learner permit doesn’t have any time limits, the graduated driver licensing system does. That means that new drivers in Texas may keep their learner’s permits until they are 18, at which point they will be eligible for obtaining a full, unrestricted license.
Restrictions on the Intermediate License
The Intermediate License Restrictions, which apply to all intermediate provisional drivers under 18 years of age are as follows:
- They are prohibited from driving:
- from midnight to 5 a.m. (unless they are driving to or from work, to/from school, or because of an emergency).
- with more than one passenger under age 21 (unless they are family members).
- They are prohibited from using wireless communication devices, including but not limited to cell phones, except for use of an emergency feature or permanently installed communications device.
These restrictions continue until the youngest passenger is 18 years of age or until the intermediate driver reaches the age of 18.
It’s important to note that if the intermediate driver is cited for a violation of the above rules, and is convicted, the penalty will range from $25 to $99 and will be reported to the driver’s record. If the driver accumulates 2 or more convictions within 12 months, in addition to the base fine, the driver will be subject to a $25 surcharge for each conviction and a possible suspension of their license.
Upgrading to a Standard Driver’s License
To proceed to a full, unrestricted driver’s license in Texas, the first step is to hold an intermediate license for at least a year. While there is no mandated minimum age for transitioning to this second tier, you will be unable to graduate to the unrestricted phase of licensure until you are at least 16 years old. The next checkpoint is at least nine months after graduating from learner’s status. To move to unrestricted status, you must have held an intermediate license for a minimum of 12 months and reached at least 18 years of age.
If you’re under 18, you must pass a driving test given by your driver’s instructor or the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Make sure to investigate the requirements of your local DPS office to know what you might need to bring with you for the test. You also must be able to show proof that you have completed the requisite coursework for your state-approved driver education class.
Effects of Driver’s Education
Driver education programs play a substantial role in the Texas driver licensing system. As part of these programs, adults can obtain a provisional driver’s license if the course is taken in conjunction with a TEA approved drivers’ education course. Completion of the program also allows for individuals to skip the 6-hour Adult Driver Education Course for the 18+ Adult Certification or Adult DPS Certification, should they choose to take the 6-hour course and bypass the full driver education course (formerly known as the 32 hour Teen Course). Over the past few years, the state of Texas has implemented significant changes in how the adult certification courses are conducted. Continuing education is no longer provided in a classroom setting . Instead, it is delivered through DPS approved on line platforms and virtual drivers’ education including all Texas driving schools. Because students are interacting with the program itself, rather than with an instructor, drivers are now able to ‘pause’ a lesson if something else requires their attention. At the end of each segment, individuals must take a quiz, and at the end of the course, they must pass a final exam. Should a person not pass the course, they must retake the whole program again. Many driving schools and instructors also offer supplemental virtual training and film analysis, which can include online study guides. State law prohibits the use of auto-correct devices; these programs are pre-programmed to correct any answer immediately as part of their quality control measures.
Common Driving Age Myths
One of the most common misconceptions is that you can legally drive out on your own as long as you have a valid provisional license. However, there are still restrictions that may remain unless you’re older than 18. If you are 15 or 16, then you can only drive alone in certain situations, like being supervised by adult passengers or driving during an emergency. This is why it’s incredibly important to understand whether or not you’ve filed with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). It is the parent’s responsibility to file these forms. Without this filing, the learner will not be able to get their provisional license.
A second misconception is that you cannot perform any activity while driving if you’re not at least 18 years old. This misbelief was caused by a texting and driving ban which apply to drivers of all ages. The only activity that is prohibited is using a handheld device for communication – hands-free calls are allowed for license drivers who are not currently in the process of getting a commercial driver’s license. At 16 years and above, a driver is permitted to use a cellphone as long as traffic and road conditions are good. Even at this age it’s not encouraged to use a cellphone on the road. While hands-free devices are popular, they should not be seen as an excuse to not pay attention to other devices and events on the road.
A third misconception is that there is no other requirement than holding a provisional license in order to drive. The truth is that, as the Texas Driver’s Handbook states, "drivers under 18 years must hold a provisional license for 6 months and maintain a clean driving record before they will qualify for a full, unrestricted license." There are other restrictions as well, like the teen cannot pick up younger passengers during the first 6 months unless accompanied by an adult over 21 who has a valid license. In the following 6 months, the teen can pick up other passengers as long as they are under the age of 21 and in accordance with other restrictions. Additionally, the law does allow for side effects of some medications which can be seen as a serious risk when driving, for instance. Undoubtedly, the law will penalize anyone caught driving under the influence of any drugs. With healthy kid supervision and parental guidance, your teenager is more likely to stay safe behind the wheel.
Penalties for Minor Drivers
Driving under the age of 21 in Texas can open up a Pandora’s box of legal issues, especially if a traffic stop leads to a citation. There are several different kinds of penalties and complications that can arise, depending on the circumstances—in particular, whether or not the minor is legally intoxicated.
If a minor gets pulled over and given a ticket for driving under the influence of alcohol by a minor (DUIMA), they can be subject to the following penalties:
If a minor gets pulled over and given a ticket for driving while intoxicated and it’s the driver’s first offense, then there are several possible legal penalties. The most common legal penalty is a fine of up to $2,000. This kind of misdemeanor charge usually also leads to 180-day license suspension from the Department of Public Safety (DPS). If the charge is increased to a felony level, the penalties are far more severe.
If a minor gets pulled over and cited for driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system or for a DUI, they may also be charged with other legal penalties for driving without a current or valid Texas driver’s license.
The Examination Parent – Know Your Role
In Texas, the role of parents and guardians in the context of teen driving extends to consent, education, and supervision. From the outset, a person under 18 cannot obtain a provisional license without a parent or guardian’s consent. Furthermore, the minor’s parent or guardian must agree to this consent by signing the minor’s driver’s license application . Beyond license application, a parent’s or guardian’s responsibility for a minor’s driving also affects civil liability. Texas is one of the states that holds parents liable for the negligence of their minor children. Specifically, Personal Injury Law in Texas allows a parent or guardian to be held financailly responsible for negligent conduct of a minor when that minor is driving a motor vehicle they have been entrusted with.