Texas driver license knowledge test (2026): languages, passing score, the 6-hour adult course, ITAD and new-resident rules

Getting a first Texas driver license, or moving to Texas from another country? Texas licensing is run by the Department of Public Safety (DPS), not a “DMV”, and its rules differ a lot from California and New York. Below: test languages, passing score, who must take the 6-hour adult course, the free ITAD video, what to bring, and how foreign and out-of-state licenses are treated, all from DPS, the Texas Administrative Code and TDLR.

1. Test languages: English or Spanish only

DPS’s “Testing in Other Languages” page says the driver license knowledge test is available only in English and Spanish, and applicants must be able to understand road signs printed in English. You may bring an interpreter, but only to communicate with DPS staff before the test starts and after it ends, not during the test. If you do not speak English during the road test, the examiner uses non-verbal cues, which your interpreter can explain beforehand.

If English is not your first language, the practical plan is: read the official Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) in English chapter by chapter, build your own glossary of terms such as yield, right-of-way, school zone and following distance, then practice many English questions.

Free DMV practice test (328 questions) Our own original questions written from the California Driver Handbook. Signs, right-of-way and following-distance rules carry over to most states; check your state handbook for state-specific numbers.

2. Passing score: 70%

37 TAC §15.52 requires at least 70% correct on each part of the knowledge examination. The rule says applicants must understand English road signs and traffic laws; it does not require reading or writing English. DPS does not publish a fixed number of questions, so treat any number you see online as unofficial.

3. Who must take the 6-hour adult driver education course

• Ages 18–24, applying for a first Texas license: a 6-hour adult driver education course is required.
• 25 and older: not required, but DPS strongly recommends it.
• Applicants 18+ who surrender a valid out-of-state license are exempt.

Courses are offered by schools approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), in a classroom or online. Under TDLR’s course rules, students must score at least 70% on both the highway-signs and traffic-laws course exams to receive the completion certificate (ADE-1317). Ask the provider before you enroll whether its course exam can stand in for the knowledge test at DPS, and confirm with DPS.

4. Before the road test: the free ITAD video

Under the Impact Texas Drivers program, applicants 18 and older must complete Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) before the driving test:

• about one hour, in three modules; each must be finished before the next;
• free, provided by DPS;
• the certificate is valid for 90 days; if you have not passed the road test by then, retake it;
• bring a printed certificate; a phone screen is not accepted;
• if you take the 6-hour adult course, complete ITAD after the course.

5. What to bring

DPS lists proof of US citizenship or lawful presence, proof of Texas residency, proof of identity, your Social Security number, proof of insurance for each vehicle you own (or a statement that you own none), plus the ITAD and adult-course certificates if they apply. New residents surrendering an out-of-state license also need proof that their vehicles are registered in Texas.

At the office you give fingerprints and a signature, have your photo taken, pay the fee, pass a vision test and then take the knowledge and driving tests. The driving test can be taken at DPS or with a DPS-certified Third Party Skills Testing school; the school sets its own price.

6. Moving to Texas: out-of-state and foreign licenses

• After becoming a resident you may drive on a valid license from another US state, a US territory, a Canadian province or a qualifying country for up to 90 days.
• Other US state, territory or Canada: surrender it; no knowledge or skills test. If you are 18+ and the license is valid or expired less than two years, the ITAD and adult-course requirements are also waived.
• Foreign license: Texas has reciprocity only with France, Germany, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan; a valid license from these may let DPS waive both tests. Licenses from other countries (for example Mexico, India, China, Vietnam or the Philippines) do not transfer; expect the first-time process.
• Foreign licenses not in English or Spanish must be translated by a translation service or your consulate.

Visitors (not residents) may drive on a valid foreign license for up to one year or until they become residents, whichever comes first. See Driving in the US with a foreign license.

7. Sort out car insurance before test day

DPS asks for proof of insurance for every vehicle you own, and the road-test car must be insured and registered. Without a US driving record, quotes are often high, so start comparing early.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the Texas driver license test in my language?

Only English or Spanish. Texas DPS offers the knowledge test in those two languages only and requires that you understand English road signs. An interpreter may help before and after the test, not during it.

What is the passing score for the Texas knowledge test?

70%, under 37 Texas Administrative Code §15.52. DPS does not publish a fixed number of questions.

Do I need driver education in Texas if I am over 25?

No. The 6-hour adult driver education course is required only for first-time applicants aged 18–24. Everyone 18 and older must still complete the free ITAD video before the road test.

Can I exchange my foreign driver license for a Texas license?

Only licenses from France, Germany, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan qualify for reciprocity. Other foreign licenses do not transfer; you take the knowledge and driving tests. Out-of-state US and Canadian licenses transfer without tests.