You see a red eight-sided sign at an intersection. What does the octagon shape tell you, even from a distance?

It is a stop sign; the octagon is used only for stop signs

It warns of a railroad crossing ahead

A five-sided (pentagon-shaped) sign is ahead. What does it usually mean?

You are approaching a school or a school crossing

Motorist services are available

A yellow diamond sign shows a car with wavy skid marks behind it. What should you avoid doing?

Turning, speeding up or stopping suddenly

You hold a Texas learner license. Who must be in the front passenger seat whenever you drive?

A licensed driver at least 21 years old with at least one year of driving experience

A parent, whether or not licensed

A licensed driver at least 25 years old with five years of experience

Any licensed driver 18 or older

A 16-year-old with a provisional license wants to drive three friends (none family, all under 21) to a game. What does the law allow?

No more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member

Any number of passengers if an adult is also in the car

Up to three passengers under 21

You reach an intersection with no signs or signals. Another car is approaching from the road on your right at the same time. What should you do?

Yield the right-of-way to the car on your right

Go first if you are going straight

Go first because you are on the left

A school bus stopped on the other side of an undivided two-lane road is flashing its red lights. What must you do?

Stop, and not pass until the bus moves, the driver signals you, or the lights stop flashing

Continue, because the bus is on the other side

Stop only if children are crossing

Slow to 20 mph and pass carefully

You are stopped at a steady red light. When may you turn right?

After stopping and yielding, unless a sign prohibits it

Without stopping, if no cars are coming

Only when a green arrow appears

When must you have your headlights on in Texas?

From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, or when you cannot see clearly for 1,000 feet

Only on highways outside cities

Only when it is completely dark

Your car starts to skid. What should you do first?

Take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction of the skid

Steer the opposite way of the skid

You are driving behind a tractor-trailer. What rule of thumb helps you stay out of its blind spot?

If you can't see the truck driver in the side mirror, the driver can't see you

Stay as close as possible to block wind

Follow directly behind the trailer

Stay beside the cab so the driver sees you

A 19-year-old driver has had one beer and has a small but detectable amount of alcohol in the body. What does Texas law say?

It is an offense: minors may not drive with any detectable amount of alcohol

It is legal because the BAC is under 0.08

It is an offense only after 10 p.m.

It is legal if the driver feels fine

Texas Permit Practice Test 2026 (Free, Explained)

Texas DPS Knowledge Test format

Neither DPS nor the Texas Driver Handbook publishes the number of questions on the Class C knowledge exam.

Texas DPS Knowledge Test	Official rule
Agency	Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver License Division. Texas uses DPS driver license offices, not a DMV, for licenses and knowledge tests. source
Number of questions	Not published by DPS or in the Texas Driver Handbook. source
Passing score	70 percent or better on any knowledge exam. source
Where to take it	At a DPS driver license office (in-person services are by appointment), or, after certain driver education courses, with your course provider: the handbook says you then do not have to take the Class C knowledge exam at the driver license office. source
Languages	English or Spanish only. You must understand road signs written in English; a translator may help only before and after the test, not during it. source
Retakes	If you do not pass the knowledge and driving exams on the first try, your application is held for 90 days. After 90 days or three failed exams, a new application and fee are required. source
Minimum age (learner license)	15. You can start the classroom part of driver education at 14. source
Driver education	Required for every first-time applicant under 25. Teens (15-17): the full course, 24 hours of classroom and 44 hours of in-car instruction, with a certified school, public school or parent-taught course. Adults 18-24: at least a 6-hour adult driver education course (the full 24-hour course is also an option). 25 and older: none required. source
When teens can test	Concurrent method: after the first 6 classroom hours. Block method: after all 24 classroom hours. source
Impact Texas Drivers (ITD)	Free distracted-driving video required before the driving test (not the written test): Impact Texas Teen Drivers, 2 hours, for ages 15-17; Impact Texas Adult Drivers, 1 hour, for ages 18 and older. The certificate is valid for 90 days. source
Learner license restrictions	A licensed driver at least 21 years old with at least one year of driving experience must sit beside you. No cell phone use, including hands-free, except in an emergency. source
Holding period	Under 18: hold the learner license for at least six months before a provisional license (the period is extended by any suspension). The learner license expires on your 18th birthday. source
Fees	Learner license (under 18): $16. Class C driver license, age 18 to 84: $33 for eight years. Both include a $1 administrative fee. source
Official study material	Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), revised January 2026, free online. source

Checked on the official sources on September 30, 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before test day.

DPS, not DMV: who runs the Texas written test

People search for the "Texas DMV permit test", but in Texas driver licenses are issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver License Division. Vehicle registration goes through your county tax assessor-collector or the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (handbook). The written test is officially the Class C knowledge exam, and every first-time applicant has to pass it unless an exemption applies (for example, adults moving from another state with a valid license, per DPS).

Format and passing score

Passing score: you must score 70 percent or better to pass any knowledge exam.
Content: DPS rules describe the Class C knowledge test given by driver education providers as two exams, Road Signs and Road Rules, each needing 70 percent (37 TAC §15.64). Everything comes from the Texas Driver Handbook.
Number of questions and time limit: neither the DPS website nor the handbook publishes them, so we do not quote a figure. Our practice tests use 30 questions, a length we chose; it is not an official number.
Languages: DPS offers the knowledge test in English or Spanish only, and you must understand road signs written in English. A translator may help you talk with the specialist before and after the test, but not during it.

Step by step: teens (15 to 17)

Start driver education. You can begin the classroom part at 14, but you cannot apply for a learner license until you are at least 15. Teens take the full course: 24 hours of classroom and 44 hours of in-car instruction, through a certified driving school (in class or online), a public school, or a parent-taught course.
Take the knowledge exam. With the concurrent method you can test after the first 6 classroom hours; with the block method, after all 24. Driver education schools and parent-taught providers may give the exam themselves. DPS says that if you did not take it during the classroom portion, you take it at the driver license office.
Apply for the learner license at DPS (appointment only). Bring a parent or guardian, the completed application, proof of identity, citizenship or lawful presence and Texas residency, your Social Security number, your driver education certificate, and a high school diploma, GED or Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) form. You pay the fee, pass a vision exam and have your photo taken. The learner license costs $16 and expires on your 18th birthday.
Practice under supervision. A licensed driver who is at least 21 with at least one year of experience must sit beside you. No phone use at all, hands-free included, except in an emergency.
Hold it for six months. You must hold the learner license for at least six months (longer if it is suspended), finish the behind-the-wheel hours, including 30 hours of practice, 10 of them at night, and be at least 16 before you can get a provisional license.
Watch Impact Texas Teen Drivers. The free 2-hour ITTD video is required before the driving test, and the certificate is valid for 90 days.
Pass the driving test at DPS or an approved third-party school to get your provisional license. Until 18 you may not carry more than one passenger under 21 who is not family or drive between midnight and 5 a.m. except for work, school activities or emergencies.

Step by step: adults (18 and older)

Driver education if you are 18 to 24. First-time applicants in this age group must complete a 6-hour adult driver education course. From 25, driver education is not required, though DPS calls it highly recommended. New residents 18 or older who surrender a valid, unexpired license from another state are exempt.
Pass the knowledge exam. DPS says you may complete the testing requirements at a DPS office or with a third-party provider, and the handbook notes that after certain driver education courses you do not have to take it at DPS; ask your provider.
Practice if you need to. Applicants 18 and older who want to practice are issued a Class C license with the same restrictions as a learner license.
Watch Impact Texas Adult Drivers. The 1-hour ITAD video is required before your driving test; the certificate is valid for 90 days.
Pass the driving test at DPS or with a third-party testing school. A Class C license for ages 18 to 84 costs $33 and lasts eight years.

On the day

All in-person driver license services are by appointment; book ahead. Fees must be paid before any exam is given, and your photo is taken at the start. Offices accept credit cards, cash, checks, money orders and tap-to-pay. DPS's REAL ID Document Check tool lists exactly which documents to bring.

If you fail

If you do not pass the knowledge and driving exams on your first attempt, your application is held for 90 days. After 90 days, or after three failed exams, you need a new application and a new fee. Study the chapters behind the questions you missed before you book again.

How to prepare

Read the free handbook. The Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), revised January 2026, is the official source for the test. A Spanish edition (DL-7S) is also offered by DPS. Focus on Chapter 4 (right-of-way), Chapter 5 (signals, signs and markings), Chapters 6 to 8 (signaling, passing, turning, parking and speed limits), Chapter 9 (special situations) and Chapter 10 (alcohol and zero tolerance for drivers under 21).
Learn signs by shape and color first. An octagon is always a stop sign, a triangle a yield sign, a pentagon a school sign and a round sign a railroad warning (Table 17).
Memorize the Texas numbers. A few worth knowing from the handbook: signal at least 100 feet before turning; park at least 15 feet from a fire hydrant, 20 feet from a crosswalk at an intersection and 50 feet from a railroad crossing; 30 mph in an urban district and 15 mph in an alley unless posted; slow to 20 mph below the limit (or move over) for stopped emergency, tow and TxDOT vehicles with lights on (handbook).
Know the rules for new drivers. Under-18 phone ban, the passenger limit and the midnight to 5 a.m. limit for provisional drivers, and zero tolerance: any detectable alcohol is an offense for a driver under 21.
Test yourself. Our original practice questions are written from the handbook, cover signs, rules and safe driving, and explain each answer with the handbook section to reread. They are not DPS questions, and no practice test can promise a pass. Use them to find your weak chapters, then go back to the handbook.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the DMV or DPS in Texas?

DPS. The Texas Department of Public Safety issues driver licenses and gives the knowledge and driving tests. Vehicle registration goes through your county tax assessor-collector or the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Source

Can I take the written test with my driver education course instead of at DPS?

Often, yes. The handbook says that after certain driver education courses you are not required to take the Class C knowledge exam at the driver license office. Ask your provider whether its course includes the exam; if not, you take it at DPS. Source

What happens if I fail?

Your application is held for 90 days. After 90 days or three failed exams, you need a new application and must pay the fee again. Source

Can I take the knowledge test in another language?

DPS offers it only in English and Spanish, and you must understand road signs written in English. A translator may help you talk with the specialist before and after the test, but not during it. Source

I am 18 to 24. Do I need driver education?

Yes. First-time applicants aged 18 through 24 must complete a six-hour adult driver education course. This is waived for new residents who surrender a valid, unexpired license from another state. From 25, driver education is not required. Source

Is the Impact Texas Drivers video part of the written test?

No. The ITD certificate is required before the driving skills test. Teens watch the 2-hour Impact Texas Teen Drivers video; drivers 18 and older watch the 1-hour Impact Texas Adult Drivers video. The certificate is valid for 90 days. Source

I just moved to Texas. Do I have to take the knowledge test?

Not if you are 18 or older and hold a valid license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory or Canada (or one not expired more than two years): you surrender it and skip the knowledge and skills exams. You may drive on your valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days after moving. Applicants under 18 with a valid out-of-state license or learner license also skip the knowledge exam but must take the skills exam. Source

Sources

Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7), revised January 2026 — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Apply for a Texas Driver License — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Teen Drivers Phase I — Texas Learner License — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Teen Drivers Phase II — Texas Provisional License — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Choosing a Driver Education Course — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Testing in Other Languages — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Driver License Fees — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Moving to Texas — Texas Department of Public Safety (checked September 30, 2026)
Do I Need to Take Driver Education in Texas? — Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (checked September 30, 2026)
37 Texas Administrative Code §15.64, Examinations Administered by Other Entities (DPS rule; text via Cornell LII) — Texas Department of Public Safety / Legal Information Institute (checked September 30, 2026)

In Texas, driver licenses are issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), not a "DMV". DPS is not affiliated with and does not endorse passmock. Our practice questions are original, written from the free Texas Driver Handbook; they are not DPS test items. Our questions are original practice questions written from the official test description and study materials; they are not questions from the real test.

Texas permit practice test

Free Texas DPS Knowledge Test practice test (20 questions)