Texas permit test 2026: the learner license knowledge exam
By The Permi team · Checked against official pages on
In Texas the permit is called a learner license, and teens can get one between ages 15 and 17. You study from the free Texas Driver Handbook, then pass the knowledge exam with at least 70%, either in a driver education class (you show proof) or when you apply. The exam is offered in English and Spanish.
Quick facts
- Name in Texas
- Learner license (not "permit")
- Teen age range
- 15 to 17, according to Texas DPS
- Knowledge exam
- Taken in a driver education class (you show proof of passing) or given when you apply
- Passing score
- At least 70% on each knowledge test, per the Texas Administrative Code
- Exam languages
- English and Spanish
- Learner license fee
- $16 for applicants under 18, per the DPS fee schedule
- Study source
- Texas Driver Handbook, free from DPS in English and Spanish
- Practice test
- We found no official DPS online practice test for the regular exam
- Moving from another state
- Learners from certain other jurisdictions don't have to take the knowledge exam; check with DPS
- Adults
- This page covers the teen learner license; applicants 18 and older follow DPS's "Apply for a Texas driver license" steps
How the process works
- Read the Texas Driver Handbook, in English or Spanish.
- If you take driver education, ask whether the class gives the knowledge exam; if it does, you bring proof of passing to DPS.
- If not, the exam is given when you apply for the learner license.
- Use DPS's teen learner license page for the current list of documents and requirements, since they change.
How to study for it
- Start with the handbook: it's the only official source we found for Texas, and it's free.
- Test yourself chapter by chapter and aim well above 70%, so you have room to spare.
- Use practice questions alongside the handbook, and check anything surprising in the text.
- If you study in Spanish, use the Spanish edition of the handbook; you can take the exam in Spanish too.
Free official resources
- Texas Driver Handbook (English) · Free PDF from DPS
- Texas Driver Handbook (Spanish) · Free PDF from DPS
- DPS: Learner license as a teen · Current requirements
Frequently asked questions
Is it called a permit or a learner license in Texas?
Texas calls it a learner license. DPS says teens can get one between ages 15 and 17.
What score do I need to pass the Texas permit test?
At least 70% on each knowledge test, according to the Texas Administrative Code (37 TAC §15.52).
Can I take the Texas permit test in Spanish?
Yes. Texas offers its written and oral knowledge exams in English and Spanish.
Where do I take the Texas knowledge exam?
DPS says a teen who took the exam in a driver education class shows proof of passing; otherwise the exam is given when you apply for the learner license.
Is there a free official Texas practice test?
We didn't find an official DPS online practice test for the regular driver license exam. DPS offers the Texas Driver Handbook free in English and Spanish, which is the best official place to start.