Texas DPS Driver's License Practice Test

Yes, there is a Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), but it handles vehicle title and registration — not driver's licenses. All Texas driver's licenses are issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver License Division. Many Texans waste a trip by going to TxDMV for a driver's license. If you need a driver's license, new ID, or learner's permit, you must visit a DPS driver's license office. Visit dps.texas.gov to find the nearest location.

Texas has the highest posted speed limit in the United States — 85 mph on State Highway 130, a toll road running east of Austin through Caldwell and Williamson counties. Multiple other Texas rural interstates (I-10 in West Texas, sections of I-20) post 75–80 mph limits. Texas's high speed limit reflects the state's vast distances and rural highway design. The 85 mph SH 130 limit is a tested fact on the DPS knowledge exam because it distinguishes Texas from every other state.

Most states set an under-21 BAC threshold at 0.02% — any reading at or above 0.02% is a violation. Texas's zero-tolerance policy has no such minimum threshold: any detectable amount of alcohol is a violation for drivers under 21, regardless of the specific BAC reading. A driver under 21 with even a trace of alcohol in their system can be charged under Texas's Minor Alcohol offense framework, which is stricter than the 0.02% approach used by most neighboring states.

Yes. Texas Transportation Code § 49.031 prohibits any person — including passengers seated in the back seat — from possessing an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public highway, whether the vehicle is moving or parked. Exceptions apply only to passengers (not drivers) in hired limousines, chartered buses, and the living quarters of motorhomes. The most common misconception is that 'passengers can drink' — under Texas law, they cannot in most vehicles.

Texas uses 'DWI' (Driving While Intoxicated) as the primary impaired driving charge under Transportation Code § 49.04 for adults. 'DUI' in Texas is sometimes informally used but it is technically a separate, lesser charge used specifically for drivers under 21 with any detectable alcohol (the Minor Alcohol offense). For all adult impaired driving — whether by alcohol or drugs — the charge is DWI, not DUI. Commercial drivers face a 0.04% DWI limit.

Yes — on Texas open roads, adult drivers may legally hold a phone to their ear for a voice call. Texas HB 62 (TTC § 545.4251), effective September 1, 2017, bans only electronic messaging (texting, emailing, social media posting) while driving statewide. Texas does not have a full statewide handheld phone ban for adult drivers. However, some Texas cities — including Austin and San Antonio — have local ordinances that go further and prohibit all handheld use. Always check local rules in Texas cities.

The Texas DPS driver's license knowledge test has 30 questions. You must answer at least 21 correctly — a 70% passing score — to pass. This 70% threshold is among the lowest for any major state (most require 75%–83%), meaning up to 9 wrong answers are permitted. Despite the lower threshold, Texas-specific laws (SH 130 speed, zero-tolerance under-21 DWI, open container rules) can catch unprepared applicants.

Yes. Texas drivers under 18 must complete a state-approved driver education course before applying for a learner's permit. Options include classroom-based programs and Parent-Taught Driver Education (PTDE). The PTDE program requires 32 hours of classroom instruction and 30 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice (10 at night). Adults 18 and older are not required to complete driver education but must pass both the knowledge and road skills tests at DPS.

Texas requires two different signal distances depending on location: at least 100 feet before a turn in a city or town, and at least 200 feet before a turn on a highway outside city limits. This two-distance rule is Texas-specific — many other states use a single distance for all roads. Early signaling is especially important at the higher speeds common on Texas highways.

Texas issues a Provisional License to drivers ages 16–17 who have passed the DPS knowledge and road skills tests. For the first 6 months: no driving between midnight and 5 AM; no more than one passenger under 21 who is not an immediate family member. After 6 months of violation-free driving, both restrictions lift. The provisional license automatically converts to a standard Class C license at age 18. Violations of provisional restrictions extend the restriction period.