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Yup, just got my Texas Driver License this week after practicing to drive here in US for two weeks. Getting the Driver License in Texas is not that hard but don’t take it for granted too, you must make sure you give some effort to read the Texas Driver License Handbook and practice a lot driving in the road.

So what does it take to have a Texas drivers license?

0. The Documents

In general, this is the list of things you need to apply for driver license in Texas.

For you who are curious about how to get Texas driver license for foreign student, here’s what you need when you are applying:

• Passport
• I-20
• I-94
• School acceptance letter
• Internship job acceptance letter (if internship)

Just make sure you have all of the documents above, then they will let you proceed. You will need to pay around $25 for the processing fee if they accept your application.

1. The Written Test

There are two written test options; first is the paper test, and second is the computer test (the one I took).

The test consist of 25 multiple choice questions, if you do your assignment by reading the Texas drivers license handbook several times and do the review questions in the back part of the handbook (yes, there is a review question section), you will be good.

If you’re lazy to answer the questions, you can check Wen’s blog, he answered most of the questions already.

If you pass the written test, they will let you schedule for the driving test. You will receive an appointment slip.

2. The Driving Test

Yup, the last and most important test to get the Drivers License. The Driving test is a 20 minute test in which the examiner will seat beside you and make you go to the street around the DPS office and grade how well is your driving skills.

To take the driving test you must have the appointment slip that you got after the DPS officer find the driving test schedule for you, car insurance, car inspection, car registration, and an ID.

First the examiner will ask you to turn on the left/right signal, test the horn, and brake light.

In Texas, the first part of driving test is the parallel parking and it will be in the DPS office parking area. You will be asked to park the car in between two poles beside the curb. Make sure you practice your parallel parking well, because if you hit the pole, you will fail automatically.

For tutorial videos about parallel parking, check my youtube ‘Parallel Parking’ playlist here.

If you pass the parallel parking, then you will be asked to drive out of the DPS office and go to the street.

Make sure you do these things:

1. Stop completely at the STOP sign, if you do rolling stop you will fail.
2. Turn left or right correctly (turn the signal, look at the mirrors, look over shoulder) and make sure you see it’s safe to turn.
3. Observe the speed limit.

You will then be asked to return to the DPS office, don’t worry you don’t need to memorize how to go back, the examiner will guide you.

After the test, the examiner will tell you what are your mistakes and whether you pass or fail.

3. The Temporary Driver License

If you complete the driving test successfully (that means you pass), the examiner will ask you to go inside and wait for couple of minutes till one of the officer inside print your temporary driver license.

Congratulations, you are now allowed to drive in the street! 😀 Make sure to drive carefully and follow all the things you have learned through.

UPDATE: If you are going to take Texas Driver License test soon, you may want to check the Texas Driver License Test Resource page.