Free Texas DPS Permit Practice Test 2026
Get ready to pass your Texas DPS written test on the first try. Our free Texas permit practice tests are based directly on the official Texas Driver's Handbook and contain the same types of questions you will see on test day. Each test covers traffic laws, road signs, right-of-way rules, safe driving techniques, and Texas-specific regulations. You need 70% correct to pass, so preparation is essential. Start practicing today - unlimited attempts, instant feedback, detailed explanations.
Take the Texas DPS Permit Practice Test Now
25 questions drawn from the Texas driver handbook, 70% to pass, with an explanation after every answer. Free, no sign-up - press Start when you are ready. More Texas tests are listed below.
Texas DPS Practice Test 1
Questions are shuffled every time and drawn from the Texas driver handbook. Nothing starts - and no clock runs - until you press the button.
- 25 questions
- 70% to pass (18 correct)
- About 15 minutes
- Explanation after every answer
Ways to practice
Learn with practice tests and flashcards, then take the mock test when you think you are ready.
Also try: the Texas cheat sheet of rules and numbers, the hardest questions people miss most, or make your own test on the topics you find hard.
Texas Permit Practice Tests
201 unique questions in the Texas bank (38 Texas-specific) - practice until you are confident
More Texas Practice Tests
Official Texas Driver's Handbook
The DPS writes every real exam question from this manual - read it alongside your practice tests.
Texas Permit Practice Test PDF (2026)
Free printable version: 100+ Texas questions with an answer key and explanations, plus the DPS test facts on the cover. Or print a 30-question test. All state PDFs →
Texas Learner License Test: Quick Facts
Verified against Department of Public Safety publications - last reviewed September 2026.
| Official permit name | Learner License |
|---|---|
| Questions on the test | Not published by the DPS |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Wrong answers allowed | Depends on test length (not published) |
| Minimum age | 15 years old |
| Under-21 alcohol limit | Zero tolerance - any measurable amount |
| Online testing | Partially - online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site). |
| Driver's education | Required for applicants under 18. |
| Supervised practice | 30 hours behind the wheel (10 at night) with a licensed adult 21+ (parent-monitored), in addition to the 7 hours behind-the-wheel and 7 hours in-car observation of the driver education course |
| Permit holding period | 6 months (unless you turn 18 first) before applying for the provisional license |
| Testing agency | Department of Public Safety (DPS) |
Sample Texas Permit Test Questions
Three of the Texas-specific questions from our bank, with the answer and the rule behind it. The Texas bank behind the tests above holds 201 unique questions.
1. Unless a different limit is posted, what is the maximum speed limit for passenger cars on a Texas highway numbered by the state or the U.S. outside an urban district?
- A. 60 mph
- B. 65 mph
- C. 70 mph (correct)
- D. 80 mph
Why: Texas sets 70 mph for passenger cars on state- or U.S.-numbered highways outside urban districts. Some limited-access highways are posted at 75 up to 85 mph, and any limit that is set must be the same for daytime and nighttime. Always obey the posted limit.
2. Under Texas's zero-tolerance law, a driver under 21 who drives with any detectable amount of alcohol (first offense) faces:
- A. A warning only
- B. A license suspension and a fine of up to $500 (correct)
- C. Penalties only if their BAC is 0.04% or higher
- D. No penalty unless they cause a crash
Why: In Texas, a minor who drives with any detectable amount of alcohol commits Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol by a Minor. A first offense is a Class C misdemeanor (fine up to $500, 20-40 hours of community service, and an alcohol awareness course), and a specimen confirming alcohol leads to a 60-day license suspension (120 days for a second offense, 180 days for a third or later).
3. In Texas, when must you use vehicle headlights?
- A. Only after midnight, or whenever you drive on a rural highway
- B. From 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise, and in poor visibility (correct)
- C. Only in rain or fog heavier than light drizzle, day or night
- D. From 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise, on highways only
Why: Texas requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and any time people or vehicles cannot be clearly seen at a distance of 1,000 feet.
Texas Permit Test Study Guide (2026)
A free Texas DPS written test study guide - updated for 2026, verified against the official Department of Public Safety handbook.
Reviewed by Chad HenryAfter 25 years of teaching driver educationLast reviewed September 2026
On Texas roads you'll meet some of the highest speed limits in the country and sprawling metros from Houston to Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin - and the DPS written exam expects the laws that go with them: the Move Over law, "Turn Around, Don't Drown" flood safety, and the state's strict DWI penalties. Our Texas practice permit test pulls straight from the official Texas Driver Handbook so you reach your DPS office genuinely ready.
What to Expect on the Texas Permit Test
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) requires every new driver to pass a written knowledge test before being issued a learner's permit. The DPS does not publish the number of questions; to pass you need 70% correct. You must be at least 15 years old to apply. Every question is drawn from the official Texas driver's handbook, so the topics on our practice tests match exactly what the DPS asks.
Topics Covered on the TX Written Test
- Traffic Laws (Rules of the Road): State-specific rules of the road, including right-of-way, lane changing, and intersection rules
- Road Signs: Recognition and meaning of all standard road signs - warning, regulatory, and informational
- Speed Limits: Default speed limits, school zones, work zones, and highway speeds
- Safe Driving: Following distance, blind spots, defensive driving, and weather conditions
- Alcohol & Drugs: DUI laws, BAC limits, and consequences of impaired driving
- Parking Rules: Legal and illegal parking situations, curb colors, and distances
How to Prepare for the Texas Permit Test
The strongest preparation pairs a read-through of the official Texas Driver's Handbook with repeated practice tests that surface your weak spots. The DPS writes its test from that handbook, so the rules you practise here are the rules you will be asked about. A sensible target: score at least 80% on several fresh practice tests in a row - and read the explanation on every miss - before you book your appointment.
Official Texas DPS Information
For official test requirements, locations, and fees, visit the Department of Public Safety website. You can also read the official Texas driver's handbook free of charge - every question on our practice tests traces back to it.
Texas Permit Test - Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the Texas DPS written test?
The DPS does not publish how many questions are on the Texas knowledge test. To pass you need 70% correct.
What is the phone rule for new drivers in Texas?
Texas: handheld phone use is banned in active school zones; hands-free is allowed. Texas prohibits handheld cell phone use in active school crossing zones. Hands-free use is permitted. Some Texas cities have additional city-wide handheld phone bans. (Transportation Code Sec. 545.425(b))
When are new drivers in Texas not allowed to drive?
Provisional license: no driving midnight to 5 a.m. (work, school, medical exceptions). Until age 18, a provisional license holder may not drive from midnight to 5:00 a.m. unless it is needed for work, a school-related activity, or a medical emergency. They also may not carry more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member. (p.3 (PDF p.9), Graduated Driver License - Phase Two)
Who must ride with a permit holder in Texas?
Learner supervisor: licensed, age 21 or older, with 1 year of driving experience. The supervising driver must be at least 21, have at least one year of driving experience, sit beside the learner, and stay alert - not intoxicated or asleep. (p.1 (PDF p.7), Learner License (Instruction Permit))
What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21 in Texas?
Texas has a zero-tolerance rule: a driver under 21 may not drive with any measurable amount of alcohol. The general 0.08% limit applies only to adults 21 and over.
How many questions can you miss on the Texas permit test?
You need at least 70% correct. The DPS does not publish the number of questions on the test, so the number you can miss depends on the test you get - on our 30-question simulator that is 9.
What is the Texas learner's permit officially called?
Texas issues the Learner License. It is the first stage of the state's licensing process for new drivers.
Can I take the Texas permit test online?
Partially - online testing is available only in some cases (see the official site).
Is driver's education required for a Texas permit?
Required for applicants under 18.
How long do I have to hold my Texas permit?
Minimum holding period: 6 months (unless you turn 18 first) before applying for the provisional license. Required supervised practice: 30 hours behind the wheel (10 at night) with a licensed adult 21+ (parent-monitored), in addition to the 7 hours behind-the-wheel and 7 hours in-car observation of the driver education course.
Sources & Methodology
Every Texas question on this page is written from the official Texas driver handbook, and the facts in the table above are checked against Department of Public Safety publications. Last reviewed: September 2026. Every question shows its own source under the explanation; all corrections are listed in our corrections log.
Chad Henry – Reviewer
After 25 years of teaching driver education
Chad Henry has taught driver education for 25 years and reviews every state's practice questions, quick facts and study guides against the official driver handbook and agency publications before they are published.
Last reviewed: September 2026
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdf
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/texas-learners-license-teen
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/driver-license-fees
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/frequently-asked-questions
- https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/section-23-request-knowledge-tests-driver-education-schools
Study Guides to Help You Pass
All articles →Hand signals for the permit test: left, right, stop, and when the law requires them
The three driver hand signals every permit test asks about, which arm to use, and when 14 state handbooks say you must or may use them.
Traffic Laws10 Driving Rules That Change at the State Line (With the Handbook Page for Each)
Ten permit-test rules that differ by state - hydrant distance, school bus stops, Move Over speeds, headlights - with a handbook page for each.
Test InfoWhat's on the motorcycle permit test, and how it differs from the car test
What the motorcycle knowledge test covers, where its questions come from, the gear and SEE rules it asks about, and how states give or waive it.
Practice Permit Tests in Other States
Studying in more than one state, or planning a move from Texas? Jump straight to another state's free DPS-style practice tests below, or browse all 50 states.
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