The Texas Knowledge Test and Driving Test in 2026

The knowledge test

The written knowledge test covers traffic laws and safe driving practices from the Texas Driver Handbook (DPS form DL-7). A teen may pass it during the classroom portion of driver education and bring the evidence to the office; otherwise it is taken at the driver license office during the application appointment. DPS keeps a page for TDLR certified schools authorized to give the test on requesting copies of the knowledge tests. For a commercial learner permit the knowledge exams run in a fixed order (Texas Commercial Rules, General Knowledge, Combination for Class A, Air Brake if applicable, then endorsements) and, from June 1, 2026, only in English, as the CDL guide explains. A valid license from another state, Canada or the five reciprocity countries waives the knowledge test for drivers 18 and older, and the knowledge exam alone for licensed minors.

Scheduling the driving test

Every driving test is by appointment on the Texas Scheduler at txdpsscheduler.com, which DPS's road test FAQ says may be booked up to 180 days in advance. The scheduler asks for the service (Road Skills Test and the class) and the assigned driver license number, so the application must be on file first. DPS's customer service center cannot book, move or cancel a road test. Appointments are cancelled 30 minutes after their time, DPS asks customers to arrive no more than 30 minutes early, and a cancelled appointment may be rebooked at once. A test taken at an authorized driving school is scheduled with the school instead; the driver education guide describes those schools.

What to bring on the day

DPS's driving test page, with its How to Prepare for a Drive Test sheet (DL-60), lists:

• the Texas learner license, or the Texas license with a B restriction (if lost, one approved identity document);
• the driving test fee, or the receipt if already paid, which is good for 90 days with the expiration date printed on it;
• the Impact Texas Drivers certificate of completion, no older than 90 days;
• for anyone under 25, proof of driver education: a DE-964 or DEE-964 from a certified school or a parent-taught program, a DE-964E from a public high school, or an ADE-1317 or ADEE-1317 adult certificate;
• proof of current liability insurance for the test vehicle, with the applicant not listed as an excluded driver.

No additional passengers are allowed in the vehicle during the test. Credit cards are DPS's preferred payment at the office; money orders, cashier's and personal checks for the exact amount are accepted.

The vehicle

The test vehicle needs a current registration sticker, two license plates with one on the front bumper and one on the rear, no unusual mechanical issues (DPS gives doors that do not open from inside or outside as an example that fails the vehicle inspection), and all the safety equipment on the DL-60 sheet. A rental vehicle works when the applicant is listed on the rental agreement as an authorized driver, the rental company permits driving tests, and liability coverage is shown either by the damage waiver bought with the rental or by a personal policy that covers rentals. A vehicle bought with metal plates and no sticker is accepted with the buyer's receipt, and an out-of-state vehicle with its own state's plates and registration is accepted too.

Commercial and exempt-vehicle skills tests

A commercial driver license test has three parts, the vehicle inspection (pre-trip), the basic vehicle control test and the road test, taken in a commercial vehicle representative of the permit class after the 14-day permit period and the entry level training; DPS has adopted the AAMVA skills test modernization at every testing location except Del Rio and Wichita Falls, with a checklist for the pre-trip inspection. A driver of an exempt heavy vehicle, a recreational vehicle, a farm truck or a fire vehicle, takes the Class A or B non-CDL skills test at one of the offices on DPS's exempt vehicle test sites list, with the CDL-2 application, identification, and the vehicle's registration and insurance. Authorized third party providers and out-of-state providers send CDL scores to DPS electronically.

Questions about the tests

How far ahead can I book a driving test?

Up to 180 days, on the Texas Scheduler, with Road Skills Test and the class chosen. DPS's customer service center cannot schedule, reschedule or cancel a road test; the scheduler handles all of it, and an assigned driver license number is needed to book one.

Do I need to apply for a license before the test?

Yes. DPS says to apply first, with the documents on its DL-15 checklist, and then schedule the road test; the learner license or the license with a B restriction is presented at the test.

Do I have to bring my own car?

Yes, with valid registration and insurance. The applicant need not be named on the policy but cannot be listed as an excluded driver. A car bought recently with metal plates and no sticker may be used with the buyer's receipt as proof of registration, and a vehicle registered in another state may be used if it complies with that state's registration laws, even without a front plate.

How long is the test fee good for?

Ninety days, with the expiration date printed on the payment receipt; after that the fee is paid again.

Can my child over 18 be booked by me?

Yes, with the correct login information, through the Texas Scheduler.

What do I need for a motorcycle test?

A motorcycle and a passenger vehicle driven by a licensed driver to follow the applicant during the exam; the motorcycle license guide has the rest.