530+ questions based on the official Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7, Revised January 2026). Realistic exam simulator with instant scoring. No signup required.
30 random questions, 30-min simulator timer. The real Texas test has no official time limit. Need 70% (about 21/30) to pass.
Practice road signs exclusively — shapes, colors, and meanings. Perfect for targeting the sign section before your exam.
Test only the critical numbers — speed limits, distances, BAC limits, suspension periods. The most memorized facts on the real exam.
Fast 15-question session — perfect for a daily warm-up or quick review before bed.
Every question, random order, no timer. Best for deep study before your test date.
Key chapters from the official handbook — organized, summarized, and exam-focused. Read before your test!
In-depth guides for every part of the Texas permit test and driver license process. Everything is free and based on the official Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7).
Everything important from the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) — organized for the exam
Memorize these numbers first. Texas test questions are frequently built around specific distances, speeds, BAC levels, and time periods. These come up constantly.
Road signs are tested heavily. Know each sign's shape, color, and meaning. The real test often shows a sign description and asks what it means.
| Shape | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Octagon (8-sided) | STOP — always and only | Stop sign |
| Triangle (pointing down) | YIELD — give right of way | Yield sign |
| Diamond | WARNING — hazard ahead | Curve, pedestrian, deer |
| Pentagon (5-sided) | SCHOOL ZONE | School crossing |
| Pennant (triangle right) | NO PASSING ZONE | No-passing pennant |
| Round (circle) | RAILROAD CROSSING advance warning | RR crossing sign |
| Rectangle (vertical) | REGULATORY — rules you must follow | Speed limit, turn restrictions |
| Rectangle (horizontal) | GUIDE or INFORMATION | Street name, mile marker |
| X-shaped crossbuck | RAILROAD CROSSING — treat like yield | Railroad crossbuck |
| Color | Category | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Regulatory — STOP / PROHIBIT | Stop, yield, do not enter, wrong way, no-turn circles |
| Yellow | WARNING | General hazard warnings — curves, hills, intersections, animals |
| Orange | WORK ZONE / CONSTRUCTION | Construction ahead, road crew, slow down and drive with care. Fines for speeding in a work zone are doubled in Texas (Ch. 5) |
| Green | GUIDE / DIRECTIONAL | Highway exits, distances, direction, mile markers |
| Blue | SERVICES | Gas, food, lodging, hospital, rest area |
| Brown | RECREATION / CULTURAL | Parks, campgrounds, historical sites, scenic areas |
| White | REGULATORY | Speed limits, lane rules, turn restrictions |
| Fluorescent Yellow-Green | WARNING — pedestrian / school / bike | School zones, crosswalks, bike lanes |
| Fluorescent Pink | INCIDENT MANAGEMENT | Crash clean-up, debris removal, temporary traffic control |
Right of way is the #1 failure topic on the DPS knowledge test. Master every scenario below — these questions will be on your exam.
| Signal | What You Must Do |
|---|---|
| Solid GREEN | Proceed — but yield to traffic already in intersection |
| Solid YELLOW | Prepare to stop if safe; proceed only if stopping would be dangerous |
| Solid RED | Stop completely; may turn right on red after stop and yield (unless posted) |
| GREEN ARROW | Protected turn — oncoming traffic must stop. You may turn in the arrow's direction, but still yield to vehicles and pedestrians already in the intersection. |
| YELLOW ARROW | Protected turn is ending — prepare to yield or stop |
| Flashing YELLOW ARROW | Unprotected turn — you MAY turn but MUST yield to oncoming and pedestrians |
| Flashing RED | Treat exactly like a STOP sign — stop, yield, proceed when safe |
| Flashing YELLOW | Caution — slow down and proceed carefully. Do not need to stop. |
| RED + GREEN ARROW | Stop for through traffic; turn in direction of arrow only |
| Signal NOT working | Treat as ALL-WAY STOP — all traffic stops |
DWI questions appear on virtually every DPS knowledge test. Know the BAC levels, implied consent law, and penalties. Texas uses "DWI" (Driving While Intoxicated).
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| BAC of 0.08%+ (driver 21+) | DWI — 1st conviction: fine up to $2,000, 72 hours to 180 days in jail, license suspended 90–365 days. 2nd DWI: up to $4,000. 3rd+: up to $10,000 and 2–10 years in TDCJ. DWI with child under 15: state jail felony (Chapter 10). |
| Loss of normal use of faculties | A person can be charged with DWI even below 0.08% BAC if alcohol or drugs have caused the loss of normal use of mental or physical faculties. Texas has two legal definitions of intoxication (Ch. 10). |
| Test refusal (Implied Consent) | You can lose your driver's license. Texas law compels you to submit to a breath or blood test when requested by an officer after a DWI arrest. Refusal triggers an ALR suspension of 180 days (1st) or up to 2 years (subsequent) (Ch. 10). |
| BAC — any detectable amount (under 21 — Zero Tolerance) | DUI by a Minor — Class C misdemeanor, up to $500 fine, 20–40 hours community service, mandatory alcohol awareness course. License suspended 60+ days (Ch. 10, Table 29). |
| Minor purchasing or possessing alcohol (under 21) | Driving privileges suspended, revoked, or disqualified in addition to other penalties (Ch. 10). |
| DWI — causing death (Intoxication Manslaughter) | Second degree felony — up to $10,000 fine and 2–20 years in TDCJ. Intoxication Assault causing serious bodily injury = third degree felony. Both require mandatory incarceration (Ch. 10). |
School bus rules are heavily tested. In Texas, you must stop for a school bus from EITHER direction when it displays alternately flashing red lights. You are NOT required to stop when the bus is on a different road, or when on a controlled-access highway where the bus is stopped in a loading zone and pedestrians are not permitted to cross (Ch. 4).
| Location | Minimum Clearance |
|---|---|
| Fire hydrant | 15 feet — do not park within 15 ft (Ch. 7) |
| Stop sign / yield sign / flashing signal / traffic control device | 30 feet — do not park within 30 ft of these (Ch. 7) |
| Pedestrian safety zone | 30 feet — do not park within 30 ft of a pedestrian safety zone (Ch. 7) |
| Crosswalk at intersection | 20 feet — do not park within 20 ft of a crosswalk at an intersection (Ch. 7) |
| Railroad crossing | 50 feet — do not park within 50 ft of a railroad crossing (Ch. 7) |
| Fire station driveway | 20 feet on the same side of the street / 75 feet on the opposite side of the street (Ch. 7) |
| Driveway entrance (public or private) | Not in front of — always prohibited |
| Accessible (handicapped) space | Never — also do not park on the diagonal access lines (Ch. 7) |
| Inside an intersection or on a crosswalk | Never — always illegal |
| Handicapped space (without placard) | Never park here |
| Bridge, overpass, or tunnel | Never — always prohibited (Ch. 7) |
| No Stopping zone | Never stop here, for any reason |
| No Parking zone | No parking — may stop to load/unload |
The rule: always turn wheels so that if the car rolls, it rolls away from traffic or is caught by the curb.
| Situation | Turn Wheels | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Facing DOWNHILL, WITH curb | RIGHT (into curb) | Car rolls into curb and stops |
| Facing DOWNHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
| Facing UPHILL, WITH curb | LEFT (away from curb) | Car rolls back, caught by curb |
| Facing UPHILL, NO curb | RIGHT (away from road) | Car rolls away from traffic |
GDL questions appear on many tests. Know Texas's two-phase Graduated Driver Licensing program, the restrictions in each phase, and the specific ages, hold periods, and curfew hours.
| Equipment | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Headlights (on) | 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise. Also any time individuals or vehicles cannot be seen clearly for at least 1,000 feet. Use low beams in fog, heavy rain, sleet, snow, or dust. Parking lights are for parked vehicles only — illegal to drive with parking lights only (Chapter 9). |
| High beams (dim) | Dim within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. Use low beams when following within 300 feet of another vehicle. Also in fog, heavy rain, sleet, snow, or dust (Chapter 9) |
| Horn | Use when needed to prevent a crash. Do NOT use to express anger, greet friends, or encourage others to move. Avoid around blind pedestrians and animal-drawn vehicles (Ch. 6) |
| Turn signals | Signal continuously during the last 100 feet before turning — Texas uses one single standard for all speeds (Ch. 6) |
| Tinted windows | For the skills test, vehicles with window tint darker than 25% on the front or darker than 10% on the back will be denied (Ch. 1). Tinting must not obstruct the driver's view to the front, left, right, or rear. |
| TVs / video screens visible to driver | Prohibited while vehicle is in motion (navigation is excepted) |
| Muffler | Must prevent excessive or unusual noise |
| Brakes | Foot brake must stop the car within 25 feet at 20 mph. Parking brake must be adequate to stop and hold the car (Ch. 2, Table 11) |
| Wipers | Must adequately clean the windshield when used |
| Tail lights / rear reflector | At least one red tail light visible from 500 feet |
| Tires | Must be in proper and safe condition with a minimum tread depth of 2/32 of an inch (Ch. 2, Table 11) |
| Hazard lights | For use when parked/stopped in an emergency — not while driving normally |
| Seat belts & child restraints | All drivers and passengers regardless of age must use safety belts — primary enforcement. Fine: $25–$50. Any child under 8 years old must be in a federally approved child safety seat, unless the child is more than 4'9" tall. Fine for unsecured child: $25–$250 (Ch. 14, Table 37). |
A proven 4-phase approach that builds real understanding — not just memorization. Work through each phase at your own pace, and you'll walk into the DPS ready to pass on your first try.
| Your Score | Status | What to Do Next |
|---|---|---|
| Under 75% | Needs more work | Go back to Phase 3 — run Weak Spots mode on your wrong answers. Re-read the Study Guide for those topics. Then try the simulator again. |
| 75% – 89% | Almost there | Run Weak Spots on what you missed, then take the simulator again. You're close — one more round should get you there. |
| 90%+ | Ready! 🎉 | Run the simulator one more time to confirm. Score 90%+ twice → you are ready for the real test. |
Before you walk into the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) office:
30 questions · need 70% (about 21 correct) · you can miss up to 9 and still pass
Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) · Revised January 2026 · Published by Texas DPS
Download Official Manual →Source: Texas DPS · Free download
We've distilled the official manual into 12 focused study sections. Every number, rule, and fact verified against the handbook. Click any topic to start studying.
Texas is the only state in the country where the DPS knowledge exam passes at 70% instead of 80%. On a roughly 30-question test that means you can miss up to nine questions and still walk out with a permit — a wider margin than Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, or any of the other 46 states using the 80% standard. Our simulator mirrors that 70% threshold exactly, so your practice score is the score you'll actually need at the DPS office.
Every fact on this page is verified against the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7, Revised January 2026) published by the Texas Department of Public Safety. That's important because the DL-7 has several rules that trip up drivers who studied generic national material: the two-tier following distance (2 seconds at 30 mph or below, 4 seconds above 30 mph), the two-phase GDL structure (Learner License then Provisional — Texas does not use an "Intermediate" phase), the midnight-to-5 AM Phase 2 curfew, and the $125 Administrative License Revocation reinstatement fee after a BAC test failure or refusal.
Texas law also carves out penalties you won't see in other state manuals. DWI with a child passenger under 15 is a state jail felony carrying up to $10,000 in fines and 180 days to 2 years. Intoxication assault is a third-degree felony (2–10 years TDCJ), and intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony (2–20 years). Minimum liability insurance is $30,000 / $60,000 / $25,000 — the "30/60/25" numbers you'll see on the test. New Texas residents have 90 days to exchange an out-of-state license, and the license itself is valid for 8 years with an in-person renewal required every 16 years.
This practice test is built for drivers studying at DPS offices in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Lubbock, Laredo, and every smaller Texas town with a Driver License Office. No signup, no paywall — just the real DL-7 rules, the real 70% threshold, and a question bank sized to cover everything the DPS examiner can ask.
Texas study guides: New 2026 laws · Most-missed questions · DWI laws · Right-of-way rules · Parking rules · School bus rules · Cell phone law · Provisional license rules · Behind-the-wheel practice log · Adult vs teen test · REAL ID 2026 · DPS appointment · Drive test · New resident transfer · Senior renewal (79+) · Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) · Parent-taught driver ed · DPS Driver License Offices · Online license renewal · Adult driver ed (18–24) · DPS glossary | Topic quizzes · By city
Permit rules vary between states. If you or someone you're helping is testing in a different state, we have free practice tests verified against each state's current manual:
Arkansas · Louisiana · New Mexico · Oklahoma
The Texas permit test has 30 multiple-choice questions. You must answer at least 21 correctly to pass, meaning you can miss no more than 9. Questions are drawn from the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) and cover traffic laws, road signs, safe driving practices, alcohol and drug laws, and right-of-way rules.
You need a 70% score to pass the Texas permit test — 21 correct out of 30. Texas has one of the lowest passing thresholds in the country; most other states require 80%. Score below 70% and the result is recorded as a fail; you must retake the test before applying for your learner license.
You can miss up to 9 questions on the Texas permit test and still pass. The exam is 30 questions and the passing score is 70%, so 21 correct earns you a pass. A 10th wrong answer drops you below the threshold and the test counts as a fail.
The Texas DPS knowledge test gives you about one hour total, typically delivered as two 30-minute sections covering road signs and traffic laws. There is no penalty for using the full time. Most well-prepared test-takers finish in 20 to 30 minutes.
If you fail the Texas DPS knowledge test, you must wait at least 24 hours before retaking it. You're allowed up to 3 attempts during a 90-day application window. After 3 failures or once 90 days pass, you must submit a new application and pay the fee again to restart the process.
The Texas knowledge test itself is included in the learner license application fee — there's no separate per-attempt charge at DPS offices. The standard application fee is $16 for applicants under 18 and $33 for applicants 18 and older. Free online practice tests like this one let you study at no cost before paying for the real exam.
You can apply for a Texas learner license starting at age 15. Applicants between 15 and 17 must complete at least the first 6 classroom hours of a state-approved driver education course before applying, and a parent or legal guardian must accompany them to the DPS office to give written consent.
Yes — teens under 18 must enroll in a state-approved driver education course and complete at least the first 6 classroom hours before applying for a Texas learner license. Applicants 18 to 24 must complete a 6-hour adult driver education course before getting a license. Applicants 25 and older are exempt from driver's ed.
Adults 25 and older are not required to take a driver education course in Texas and can go straight to the DPS office to take the knowledge and skills tests. Adults aged 18 to 24 must first complete a 6-hour state-approved adult driver education course, which often includes the written knowledge test as part of the program.
To apply for a Texas learner license, bring proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), two documents proving Texas residency, your Social Security number, and — for teens under 18 — a signed Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form from your school plus a driver education completion certificate.
The Texas learner license application fee is $16 for applicants under 18 and $33 for adult Class C applicants. A replacement license costs $11. Driver education course fees are separate and vary by provider — teen programs typically run $75 to $400, and the required 6-hour adult course costs around $35 to $50.
Adults 18 and older can take the Texas knowledge test online through a state-approved adult driver education course, which builds the written test into its 6-hour curriculum. Teens must take the permit test in person at a DPS office or as part of a certified teen driver education program. Free practice tests can be taken anywhere but do not replace the official DPS exam.
A Texas learner license is valid until your 18th birthday. You must hold the permit for at least 6 months and be at least 16 years old before you can apply for a provisional license. Permit holders under 18 may renew the permit in person at a DPS office before it expires.
Texas requires teens to hold a learner license for at least 6 months and be 16 or older before taking the road test for a provisional license. During that time, you must log 30 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel practice, including 10 hours at night, with a licensed adult 21 or older in the front passenger seat.
The Texas permit test covers traffic laws, road signs and signals, safe driving practices, alcohol and drug awareness, right-of-way rules, speed limits, signaling, parking, school zones, and Texas-specific topics such as Move Over / Slow Down and the Driver Responsibility laws. All questions are drawn from the Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7, Revised January 2026).
Yes — road signs make up a significant portion of the Texas permit test. You will be asked to identify warning signs (yellow diamonds), regulatory signs (white squares), guide signs (green), and construction signs (orange). The test focuses on shape, color, and meaning, so you often must recognize a sign without reading the words on it.
The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Texas is 0.08% for drivers 21 and older. A first DWI conviction can carry a fine of up to $2,000, 72 hours to 180 days in jail, and a 90- to 365-day driver license suspension. Commercial drivers face a stricter 0.04% limit while operating a commercial vehicle.
Texas has a Zero Tolerance law — any detectable amount of alcohol in a driver under 21 is illegal, even below 0.08%. A first offense is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500, a 60-day driver license suspension, 20 to 40 hours of community service, and a mandatory alcohol-awareness course.
Texas uses a two-tier following-distance rule. At speeds of 30 mph or less, maintain at least 2 seconds between your vehicle and the one ahead. Above 30 mph, increase the gap to 4 seconds. Pick a fixed point such as a sign or overpass, and count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two" after the car ahead passes it.
Texas law requires headlights on from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and any time visibility drops below 1,000 feet — in rain, fog, snow, or dust. Dim your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 300 feet when following another vehicle from behind.
Texas posted speed limits typically run 30 mph on urban streets, 60 mph on unnumbered rural highways, and 70 mph on numbered highways and most interstates. Some rural Texas interstates are posted at 75 or 80 mph, and a stretch of State Highway 130 between Austin and Seguin is posted at 85 mph — the highest in the United States.
All Texas drivers are prohibited from texting or reading texts while driving. Drivers under 18 may not use any wireless communication device — including hands-free — except in emergencies. Use of any device in a school zone is banned for all drivers. Texting fines range from $25 to $99 for a first offense, and up to $200 for repeat offenses.
A Texas provisional license holder (under 18) may not drive between midnight and 5:00 AM unless the trip is for work, a school-related activity, or a medical emergency. The curfew applies until the driver turns 18, when the provisional license expires and an unrestricted Class C driver license takes effect.
A Texas provisional license holder under 18 may not have more than one passenger under 21 in the vehicle who is not a family member. The rule applies at all hours. Violating this passenger restriction is a moving violation that can extend the provisional license restrictions and add points to the driver's record.
A first DWI conviction in Texas carries a fine of up to $2,000, jail time of 72 hours to 180 days, a 90- to 365-day driver license suspension, and a state surcharge. A 6-day mandatory minimum applies if the offense involved an open container. With a child passenger under 15, the charge becomes a state jail felony with a fine up to $10,000.