How to Get Texas Drivers License From Out of State

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you are wondering how to get Texas drivers license from out of state, start here: adults 18 and older with a valid out-of-state license do not need adult driver education, ITAD, or the knowledge and skills tests. DPS also gives that exemption to a license “not expired over two years,” and you may drive on your old license for up to 90 days after moving. You still apply at DPS, surrender the old license, take the vision test and register your vehicles with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Key Facts

Grace period: up to 90 days on your valid out-of-state license after moving. See the 90-day window.
Exempt from ADE: adults 18+ with a valid license, or one expired two years or less. See who is exempt.
Still required: the DPS application, documents, vision test and surrender of the old license. See the steps.
Expired over two years: ages 18 to 24 take the adult course, and everyone takes all the exams. See when you need the course.
Vehicles: register them with TxDMV before you apply. See vehicles.

The 90-Day Window

You do not have to stop driving the day you move. DPS’s Moving to Texas page says you may drive on a valid, unexpired license “for up to 90-days after moving to Texas.”

That covers licenses from another U.S. state, a U.S. territory, a Canadian province or a qualifying country. Use those 90 days to gather documents and book a DPS appointment.

If you are used to a DMV, note that Texas splits the job. Texas DPS, the Department of Public Safety, issues driver licenses, and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) handles vehicle registration.

Who Is Exempt

Two official sources set the exemption. They overlap, but they are not worded the same.

The statute. Transportation Code § 521.1601, in Chapter 521, requires a driver education certificate for applicants under 25. Subsection (b) says the section “does not apply to a person who holds a valid driver’s license issued by another state.”

DPS. The Moving to Texas page goes a step further for adults 18 and older. If your out-of-state license is valid or “not expired over two years,” DPS says “you are exempt from the knowledge and skills exams, as well as the ITD and adult driver education requirements.”

So a valid license, or one expired two years or less, means no adult course and no ITAD. You also skip the knowledge and driving tests.

How to Get Texas Drivers License From Out of State: The Steps

Here is the path for an exempt adult, based on DPS’s moving and apply pages:

Register your vehicles with TxDMV. DPS says to do this before you apply for a license.
Book an appointment at txdpsscheduler.com. DPS services are by appointment.
Fill out form DL-14A, the license application.
Bring your documents. That means proof of citizenship or lawful presence, Texas residency and identity, plus your Social Security number.
Show insurance and registration. DPS asks for proof of insurance for each vehicle you own, or a statement that you own none, plus Texas vehicle registration.
Surrender your out-of-state license. DPS says you “must surrender” it.
Give your signature, thumbprints and a photo, and pay the fee. DPS lists $33 for a new license at ages 18 to 84.
Pass the vision test.

After you finish, DPS issues a temporary license. DPS says the card “will typically arrive by mail within 2-3 weeks.”

Steps for a new Texas resident with a valid out-of-state license, from registering vehicles with TxDMV to the vision test at DPS

Booking Within the 90 Days

Book early so you finish inside the 90-day window. DPS says appointments can be booked up to six months ahead. Arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before your time, and know that you are cancelled if you are more than 30 minutes late.

Office kiosks can book a same-day slot if one is open. For current availability by office, check the DPS wait-times report. Our appointment guide covers the booking rules.

After You Apply

The Texas Driver Handbook says you may use the temporary license for 45 days or until your card arrives. If the card has not come in 45 days, contact DPS customer service.

You can also track it on DPS’s Where Is My Driver License page.

Residency Proof for New Residents

DPS asks for two printed documents that show your name and Texas home address. Its residency page says one must normally show 30 days of Texas residency.

That 30-day rule is not needed when you surrender a valid out-of-state license. Bills and statements must be dated within 180 days. Our documents guide lists what counts.

When You Still Need the Course

The exemption has an edge. If your out-of-state license expired more than two years ago, the DPS exemption does not apply. The statute’s exemption covers only a valid license.

DPS rule 37 TAC 15.55 says applicants with no license, or one expired more than two years, take the vision, knowledge and skills exams. If you are 18 to 24, you also need the six-hour adult course.

Out-of-state classes do not help here. The TDLR student FAQ says, “Out of state hours do not transfer to Texas.” It tells students to enroll in a Texas program.

Your Situation at a Glance

Here is how the official rules sort new residents 18 and older:

Your out-of-state license	Adult course	ITAD	Knowledge and driving tests
Valid	Not required	Not required	Not required
Expired two years or less	Not required (DPS)	Not required	Not required
Expired over two years, age 18 to 24	Required	Required	Required
Expired over two years, age 25 or older	Not required	Required	Required
Never held one, age 18 to 24	Required	Required	Required

Everyone in the table takes the vision test. Ages 25 and older have no driver education requirement under DPS’s apply page. Our over-25 guide covers that group.

If You Need ITAD

If you are not exempt, you take ITAD before the driving test. The ITAD FAQ says it is free and should come after the adult course.

Its certificate is valid for 90 days, and you must print it. It needs a desktop or laptop with Chrome or Firefox.

Licenses From Other Countries

The Moving to Texas page has a separate rule for some countries. Holders of a valid, unexpired license from these places may have the exams waived:

France
Germany
South Korea
The United Arab Emirates
Taiwan

If you keep your foreign license instead of surrendering it, DPS says you must still take the exam. A license that is not in English or Spanish must be translated by a translation service or your consulate before you arrive. For other countries, ask DPS what applies to you.

Military Members and Families

DPS lists two more exemptions. Active-duty service members, and people discharged in the last 90 days, may be exempt from the knowledge and skills exams with an expired out-of-state license. They need a valid military ID and proof of the issuing state’s military extension policy.

Members of a NATO country’s force or civilian component who present validating orders are exempt from both exams.

Register Your Vehicles

Your car needs Texas plates too. The Moving to Texas page tells new residents to make sure all vehicles are registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles before applying for a license.

DPS’s apply page lists Texas vehicle registration as an item to bring. It notes this “applies to new residents who are surrendering an out-of-state driver license only.”

A License or an ID, Not Both

If you got a Texas ID card first, you will give it up. DPS’s REAL ID page says Texas law “only permits a person to hold a driver license or identification card, but not both.”

The apply page says, “If you already have a Texas ID, you will need to surrender it.” Our ID vs license guide compares the two cards.

Drivers Under 18

Teens follow different rules. DPS says teens with a valid out-of-state license or learner’s license do not take the knowledge exam, but all applicants under 18 must pass the skills exam. See the DPS Moving to Texas page for the full teen rules.

The same page says a Texas learner license must be held at least six months or until age 18. Teens moving with a learner license must still complete ITD and pass the skills exam to move up to a provisional license.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the DPS pages we checked on October 26, 2026, the Moving to Texas page used the phrase “not expired over two years” for the adult exemption. The statute’s exemption names only a “valid” license.

The page did not cover vehicle inspection or commercial licenses. It also did not list the documents in full, so use DPS’s document pages for that.

Special cases for new Texas residents: reciprocity countries, foreign licenses not in English or Spanish, military members and NATO forces

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from a DPS page, rule or Texas law:

Waiting past 90 days. That is the limit for driving on your old license.
Taking a course you do not need. A valid out-of-state license means no adult course.
Counting out-of-state class hours. TDLR says they do not transfer.
Forgetting vehicle registration. DPS says to register with TxDMV before you apply.
Keeping your old license. DPS says you must surrender it.
Letting it lapse too long. Expired over two years, the exemption ends.

How Requirements Can Vary

Texas driver license rules come from state law, Texas DPS rules and TDLR rules, and they apply statewide. What you need still depends on your age, whether you hold a license from another state, and which tests you have already passed.

Laws, fees and office procedures can change. Check the Texas DPS and TDLR websites for current rules before you book an appointment or enroll in a course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do new Texas residents need adult driver education?

Not if you are 18 or older with a valid out-of-state license. DPS also exempts a license not expired over two years. Without one of those, ages 18 to 24 take the course.

How long can I drive on my old license in Texas?

DPS says up to 90 days after moving, if the license is valid and unexpired. Apply for a Texas license within that time.

Do I take the written or driving test when I move?

Not if your license is valid or expired two years or less and you are 18 or older. You still take the vision test at DPS.

What if my license expired more than two years ago?

DPS rules say you take the vision, knowledge and skills exams. If you are 18 to 24, you also need the six-hour adult course and ITAD.

Do I have to give up my out-of-state license?

Yes. DPS says you must surrender it when you apply. Holders of a license from a reciprocity country who keep it must take the exam instead.

Do I need ITAD as a new resident?

Not if you are 18 or older with a valid license, or one not expired over two years. DPS exempts you from ITD.

Do I need 30 days of Texas residency first?

Not if you surrender a valid out-of-state license. DPS still asks for two printed residency documents with your name and Texas address.

Where do I register my car?

With the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), not DPS. DPS says to do this before you apply for your license.

Conclusion

How to get Texas drivers license from out of state depends on your old license. If it is valid, or expired two years or less, you skip the adult course, ITAD and the knowledge and driving tests.

Register your vehicles, then surrender your license at DPS within 90 days. If you do need the course, see Driving Logic’s online Texas adult driver education course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Texas and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas driver license and driver education rules are set by Texas law, Texas DPS and TDLR, and they can change. Check the official DPS and TDLR websites for current requirements before you apply.