Studying the handbook helps - but consistent, state-specific practice makes the real exam feel familiar and easier to handle.
Questions
30
Passing score
70% (21 correct)
Time limit
25 min
Agency
DPS
Free Texas practice test
Try 10 real Texas permit questions
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1 What score do you need to pass the Texas (DPS) knowledge test?
Texas requires 70% (21 of 30 questions) to pass.
2 An emergency or tow vehicle is stopped with flashing lights on a Texas highway. The Move Over / Slow Down law requires you to:
Texas requires you to move over or slow to 20 mph under the posted limit for stopped emergency, tow, and maintenance vehicles.
3 You're driving at night on a dark Texas farm road. You should:
Never outdrive your headlights — keep a speed at which you can stop within the lit distance.
4 What is the shape of a STOP sign?
Only the STOP sign is an octagon. The unique 8-sided shape lets drivers recognize it even when snow or dirt hides the wording.
5 A solid yellow line on your side of the center line means:
A solid yellow line on your side means you may not cross it to pass. A broken yellow line on your side would allow passing when safe.
6 Under good conditions, the minimum safe following distance is about:
Use the 3-second rule: pick a fixed point, and you should pass it at least 3 seconds after the car ahead. Add more time in rain, fog, or at higher speeds.
7 A triangular (downward-pointing) sign tells you to:
A downward triangle is always a YIELD sign. Slow down, be ready to stop, and give the right-of-way to traffic and pedestrians already in the intersection.
8 When a traffic light is flashing red, you must:
A flashing red light has the same meaning as a STOP sign: come to a full stop, then proceed only when it is safe.
9 In fog, the safest headlights to use are:
High beams reflect off fog and reduce visibility. Use low beams (and fog lights if equipped), and slow down.
10 A school bus ahead stops and turns on its flashing red lights on an undivided road. You must:
On an undivided road, traffic in BOTH directions must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and remain stopped until the lights are turned off.
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This is just a 10-question taster. The Texas app has hundreds of questions,
full-length timed exams, a road-sign trainer, and a readiness score that tells you when you're ready to pass.
Texas’ 2026 permit exam mixes metro churn with ranch road nuance
From Houston’s reversible HOV lanes to Panhandle farm-to-market detours, Texas expects every learner to juggle huge contrasts. The DPS rewrote its handbook after winter storm Uri and the 2024 distracted driving expansion, so the knowledge test now blends frontage-road merges, oilfield truck etiquette, and gulf-coast evacuation rules. Structure your study nights in thirds: city grid practice emphasizing tollway signage and flashing school zone beacons, rural drills targeting FM road shoulders and cattle guards, and night-driving scenarios focusing on slower speed advisories. The app’s Texas-specific explanations cite Transportation Code sections so you can tie each answer back to the statute. End each session with a mini review comparing the GDL curfew to parent-taught log requirements-exactly the kind of crossover question DPS kiosks love.
Lone Star checkpoints before your DPS kiosk session
Score at least 21 correct answers out of 30 within 25 minutes; the kiosk shows a live tally with friendly reminders when you hesitate.
Eight to ten prompts center on multilane frontage roads, slip ramps, and reversible managed lanes-memorize sign colors and merge responsibilities.
Rural questions reference farm-to-market roads, slow-moving vehicle triangles, and two-lane passing with oncoming oilfield trucks.
Night-driving coverage highlights drunk-driving zero tolerance under the Graduated Driver License program and safe responses to stalled vehicles on I-35.
Count on at least one question quoting Texas Transportation Code 545.4251, covering cell phone bans in active school zones unless you are hands-free.
Minimum age
Texas teens may apply for a learner license at 15 with an active driver education enrollment certificate.
Permit fees
$16 learner license fee (covers first knowledge test when paid at check-in).
$11 retest charge each time you sit again at a DPS office or third-party provider.
$11 driving exam fee payable when you schedule the behind-the-wheel assessment.
DPS accepts card, cash, and money orders. Parent-taught applicants may pay online through the PTDE portal prior to visiting a mega-center.
Retest rules
After a failed attempt, wait until the next business day before rebooking. Three consecutive failures require a new application and repayment of the permit fee.
Local statutes to flag
Texas Transportation Code 545.4251 – Wireless device use in school zones and construction areas.
Texas Transportation Code 545.060 – Lane discipline on multi-lane highways and frontage road transitions.
Alcoholic Beverage Code 106.041 – Zero tolerance for minors operating a motor vehicle under influence.
Weather extremes Texas embeds in exam questions
Gulf Coast humidity breeds hydroplaning along I-45, so the test emphasizes speed reduction in standing water and immediate use of low beams. Central Texas storms trigger low-water crossing closures-know the fine for driving around barricades and the “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” guidance. In West Texas, dust storms and 60-mph crosswinds on I-20 demand proper following distance and hazard-light etiquette. Panhandle winters add black ice on overpasses; DPS wants you to recall safe braking techniques and how to exit when a multi-vehicle pileup forms ahead.
Imagine your Houston mega-center test afternoon
You fight Beltway traffic, park early, and snake through the security line with paperwork in hand. After the clerk checks your VOE form, you breeze through the vision screener, drop belongings in a locker, and scan the kiosk tutorial. The countdown begins; you tackle frontage-road prompts first, then the rural farm-to-market question you drilled last night. When a storm-related scenario appears, you remember the Turn Around, Don’t Drown note and tap with confidence.
Regional practice ideas
Keep sharpening your skills after Texas
Keep momentum by comparing how nearby agencies phrase questions, documentation, and retest timelines.
Quick answers to the questions Texas learners search most before exam day.
Can I take the Texas permit test online?
Students in approved parent-taught or instructor-taught programs may complete the exam online through the provider, but must still visit DPS to verify identity and issue the permit.
What happens if my Verification of Enrollment form expires?
VOE forms are valid for 30 days during the school year and 90 days over summer. Secure a fresh copy from your school if it expires before your appointment.
Do I need a Social Security card to test?
Yes. Bring the physical card or an official SSA letter. Without proof of SSN, DPS will not seat you for the knowledge exam.
How long does the Texas learner license last?
Learner licenses remain valid until you turn 18, provided you keep them in good standing and complete the intermediate GDL requirements.
How soon can I schedule the drive test after passing?
Once you meet supervised driving hour requirements (30 daytime, 10 nighttime), you can book the road test immediately-many students aim for two weeks of practice first.
What if I miss my DPS appointment?
Log back into the scheduler, cancel, and rebook. Missed appointments without cancellation may delay rebooking during peak months.
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Other State DMV Practice Tests
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Every page is aligned with Texas Department of Public Safety – Driver License Division guidelines and refreshed for 2026. Use them to cross-check documentation, scoring, and waiting periods.