How much is a Texas driver license? $33 for 8 years, and the DPS video is free
A new Texas Class C driver license costs $33 at DPS for ages 18 to 84 and is valid 8 years (DPS fee schedule, September 2026). The DPS road-test video is free. At 18 through 24 you also need the six-hour course, the one line a provider prices, and a third-party road test is the one charge you can choose to pay. The table below shows who pays which.
What does each part of getting licensed cost?
The $33 DPS fee is the one charge everyone pays. The rest depends on your age and how you book the road test.
| What | Cost | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|
| DPS license fee, new Class C, ages 18–84 | $33 | Everyone. Valid 8 years. |
| Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) video | Free | Everyone taking a driving skills test. |
| Six-hour adult driver education course | Provider sets it | Required at 18 through 24. Optional at 25+. Ours is $39.95 flat, with the exam and certificate in it. The whole bill. |
| Third-party road test | School sets it | Optional. It buys time and meets no requirement. |
| Limited term license, temporary visitors | $33 | Instead of the standard fee, not on top. |
| Replacement license | $11 | Later, if you lose it. |
DPS offices take credit cards, cash, checks, money orders and tap-to-pay including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Why does the course price vary from one provider to the next?
Texas sets no minimum price for adult driver education, so providers price it freely. It does set one for the driving safety course used to dismiss a ticket.
Check whether the certificate is included before you compare headline numbers. A course advertised cheaply that then charges for the document you need is the oldest trick in this market. Ours is $39.95 flat, with the final exam and the ADE-1317 certificate in it.
Should you pay for a third-party road test?
Only if the DPS queue is your problem. It is optional, and DPS describes the program as one that reduces the time you must wait to take your driving test.
Fees for a drive test administered by a driver education school are not regulated by the Department. Ask the school for its price before you book. Check the wait at your DPS office first.
Common questions
How much is a Texas driver license?
$33 for a new Class C license at ages 18 to 84, valid 8 years. A $1 administrative fee is included in that amount, and is not charged on transactions done by mail.
How much does it cost to get a driver license in Texas in total?
At 18 through 24, the $33 DPS fee plus the six-hour course, which comes to $72.95 with ours at $39.95. At 25 and over the course is optional, so the required cost can be the $33 DPS fee alone. The Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) video is free, and a third-party road test is an optional extra the school prices.
How much does adult drivers ed cost in Texas?
Each provider sets its own price for the adult six-hour course; unlike the driving safety course there is no statutory price floor. Ours is $39.95 with the exam and certificate included. Compare on what is included rather than headline price; a certificate fee added at the end is the usual way a low number stops being low.
Is the Impact Texas Drivers video free?
Yes. Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) is provided by DPS at no charge. It takes about 1 hour and the certificate is valid 90 days.
What does a third-party driving test cost?
Whatever the school charges. Fees for a drive test administered by a driver education school are not regulated by the Department. Ask the school directly.
How much is a replacement Texas license?
$11, and the expiration date does not change.
Do I pay anything for the written or driving test?
No, not separately at DPS. The application fee covers the transaction, including the tests DPS administers. A third-party road test is the exception, because you are paying a private school.
Sources
- Texas DPS, Driver License Fees
- Texas DPS, Third Party Skills Testing Program
- Texas DPS, Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program
Last updated October 13, 2026. Texas rules change; where a page quotes an agency, the agency’s own page governs.
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The one line you shop for
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DPS still charges its $33 license fee and requires the free ITAD video. See the whole bill