Students who are 15 or older are eligible to start their driver’s education. While McNeil doesn’t provide a driver’s education course, this quick and easy guide will show students how to obtain a driver’s license. Individuals ages 18 to 25 skip to adult driver’s courses and those between the ages of 15 and 17 go to teen driver’s classes. Students’ age is essential, especially for students who are under the age of 18 and have to go through more paperwork and procedures. 

Teen Drivers

The first step in order to get a driver’s license is to enroll in a driver’s education course. There are a wide variety of courses available. Driver’s courses may be taught by parents, online courses, or at a traditional driver’s school. Teen driver’s education requires 32 hours of classroom instruction. Some courses allow students the ability to start applying for their learner’s permit when they reach six hours of classroom instruction. To start applying for a learner’s permit, students must make an appointment with their local DMV either in person or online. During their appointment, students will need to bring the following documentation in order to apply for their learner’s permit:

• Proof of U.S Citizenship or Lawful Presence, such as a valid US passport or an original/official copy of their birth certificate. Other required documents are listed here.
• Proof of Texas Residency, like an official school report card or transcript. Other documents are listed here.
• Social Security Number, such as an SSN Card or W-2. Other documents are listed here.
• Vehicle Registration for each vehicle owned can be found here. (Not needed if the student doesn’t own a vehicle.) 
• Proof of Insurance for each vehicle owned. (Not needed if the student doesn’t own a vehicle.) 

Proof of identification is a little more complicated. Students need to bring one primary document, two secondary documents, or one secondary and two supporting documents

Students need to bring either one primary identity document, one secondary identity document, or two secondary identity documents, along with two supporting documents. Primary documents include an identification card or a US or Foreign valid passport. Secondary documents are the original or certified copy of a birth certificate. Supporting documents are an SSN card, W-2 form, school report card/transcript, and immunization records, along with others. For a complete list, click here.

Documents students need to bring during the driver’s license appointment:

• Completed the DL-14B Form.
• Present evidence of successful completion of the written driving test.
• Bring verification of enrollment and attendance, such as a school report card. The student must have attended 90% of classes. The student needs to also fill out the VOE form.
• Bring the learner’s permit fee of $16.
• Come with a parent or guardian with proof of their relationship. 

Once completed, the student learner’s permit will come in two to three weeks. To check its status, click here. After receiving their learner’s permit, students can now start practicing with a passenger who holds a driver’s license and is over the age of 21. During their practicing time, students must complete seven hours of observation, along with seven hours of repeating what the instructor showed them. Students will also need to complete 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving, 10 of which are done during the night. Students will also have to complete all 36 hours of classroom instruction. Students will need to hold their learner’s permit for at least six months or once they turn 18, in which case they are able to apply for an adult driver’s license.

Once the practice portion is completed, Students are eligible to apply for a provisional license. Students who hold a provisional license are bound to the conditions as follows:

• Students may not drive between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., except in the case of an emergency. 
• Students may not use any wireless devices, except in the case of an emergency. 
• Students may not drive with more than one passenger that is below the age of 21 unless they are family members.

To apply for a provisional license, students must first make an appointment with the DMV either in person or online. Students need to bring the following documents and meet the following expectations: 

• Complete the D-14B Form before the appointment.
• Come accompanied by a parent or guardian with proof of their relationship. 
• 16 or older.

Same as when you applied for your learner’s permit students need proof of identification. Students need to bring either one primary identity document, two secondary identity documents, or one secondary identity document and two supporting documents. Primary documents are an ID card or US/Foreign valid passport. Secondary documents are the original/certified copy of a birth certificate. Supporting documents are an SSN card, W-2 form, school report card/transcript, Immunization records, etc. For a complete list click here.

• Texas Driver Education certificate of completion 
• Evidence of the completion of the on-the-road driving test if done by a third party
• Completion of the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD). Only valid for 90 days.
• Pay the $16 fee.

If the student wants to do the DMV’s on-the-road driving test, the student needs to make another appointment either in person or online. Here is a checklist that the instructor uses during the test with some other useful information. The following are the requirements stated by the DMV for the on-the-road driving test;

• Valid vehicle Insurance 
• Identification 
• A checklist that the instructor uses during the test with some other useful information. (Not Required to bring to the on-the-road driving test)

Once passed students will receive their pass or fail mark. If the student passed they will receive a temporary license the same day. Students will have their permanent license in two to three weeks. Click here to check the status of the student’s driver’s license. If the student failed they can retake their driving test two more times before applying again with a 90-day grace period. The provisional license expires on the student’s 18th birthday where they are to renew their license within 30 days of expiration to receive their adult driver’s license.  

Adult Drivers

To obtain a driver’s license, people between the ages of 18-25 must complete an adult driver’s education course. There is a wide range of courses available. Usually, courses will take six hours to complete and cost around $30 to $70, depending on which program. Some programs offer the written driver’s exam, but if the course doesn’t offer one, adults may make an appointment at the DMV office either online or in person. Once completed, adults need to print or mail their certificates. They will also need to complete the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program. The program is a free hour-long video designed to show the dangers of distracted driving. Once done, adults will need to print their certification, which is only valid for 90 days.

The next step is to make an appointment at the DMV either in person or through the DMV’s website. At times, the earliest appointment may be months away, so plan ahead of time. Adults will need to bring the following documentation in to apply for their driver’s license:

• Proof of U.S Citizenship or Lawful Presence, such as a valid US passport or an original/official copy of their birth certificate. Other required documents are listed here.
• Proof of Texas Residency, like an official school report card or transcript. Other documents are listed here.
• Social Security Number, such as an SSN Card or W-2. Other documents are listed here.
• Vehicle Registration for each vehicle owned be found here. (Not needed if they do not own a vehicle) 
• Proof of Insurance for each vehicle owned. (Not needed if they do not own a vehicle) 

Proof of identification is a little more complicated. Students need to bring either one primary identity document, two secondary identity documents, or one secondary identity document and two supporting documents. Primary documents are an ID card or US/Foreign valid passport. Secondary documents are the original/certified copy of a birth certificate. Supporting documents are an SSN card, W-2 form, school report card/transcript, Immunization records, etc. For a complete list click here.

• Complete the DL-14A Form before the appointment.
• Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Certification (Only valid for 90 Days)
• Driver’s Course Certification
• Be prepared to pay the application fee of $33 for students older than 18 Click here to see the payment difference.

Once completed, adults will receive a temporary license that allows them to drive with a passenger who holds a driver’s license and is older than 21.  need to make another appointment for their on-the-road driver’s test. Some driving schools may offer in-school on-the-road driver’s tests. Here is a checklist that the instructor uses during the test with some other useful information. If not, make an appointment at the DMV to do their on-the-road test. The following are the items adults must bring for their DMV on-the-road driving test:

• Record of valid vehicle insurance 
• Proof of identity 
• A checklist that the instructor uses during the test with some other useful information. (Not Required to bring to the on-the-road driving test)

Once passed, students will receive their pass or fail marks. If the adult passes, they will receive a temporary license the same day. Click here to check the status of the adult’s driver’s license. If the adult fails, they can retake their driving test two more times before applying again with a 90-day grace period.