Question: What is A Learner License?
Answer: A learner license allows a new driver to practice driving before obtaining a provisional license. A learner license expires on the applicant’s 18th birthday and requires a licensed adult 21 years of age or older to occupy the front seat when driving.
Question: Who may apply for a Learner License?
Answer: Individuals may apply who are at least 15 years of age, meet the regular licensing requirements and have completed the required classroom hours of driver education.
Question: What is a Minor Restricted Driver License (MRDL)?
Answer: A minor restricted driver license (MRDL) is commonly referred to as a “hardship” license and may be issued to an individual who establishes the necessity to drive. An MRDL expires on the applicant’s next birthday.
Question: Who may apply for a Minor Restricted Driver License (MRDL)?
Answer: Individuals may apply who are at least 15 years of age, meet the regular licensing requirements, have completed driver education, and have a qualifying hardship.
Question: Does my son / daughter have to go to a driving school or can I teach them myself?
Answer: Individuals under 18 years of age are required to complete a driver education course and present the Texas Driver Education Certificate (DE-964) at the driver license office. When applying for a license, the driving test is required. The knowledge test will be waived if it was completed during the driver education course.
An individual may start the driver education course at 14 years of age but cannot apply for a learner license until he/she is at least 15.
There are three types of driver education for teens:
- A traditional driver education course offered by a driver training school
- Parent-taught driver education (PTDE)
- Driver education offered in public school
Note: Content provided by Texas Department of Public Safety
Question: Where and how can a teen drive?
Answer: With your Junior Learner Permit:
You can drive between the hours of 5 AM and 9 PM and only under the direct supervision from the following eligible supervisors: a parent, guardian, a person “in loco parentis,” a driver education teacher, or a driving school instructor.
The supervisor needs to be at least age 21 and have a valid license for the vehicle you are driving. The vehicle being driven must have dual brakes, and only your supervisor is allowed in the front seat.
You are allowed only one additional passenger under 21 unless the passenger is an immediate relative. However, you can have more than one passenger under age 21 if your supervisor is your licensed parent, guardian, person “in loco parentis”, driver education teacher or driving school instructor. If the issue date on your permit is before February 22, 2010, you can only drive with two additional passengers under 21 unless the passenger is an immediate relative. However, you can have more than two passengers under 21 if your supervisor is your licensed parent, guardian, person “in loco parentis,” driver education teacher or driving school instructor.
Every passenger in the car must wear a seatbelt, and all children under age four must ride in federally-approved child safety seats. Children more than 40 pounds need a proper child restraint system, like a booster seat. Until the age of 8 children need to use a proper child restraint system, and only when children reach more than four feet nine inches tall are they allowed to use a seat belt and shoulder harness.