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Texas DPS Learners Permit
Your Guide to Getting a Texas Learner's Permit
Ready to get behind the wheel and start exploring Arlington and the rest of Texas? Awesome! Getting your learner’s permit is the first big step which you need to take before going behind the wheel, and it can feel like there are a lot of hoops to jump through.
Don’t worry, we will keep it simple and Arlington Driving Academy will guide you through everything you need to know. We will cover who is eligible, what paperwork you will need, what the learners permit test is like, and what comes next.
Who is eligible for a Texas Learner’s Permit and the required documents?
In Texas you can apply for your Texas learner's permit at the age of 15. Before you head to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) office, let us run through a quick checklist to make sure you have everything.
Driver's Ed Certificate DE-964
This is the golden ticket. It is the official form from a Texas state-approved driving school like Arlington Driving Academy that will proves, you have completed the required classroom portion of your driver's education.
Proof You're in School (VOE)
If you are under 18, the Texas state wants to make sure you are still enrolled and attending school. The office at your school can give you a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form.
Identity Proof
You will be asked to prove your identity, such as with your birth certificate or passport that shows you are a Texas resident, such as your utility bill or bank statement showing your address and provide your Social Security number.
A Quick Vision Test
This is not a big deal. They do this right there at the DPS office and it is just to make sure you will be able to see the road clearly.
The most stressful part for most is getting all that paperwork together. That is why here at Arlington Driving Academy, we offer a pre-check service to assess your documents. We will catch those missing signatures or the incorrect filled forms, so you do not get turned away after you have waited in line.
What to Expect on the Test Day
The big event is the DPS knowledge test. But don’t let the word “test” intimidate you.
It is a simple multiple choice test, and you only have to answer 30 questions and out of those 30 questions, you only need to get 21 right (that’s 70%) to pass.
Have it online in an DPS-approved classroom setting or in person at the DPS, whichever you prefer. And also, you can take the test in either English or Spanish.
What's on the Test and How do we prepare our students?
The Texas learner's permit test is not about tricky questions but rather is about practical knowledge you will find yourself using every single day. Here is a breakdown of the topics and what they really mean..
Traffic Signs and Signals
This is more than knowing a red stop sign. It is about instantly recognizing stop signs, yield, warning signs, school zones, and lane-use signals by their shape and color from a distance. We use photos of real signs from around Arlington, so you will know exactly what to expect.
Texas Road Rules
Who has the right-of-way? How and when to change lanes, turning rules, and when to use your headlights. We also teach common speed limits around DFW highway. This section covers all the basic driving rules that include keeping speed limits near school zones to 20–25 mph. You will also understand why it is 30 mph in most residential areas but can be up to 70 mph on the interstate highway.
Safe Driving Habits
This is all about keeping yourself and others safe on streets, and the importance of wearing seatbelts. We will talk about why the "2 to 4 second rule" for following distance is important and how to avoid distractions. You must have heard Texas is very strict about its "no texting while driving" law and you will learn why it matters so much.
Sharing the Road
You are not out there alone on the road, you are sharing the road with school buses, emergency vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. We will cover exactly what to do when you see flashing lights from a fire truck, ambulances, or a school bus.
Handling Emergencies
What do you do if the worst should happen? A tire blows out on the highway, you get involved in a minor accident, or your brakes feel funny. We will provide a simple safe checklist of what to do so that you can handle such surprises calmly, knowing precisely whom to call.
How do Arlington Driving Academy prepare you?
At Arlington Driving Academy, our approach is all about real-world driving. We want you to be a safe driver for life, not just for the test day.
We provide classroom instruction that incorporates local examples, practice tests that help you get a feel for the real DPS test, and one-on-one support offers extra help if you are struggling with a particular topic. We will even help you double-check your paperwork.
Your Test-Day Game Plan
Read the Texas Driver Handbook: It is the official source for every test question. We will even point out the sections that are most important.
Take practice tests: This gets you comfortable getting used to the style of questions and timing and reviewing what you have missed.
Rest Up: A good night’s sleep and a healthy meal will do more for you than late-night cramming.
Arrive Early and Breathe: Give yourself plenty of time, bring all your documents, and read each question carefully. You have got this.
What's Next after You Passed?
Congratulations, you have your learner’s permit! This is your license to learn. Here are the key rules to remember:
- You must always have a licensed adult next to you, who is at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat.
- You must hold your permit for at least six months if you are under 18 before applying for your provisional driver’s license.
- Keep practicing, this is your time to logging driving hours in different conditions at night, in the rain, and in traffic to build your skills for the final road test.
At Arlington Driving Academy we will get you through the leap from permit to a full license with our in-car lessons and road test preparations designed for the Arlington area.
Why Choose Arlington Driving Academy?
While you do your searching for a “DPS driving school near me” in Arlington or Grand Prairie, you want one that is authorized by the DPS and also actually cares about the success of their students.
We know the local roads, we know the test, and first and foremost, we want to build your confidence and safety behind the wheel.
So, are you ready to start your driving journey? Enroll online or come see us at our office. We will be with you in every step of the way in your learning.