Texas Permit Application Forms: Which to Use and How to Fill It Out

The Texas DPS driver's license permit application form number is DL-14A for applicants 17 years 10 months or older. Teens under 17 years 10 months must use DL-14B. Both forms handle learner permits, full licenses, renewals, and ID cards.

DL-14A vs DL-14B - Which Form You Actually Need

Use only the form that matches your age. Both are available from Texas DPS and can be completed before the office visit.

Filling Out the Texas Permit Application Correctly

Complete the form using black or blue ink. Provide accurate information to avoid perjury charges, which carry penalties up to a $4,000 fine or jail time.

1. Application Type: Select 'Original' for a new learner permit and 'Class C' for a standard car license.
2. Personal Information: Enter your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), height, weight, eye and hair color. This must match your birth certificate or passport exactly.
3. Contact Details: Provide your Texas residence address. You cannot use a P.O. box. You will need two proofs of Texas residency, like utility bills.
4. Required Questions: Answer questions on U.S. citizenship, voter registration, veteran status, health conditions, and organ donor status. Males 18-25 automatically register for Selective Service.
5. Medical History: Disclose any conditions affecting safe driving, such as seizures, diabetes, or vision issues. DPS may require a DL-101 medical form for health disclosures.
6. Driver History: List any prior licenses or permits from other states.
7. Certification and Signature: Sign and date the form in ink at the DPS office. Do not sign it early.

Teens under 18 must also provide a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form from their school and a DE-964 driver education certificate. The VOE must be dated within 30 days of your DPS visit, or within 90 days during summer break.

What if my mailing address and residential address are different?

Enter each one in the field provided. DL-14A and DL-14B have separate residence and mailing-address sections. Your residence address should reflect where you actually live in Texas; the mailing address is where DPS correspondence or the card can be sent if it is different.

Parent Signatures: What They Can and Cannot Do

The applicant must sign and certify the application. A parent or guardian can help complete the paperwork but should not replace the applicant's required signature.

If the applicant is under 18, parent or guardian authorization is still required unless a valid exception applies. The form itself depends on age: DL-14B for applicants under 17 years 10 months; DL-14A for applicants 17 years 10 months or older.

Correcting Mistakes - Free at the Counter, $11 After Issuance

Errors caught at the DPS counter before your permit prints are corrected free. After the permit is issued, corrections require a new visit, an age-appropriate replacement application (DL-14B if under 17 years 10 months; DL-14A otherwise), and the applicable replacement fee.

Mistakes on Form DL-14A or DL-14B can happen. Texas DPS provides clear processes to correct them.

• Name errors: Spelling must match your birth certificate exactly. A teen in Austin had his application rejected because 'Jonathon' was written instead of the legal 'Jonathan' on his birth certificate.
• Date of birth incorrect: Impacts age verification. An applicant in Houston wrote 2008 instead of 2007, delaying her permit issuance.
• Social Security number wrong: A Dallas applicant transposed two digits, causing a system flag and a 45-minute delay while clerks verified his identity.
• Missing parent signature: A family in San Antonio had to reschedule because the father, who was traveling, had not notarized his signature on the DL-14B.

For a correction after issuance, use the age-appropriate replacement application and bring the proof DPS requires for the specific change. For a standard in-office replacement, DPS requires the replacement application and one proof of identity; citizenship/lawful-presence or SSN documents are additionally needed if DPS does not already have them on file. A legal name change requires original or certified proof of the change. The standard replacement fee is $11.

What if my information changes after I fill out the form but before my DPS appointment? Correct the information before you submit the application. If DPS has already started the transaction, tell the license and permit specialist about the change before the credential is issued so the record can be reviewed before printing.

Online vs. Paper: How to Submit Your Application

Forms DL-14A and DL-14B are available online. You can complete it digitally, but you must print it and bring the paper copy to your DPS appointment.

There is no option to submit it electronically. You can also complete a paper form at the DPS office.

The form itself does not have an expiration date, but the information on it must be current. Your Texas residency proofs must be recent, typically from within the last 90 days. Download the VOE form template from your school or see Texas learner's license requirements for teens.

Do I need a new DL-14A or DL-14B if my DPS appointment is rescheduled?

If you only filled out a current paper form and have not submitted it, you can generally use it at the rescheduled appointment as long as the information is still accurate. Once an application is submitted, the form states that DPS holds applications for 90 days. If your return falls outside that period, use a new current form.

Can I use an older printed version of DL-14A or DL-14B?

Use the current version listed on the Texas DPS forms page. DPS updates these forms, so an old copy can contain outdated fields or instructions. Before your appointment, compare the revision you printed with the current DPS driver-license forms list.

Final Checks Before You Submit the Form

• Use DL-14B only if you are under 17 years 10 months; use DL-14A once you are 17 years 10 months or older.
• Make sure your legal name and date of birth match your identity documents.
• Do not sign the certification early when the form instructs you to sign in front of the authorized official or notary.
• If you make a mistake before submission, correct the form clearly rather than submitting conflicting information.