Texas Permit Test Locations: DPS Offices, Driving Schools, High School Programs, and Kiosks

You can take the Texas learner's permit knowledge test at Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) driver license offices, certified driver education schools, high schools through approved programs, or select self-service kiosks.

Where You Can Take the Texas Permit Knowledge Test

Over 350 DPS locations statewide offer this service. Use the official Texas DPS Find a Location tool to confirm knowledge testing availability at nearby offices.

DPS driver license offices, also called License Service Centers or Mega Centers, administer the knowledge test for learner permits. Avoid Title Check Stations, which only handle vehicle titles and registrations.

• DPS Offices: The main locations for permit testing. Not all offices provide testing, select locations specifically offering 'Knowledge Testing' when booking appointments online.
• Third-Party Testers: Certified TDLR driver education schools can proctor the knowledge test as part of their courses; results appear on your Certificate of Completion, exempting you from retesting at DPS.
• High Schools & Kiosks: High schools with TDLR-approved programs may proctor tests for enrolled students. Self-service kiosks at select H-E-B or Walmart locations offer knowledge testing in limited areas.

Schedule appointments through DPS Driver License Services to avoid long waits. Teens must provide a VOE form for school enrollment proof.

• Appointment vs. Walk-in: A walk-in applicant at the Dallas Mega Center on a Monday morning may face a 4-hour wait and risk missing the cut-off time for testing, while someone with an appointment at the Pflugerville center is often in and out within an hour.
• Documentation Errors: A teen applicant at the San Antonio Pat Booker office was turned away for only providing one proof of residency instead of the required two, forcing a reschedule weeks later.
• Testing Availability: An applicant in Fort Worth assumed all offices offered testing and traveled to the Westside location only to find it was a Title Check Station, wasting an entire afternoon. Always filter for 'Knowledge Testing' on the DPS tool.

Online Testing: Available for Adults, Not Minors

No, you cannot take the official Texas learner permit knowledge test online from home if you are a minor under 18.

The Texas DPS requires teens aged 15-17 to complete the 30-question knowledge test in person for identity verification and proctoring. However, adults 18+ can take equivalent online tests through TDLR-approved driver education providers after completing required courses.

• Eligibility: Adults aged 18-24 must complete a 6-hour adult driver education course before testing online. Those 25+ can test without a course but often choose online options for convenience.
• Tech Specs: Tests require a desktop/laptop with webcam, microphone, Chrome/Firefox browser, and stable internet (700 kbps+ upload/download); tablets/phones are not allowed.
• Process: Providers monitor via webcam recording and screen sharing. Internet disconnection pauses the test, requiring a restart.

Complete the DL-14A Driver License Application before visiting any location to avoid form errors at the counter. Having all required documents ready saves you from repeat visits.

The Test Is Computer-Based - What That Means in Practice

Yes, the knowledge test for a learner's permit is administered on a computer at DPS offices and other authorized locations.

• Format: 30 questions with a 70% pass rate required.
• Procedure: Questions are presented one at a time on a computer terminal.
• Environment: Tests are taken at the designated location under supervision.

Study using the free Texas Driver Handbook and take timed practice tests in a quiet room to simulate DPS conditions. The $16 learner permit fee includes the knowledge test and vision screening and is nonrefundable.

Bring a backup form of payment (like a second card or check) to your DPS appointment. Card reader failures at busy offices like Houston Gessner have caused applicants to lose their appointment slot and be sent to the back of the line. Check testing center hours before you go to avoid showing up when they're closed for lunch or end-of-day processing.