Texas Written Driving Test: Languages, Passing Score & What to Expect

Not every new Texan sits for the written knowledge test. If you are transferring a valid U.S. license, DPS may waive the exam entirely. If you are not exempt, you face 30 multiple-choice questions and need 21 right—that is 70% to pass.

Who skips the written exam

DPS often waives the knowledge test when you:

• Hold a valid, unexpired out-of-state Class C license
• Received that license within the last two years
• Are not flagged for suspension, revocation, or medical review

You are more likely to take the test when:

• Your old license expired (even recently)
• You never had a U.S. license
• You are applying under a different class or restriction
• DPS cannot verify your driving record

The waiver pairs with the road test rules on the Moving to Texas page—same two-year, valid-license logic for many transfers.

People often ask: “I drove for ten years in Illinois—why test?” Texas still checks eligibility. The waiver is about license status and timing, not your personal driving history.

Languages at the kiosk

The Class C knowledge exam is computer-based at most offices. Common language choices include:

• English
• Spanish

Additional languages may appear on the station menu depending on location—Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, and others show up in some offices. Not every language runs every day at every site.

A common snag: assuming the clerk will switch language at the window without you asking. Select language when prompted on the screen, or tell staff at check-in if you booked a test-only appointment.

Schedule through the state system; see booking a DPS appointment for picking knowledge test as the service type when that is all you need.

What is on the test

Questions pull from Texas law and the Texas Driver Handbook, including:

• Speed limits (highway, urban, school zones)
• Right-of-way at intersections and four-way stops
• Sign shapes and colors
• Parking on hills and near fire hydrants
• DUI limits, implied consent, and open container rules
• Move Over / Slow Down for stopped emergency vehicles
• Insurance and registration basics tied to driving privileges

Generic “national” quiz apps miss Texas specifics—phone-handling rules and turnpike etiquette differ from other states.

Test day flow

1. Check in for your appointment (or license transfer that includes testing).
2. Provide ID and any paperwork DPS requested.
3. Sit at the testing station—headphones are sometimes available.
4. Finish all 30 questions; you usually learn pass/fail immediately.
5. If you pass and other requirements are done, continue to photo and license issuance. If you fail, ask about retest waiting rules and fees.

Vision screening is separate. Bring glasses if you need them for driving.

If you fail

You can retake after a waiting period DPS sets (ask at the office; rules change). Study the handbook sections you missed—failure printouts sometimes show weak topics.

Retests may carry a fee. Budget time for another appointment; test slots in metros can be 1–3 weeks out.

Pair study with the road test guide if your expired license triggers both exams.

Study plan that works

• Download the current Texas Driver Handbook from DPS.
• Read chapters on signs, right-of-way, and alcohol laws—not just the practice questions at the end.
• Compare one rule that differed in your old state (U-turns, left on red, phone use).
• Sleep before test day; the questions are plain language but picky on wording.

Read more on dps.texas.gov

• Texas DPS — Driver License Services
• Texas DPS — Moving to Texas
• Texas Driver Handbook