Texas DPS Permit Practice Test

How soon must you register a newly purchased vehicle?

Correct answer: B. Within 30 days of purchase

An owner must register a newly purchased vehicle within 30 days of purchase, in the owner's county of residency. Buyers' temporary tags are separately recognized for 60 days. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 16)

Instead of insurance, an owner may deposit money or securities with the state comptroller. What amount is required?

Correct answer: B. At least $55,000

A comptroller certificate showing at least $55,000 on deposit is accepted, as is a county judge certificate showing at least $55,000 in cash or a cashier's check. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 18)

How far to the rear must your rearview mirror be able to reflect a view of the highway?

Correct answer: A. At least 200 feet

A rearview mirror must reflect a view of the highway for at least 200 feet behind the vehicle, the same distance a horn must carry. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 15)

You are hauling sand in an open truck bed. What does Texas require?

Correct answer: C. That the bed be fully enclosed and the top covered with a secured tarpaulin

Loose material such as dirt, sand, gravel, or wood chips needs a bed enclosed on both sides, front, and rear, plus a canvas or tarpaulin firmly secured front and back. Agricultural products in their natural state are excepted. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 68)

A large truck is passing you. How can you help?

Correct answer: C. Keep to the far side of your lane and slightly reduce speed

Hold the far side of your lane and ease off slightly. Do not speed up. The truck driver will signal when returning to your lane. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 51)

What is the most common crash between a car and a motorcycle?

Correct answer: D. A car turning left in front of a motorcycle at an intersection

The left turn across an oncoming motorcycle is the classic one. A motorcycle is a small profile and its speed is hard to judge, so take a second look before turning left. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 52)

You see someone ahead crossing or trying to cross the street. What does the handbook tell drivers to do?

Correct answer: B. Slow down, use your horn if necessary, and be prepared to stop

Slow down, use the horn where it helps, and be ready to stop. Watch particularly for blind pedestrians at bus stops, intersections, business areas, and near schools for the blind. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 61)

What is a shared lane marking on the pavement for?

Correct answer: B. To show where cyclists are likely to ride, and to keep them clear of opening car doors

It positions cyclists laterally in a shared lane, keeping them out of the door zone of parked cars, alerts drivers where cyclists will be, encourages safe passing, and cuts down wrong-way riding. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 62)

You are turning left at a steady green light with no arrow. What must you do?

Correct answer: D. Yield to all traffic approaching from the opposite direction before turning

A green ball allows the left turn but does not protect it. You must yield to all oncoming traffic first, and watch for pedestrians crossing with the same green. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 25)

The lights begin to flash at a railroad crossing with gates. When may you go?

Correct answer: B. Once the gates are raised and the lights have stopped flashing

Stop when the lights begin to flash, before the gate comes down across your side, and stay stopped until the gates are raised and the lights stop flashing. A second train may still be coming. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 33)

How closely may you follow a fire truck answering an alarm, or an ambulance with its flashing red lights on?

Correct answer: D. No closer than 500 feet

You may not follow within 500 feet. You also may not drive or park on a street where a fire truck has answered an alarm, or park anywhere that blocks an ambulance. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 22)

You are in a damage-only crash on a main lane and both cars can still be driven safely. What should you do?

Correct answer: B. Move as soon as possible to a crash investigation site, frontage road, or nearest suitable cross street

Where the crash is damage-only and the vehicles are drivable, move them out of the traffic lanes to a designated crash investigation site if there is one, or a frontage road, cross street, or other suitable spot. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 59)

Who may apply for a hardship license on behalf of a minor?

Correct answer: D. A parent, guardian, or person having custody of the minor

Only a parent, guardian, or custodian may apply for a minor. Where the minor has none, an employer or county judge may apply instead. Both adult and minor must sign form DL-77 in person. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 2)

You hold a Class C driver license and want to ride a motorcycle on public roads. What do you need?

Correct answer: D. A Class M license, which none of the Class A, B, or C licenses includes

A Class A, B, or C license does not permit a person to drive a motorcycle. Riding one requires a Class M license, and that means passing a state approved motorcycle operator training course. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 4)

You fail the knowledge exam on your first attempt. What happens to your application?

Correct answer: C. It is held for 90 days, and after that or three failed exams a new application and fee are required

Failing the knowledge or driving exam holds the application for 90 days. Once 90 days pass, or after three failed exams, a new application and fee are required. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 7)

Even when you are eligible to renew online, how often must you appear at a driver license office in person?

Correct answer: A. At least once every sixteen years, for a vision exam and to update the photo, signature, and fingerprints

A person must appear in a driver license office at least once every sixteen years so DPS can perform a vision exam and refresh the photo, signature, and fingerprints. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 10)

What is an occupational license, also called an essential need license?

Correct answer: D. A restricted license for someone whose license was suspended, revoked, cancelled, or denied and who proves to a court an essential need to drive

A court decides whether an essential need to drive exists and issues an order authorizing DPS to grant the restricted license. It is not available where the suspension is for a medical reason or delinquent child support. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 14)

What is the speed limit in an alley?

Correct answer: B. 15 mph

Fifteen mph in an alley. The same 15 mph applies on beaches and on county roads next to a public beach where the county commissioners court has declared it. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 46)

You are pulling out of a driveway onto a street. What does the law require?

Correct answer: C. Stop prior to the sidewalk and yield to all approaching vehicles and pedestrians

Coming from a private road, alley, building, or driveway, you must stop before the sidewalk and yield to every approaching vehicle and pedestrian. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 20)

A school bus ahead of you switches on alternately flashing red lights. What must you do?

Correct answer: D. Stop, whichever direction you are approaching from

Alternately flashing red lights require every driver approaching from either direction to stop. The flashing lights mean children are about to cross. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 23)

Which of these is a lawful reason to leave the right side of the road?

Correct answer: D. Driving on a one-way street

You may leave the right side when passing on a two- or three-lane street, when driving on a one-way street, or where the right side of the road is blocked. A hill or curve is where the law forbids it. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 38)

How long is a minor's driver license suspended for a second non-driving alcohol-related offense?

Correct answer: C. 60 days

A second offense suspends the license for 60 days and raises community service to 20 to 40 hours. A third offense by a minor at least 17 brings a 180-day suspension. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 13)

Under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, who is a minor?

Correct answer: D. Anyone under 21 years of age

A minor is anyone under 21. A minor may not purchase, attempt to purchase, consume, or possess an alcoholic beverage, and Texas allows no blood alcohol concentration at all for minors who drive. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 56)

What does driving while intoxicated with a passenger under 15 years of age carry?

Correct answer: C. A state jail felony, with a fine of up to $10,000 and 180 days to 2 years confinement

It is a state jail felony carrying up to $10,000, 180 days to two years in state jail, and a suspension of 90 days to two years. Driving with a passenger under 15 raises a misdemeanor to a felony. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 58)

You are driving in thick fog. Which headlights should you use?

Correct answer: B. Low beams

Low beams in fog, heavy rain, sleet, snow, or dust. High beams bounce off the droplets and throw the light back at you, so they make visibility worse rather than better. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 47)

You are stranded at the roadside and want to signal that you need help. What does the handbook suggest?

Correct answer: D. Tie a white cloth where it can be seen, or raise your hood

A white cloth on the antenna, door handle, or another visible spot, or a raised hood, marks the vehicle as needing help. Turn on emergency warning lights too, and at night the interior lights as well. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 48)

How do you enter a modern roundabout?

Correct answer: C. Slow down and yield to traffic already in the circle, entering on an acceptable gap

Slow on approach, observe any advisory speed, yield to traffic in the circle, and enter on a gap. Exit with a right turn, signaling, and watch for cyclists and pedestrians at the approaches and exits. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 50)

What is the offense where a child younger than 18 rides in the bed of an open pickup truck?

Correct answer: B. An offense by the driver, subject to certain defenses such as a parade, an emergency, or a beach

It is an offense to drive an open bed truck or draw an open flatbed trailer with anyone under 18 in the bed. The defenses are narrow: a parade or emergency, transporting farm workers between fields, a beach, the household's only vehicle, or a permitted hayride. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 64)

Where may an electronic personal assistive mobility device such as a Segway be operated?

Correct answer: B. On a sidewalk, a bicycle path, or in limited situations a residential road posted at 30 mph or less

Sidewalks and bicycle paths, and roads posted at a maximum 30 mph only for a direct crossing, where there is no sidewalk, or when directed by a device or officer. On a public roadway it is ridden as close as practicable to the right-hand edge. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 67)

How far from the nearest rail of a railroad crossing may a vehicle be parked?

Correct answer: C. No closer than 50 feet

Do not park within 50 feet of the nearest rail, occupied or not. That is further back than the 15 to 50 feet where a moving vehicle stops for a train. (Texas Driver Handbook (2026), p. 42)