Like most states, Texas places additional restrictions on teenage drivers in an effort to keep the roads safe for all. Drivers under 18 are prohibited from using any wireless communication devices and drivers with provisional licenses may not have more than one passenger under 21 in the vehicle—unless it’s a family member.
If you have teenagers who are hitting the road (or you are one) in the Lone Star State, it’s vital to be aware of the rules and regulations around teen drivers to stay safe and avoid some seriously unpleasant penalties.
But don’t stress! Here to help you out is Jerry
, the super app that can do much more than just save you money on car insurance
. We’ve made a handy guide to teen driving laws in Texas that will cover what you need to know, including how to find the best Texas car insurance
for teenage drivers—and everyone else! Rules for teen drivers in Texas
Let’s be real for a minute: motor vehicle accidents are one of the highest causes of death for teenagers, and Texas leads the nation in teenage traffic deaths. According to AAA Texas, there were 2,318 teen traffic deaths between 2010 and 2019.
In order to help lower this sobering statistic, Texas is one of many states that has adopted some very specific laws regarding underage drivers. There are different levels of graduated permits and licenses, and each one has its own specific set of rules and timeframes.
Let’s take a look at the rules for each scenario so you can stay safe, informed, and out of trouble.
With a learner’s permit
You can apply for a learner’s permit (with parent/guardian approval) at 15 years of age in Texas, but first, you have to have completed an approved driver’s education course
. You can begin the course when you are 14, and there are several options you can choose from. Once you’ve met the education requirement and successfully received your permit, here are the rules:
You must hold the permit for six months or until you turn 18
A minor with a learner’s permit may not drive alone under any circumstances
You must have a licensed adult age 21 or older in the front passenger seat at all times
There are a certain number of hours of supervised practice that you are required to log, including 10 hours at night, and you also must have completed the Impact Texas Teen Driver program within 90 days of taking the test for your provisional license.
With a provisional driver’s license
Once you hit 16 and have held your learner’s permit for at least six months, you’re eligible to apply for a provisional license. You’ll need to fill out some paperwork and provide a few different documents for identification, give proof that you completed your education requirements, and pass a vision test. Check the Texas Department of Public Safety's website for a complete guide to Texas’s requirements and application process for a provisional driver’s license.
Once you have a provisional license, your driving privileges will expand—but there will still be some restrictions that will stay in place until you turn 18. Make sure you are aware of and follow these rules, as penalties can be severe and will become a permanent part of your driving record.
Until they are 18, drivers in Texas may not:
Operate a motor vehicle between midnight and 5 am
Drive with more than one person under the age of 21 in the car, unless they are a family member
Use any kind of wireless communication device
Of course, there are a few exceptions. Driving between midnight and 5 am is permitted if it is necessary for work, to attend or participate in a school-related activity, or due to a medical emergency. If possible, carry some sort of documentation with you that you can provide if questioned. Cell phone use is also okay in the event of an emergency to contact law enforcement or emergency services.
Texas teenage drivers and cell phone use
Texting and driving is a bad idea no matter what age you are, but it’s of special concern for teenagers. Cell phone use while driving, whether to make calls, text, or check social media is a potentially deadly form of distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
, thousands of car accidents each year stem from the use of cell phones while behind the wheel. The rules for cell phone use and teenage drivers in Texas are very cut and dry: don’t do it. In Texas, it’s illegal for any driver under the age of 18 to use a wireless communication device while driving, even if it’s in hands-free mode. No calls, no texts, nothing.
Violations of this law include fines of up to $200—but if anyone was injured or killed as a result of texting and driving, the penalties can include fines of up to $4,000 and possible jail time.
Texas does make an exception for emergency use of a cell phone for young drivers, like to contact law enforcement, the fire department, or emergency services. In this case, it’s always best to pull over before making a call if possible.
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Penalties for violating Texas teen driving laws
Once you have your provisional license, you are obviously required to follow all traffic laws, just like any other driver. But just like there are some additional rules for teenage drivers, there are also some additional penalties for breaking them.
Violations of Texas’s provisional license rules start at a $200 fine. As mentioned, the penalty for cell phone use starts at $200, but if there was a death or injury resulting from the violation the penalty can be a fine of up to $4,000 and include some jail time.
The Texas DUI laws
are zero tolerance for teenage drivers. While adults just need to keep their blood alcohol content (BAC) below 0.08% to be behind the wheel, there is no permissible BAC for teenage drivers (or any driver under 21, for that matter.) A Texas law enforcement officer is permitted to pull over a minor and request a blood test for any reasonable suspicion of alcohol use, and refusal to consent to a blood or breath test can result in a 180-day suspension of your license. If you are found to have any detectable amount of alcohol when you’re a minor behind the wheel, Texas has some very stiff penalties, even if it’s the first time. If you’re under 17, penalties for a first offense can include:
Up to 40 hours of community service
License suspension of 180 days
If you’re 17 to 20 years of age, the consequences are even more severe:
Jail time of up to 180 days
License suspension of up to one year
And remember, these are just for the first offense! Texas has some of the harshest penalties in the nation for underage DUIs, so stay safe and don’t risk it. It takes many years to develop the skills needed to be a good driver, and all these laws are designed to keep everyone on the road safe.
How to find affordable car insurance for teenage drivers in Texas
Not only are there more regulations around driving when you’re a teenager, but there are also increased costs as well. New drivers in general and teenage drivers, in particular, are considered high risk by insurance providers, and insurance premiums will be much higher for these groups.
It’s essential to make sure that you get solid car insurance
if you have a teenage driver, and Jerry
will help you get the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget. The process takes just a few minutes with the fast and user-friendly app, and Jerry can take care of the sign-up process entirely through the app. The typical Jerry shopper saves more than $800 a year on their car insurance—try it today and see how much you can save!
“Jerry
was spot on. I’m young with one rear end on my record. Still, they dropped my monthly insurance rate from $468 to $250. This really saved me money.” —Jason M.
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