Texas drivers are required to obey all traffic signs, stop at red lights, and maintain a safe operable vehicle with basic features like windshield wipers and brake lights. Local and state ordinances contain specific dos and don’ts for Texas motorists.

To drive a vehicle on Texas roads, drivers must hold and carry a valid driver’s license.
Texas drivers are required to carry the minimum
Texas car insurance
requirements—failing to do so can result in citations, fines, license suspensions, and vehicle impoundment.
Texting and driving is illegal in Texas, so drivers may be pulled over by law enforcement for using handheld cell phones while operating a vehicle.

Texas general traffic laws

Texas drivers are bound by a set of laws and guidelines related to driving, all of which are laid out in the

Texas Transportation Code

and explained in the

Texas Driver Handbook

. But the handbook can be dense and hard to use, so we’ve summarized the most important laws here.

Driver’s license laws

You must hold a valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle in Texas—and you must carry that license with you whenever you drive.

If you’re stopped by police for any reason, you’ll need to show your license along with your Texas Liability Insurance Card, and being caught

driving without a license

could result in steep fines.

Offense	Penalty
Driving without a license (1st offense)	Fine of up to $200
Driving without a license (2nd offense in a year)	Fine of $25 to $200
Driving without a license (3rd offense in a year)	Fine of $25 to $200 plus 72 hours to six months in jail
Driving with suspended or revoked license	Class C misdemeanor with fine up to $500
Driving with suspended or revoked license with previous conviction, no insurance, or DUI charge	Class B misdemeanor with fine up to $2,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both
Driving with suspended or revoked license with no insurance and a crash causing serious bodily injury or death	Class A misdemeanor with fine up to $4,000, jail for up to 365 days, or both

MORE:

Texas driver’s license requirements

Insurance laws

In addition to carrying a valid driver’s license, all Texas motorists must carry a digital or paper copy of their Texas Insurance Liability card showing they meet the

Texas minimum car insurance limits

. These include:

$30,000 of

bodily injury liability insurance

per person

$60,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per accident

$25,000 of

property damage liability insurance

per accident

If you can’t show proof of an active insurance policy at a traffic stop or following an accident, you’ll receive a citation. For a first offense, the penalty stops at a (steep) fine, but subsequent citations could land you in serious trouble.

Offense	Penalty
Failure to show proof of insurance (1st offense)	Fine of $175 to $350
Failure to show proof of insurance (subsequent offenses)	Immediate suspension of driver’s license, fines of $350 to $1,000, and court impoundment of vehicle for 180 days

Keep in mind: To get your vehicle out of court-ordered impound, you’ll need to present

proof of insurance

that meets Texas minimums.

Right of way

Texas requires drivers to yield right of way to other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians under a variety of circumstances. For example:

When turning left, you must yield right of way to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

When turning right, you must yield right of way to through traffic and pedestrians.

When trying to enter a new lane of traffic from the right, you must yield to drivers attempting to enter that lane from the left.

At a four-way intersection, through traffic has the right of way.

You must always yield to emergency vehicles with their lights or sirens on, school buses, and pedestrians—even if they’re not crossing at a legal crosswalk. Failure to yield right of way can result in steep fines if it causes an injury.

Offense	Penalty
Failure to yield resulting in injury to another	Fine of $500 to $2,000
Failure to yield resulting in serious bodily injury to another	$1,000 to $2,000

MORE:

How do I know who has the right of way?

Passing and turning

While you’re driving in Texas, you’ll have cause to pass other vehicles and make turns, whether from one road to the next or off of a road. Here are the laws that deal with those movements.

In Texas, the center lane and left lane are for passing. Drivers in Texas must keep right in most circumstances, except:

When passing another vehicle on a two- or three-lane road

When driving on a one-way road

When the right lane is blocked

If you do need to pass another vehicle:

Make sure that the way is clear

Use your turn signal to indicate that you’re about to move around the vehicle

Tap your horn if necessary to alert the other driver to your intentions

Once you’re past them, be sure not to cut back into your original lane too quickly.

U-turns are legal in Texas

unless there’s a sign prohibiting them or you can’t see at least 500 feet in the direction of oncoming traffic.

Passing on the right is legal in Texas only in special circumstances:

If you’re on a one-way street or if the vehicle in front of you is stopped, slowed, disabled, or making a left turn, you may pass on the right as long as conditions are clear enough to do it safely (e.g., on an improved shoulder)

Never pass on the right if there isn’t enough space on the paved portion of the road to the right of the vehicle you’re passing

And finally, remember to use your turn signals. You must use either your vehicle’s turn signals or hand signals whenever you:

Change lanes

Turn

Pull out of a parking spot parallel to the road

Slow down or stop

Enter or leave a highway

Pull over to the side of the road

MORE:

Can you turn right on red in Texas?

Parking laws

Texas has a variety of laws governing when and where you can park, stop, and stand (i.e., stop for passengers to embark or disembark).

It’s illegal to park, stop, or stand in Texas:

On a sidewalk or crosswalk

On the roadside of any vehicle stopped or parked on the street (i.e. double parking)

In an intersection

Between a safety zone and adjacent curb or within 30 feet of a place on the curb immediately opposite the end of a safety zone

Alongside or opposite street excavation when it would impede traffic

On a bridge or highway overpass or in a tunnel

On a railroad track

In any place with an official sign prohibiting it

It’s illegal to park or stand in Texas:

In front of a driveway (public or private)

Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant

Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection

Within 30 feet of stop signs, yield signs, or traffic lights

Within 20 feet of a driveway entrance to a fire station

In any place with an official sign prohibiting it

It is illegal to park in Texas:

Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing

In a disabled parking space without a placard or license plate

Blocking an access or curb ramp

Striped areas adjacent to disabled parking spots

An official sign

MORE:

How to get a Texas handicap placard (and who’s eligible)

Texas speeding laws

Following the posted speed limit is the most obvious part of this law, but the Texas Department of Public Safety has additional guidelines for drivers. In addition, the Texas Driver Handbook encourages drivers to slow down if:

It’s after dark

It’s raining

The road is crowded

Conditions create limited visibility

Did you know? According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), over 1,029 speeding-related fatalities occurred in Texas, accounting for 10.5% of the nation’s fatalities from speeding.

Speed limits

When you’re driving in Texas, you’ll typically be able to see signs posted along the road stating the speed limit in that area. However, there’s a pattern to the speed limits for different types of roads:

Urban roads: 30 mph

Alleys: 15 mph

Beaches and adjacent county roads: 15 mph

US- or Texas-numbered highways outside urban areas: 75 mph for most vehicles, 60 mph for school buses

Highways outside urban districts not numbered by US or Texas: 60 mph for most vehicles, 50 mph for school buses

Rural interstates: 75, 80, or 85 mph as posted

Urban interstates: 75 mph

Keep in mind: Street racing and drag racing are illegal in Texas. You must maintain the posted speed limit on any type of road or risk Texas speeding tickets, fines, and further penalties.

Move over laws

Drivers should also be aware of

Texas’s move-over laws

, which require motorists to move a lane away from emergency vehicles such as ambulances and tow trucks.

If you’re driving on a Texas road and see emergency vehicles with flashing lights, state law requires the following:

Move one lane away from the emergency.

If you can’t safely move over, you must slow down to 20 mph below the speed limit to maintain safety and avoid injuring emergency personnel.

Failure to comply with Texas’s move-over laws could land you with a $200 fine.

Texas car accident laws

also put in place strict rules for drivers involved in car accidents.

The first rule for any car accident is that all drivers must stop without obstructing traffic and exchange information. If you’re in an accident, be prepared to give the following information to other drivers or anyone injured in the crash:

Your full name and address

Your vehicle registration number

The name of your liability insurance company

Pro Tip Show your license to the other parties and provide reasonable assistance, including first aid and transportation, to anyone who needs it.

You must also notify law enforcement about an accident if:

There is an injury or fatality

The vehicles involved in the crash can’t be safely moved off of the road

A driver leaves the scene of the accident

You suspect that someone involved is intoxicated

If the accident doesn’t meet those criteria and the police aren’t involved: You must report the accident to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) within 10 days of the date of the crash.

Failing to stop at the scene of an accident is a serious crime in Texas. Depending on the circumstances, your charges could range from a misdemeanor and a $500 to a felony charge and up to 20 years imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

Offense	Penalty
Failure to stop (1st offense) with under $200 in property damage only	Class C misdemeanor: fine of up to $500
Failure to stop (1st offense) with over $200 in property damage only	Class B misdemeanor: fine of up to $2,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both
Failure to stop (1st offense) with bodily injury	Fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment in TDCJ for up to 5 years or county jail for up to one year, or both
Failure to stop (1st offense) with serious bodily injury	3rd-degree felony: fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 10 years
Failure to stop (1st offense) with fatality	2nd-degree felony: fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 20 years

Keep in mind: The same penalties apply if you crash into an unattended vehicle causing property damage and fail to leave a note with your name, address, and a description of the circumstances of the accident.

Texas DUI laws

This is a big one: driving while intoxicated (DWI) or

driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs (DUI)

is a serious offense in Texas.

In the state of Texas, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or more is considered intoxication. According to 2018 data, approximately 26% of fatal crashes in Texas were related to alcohol.

The penalties for a DWI or

DUI in Texas

are steep:

Fines up to $2,000—and additional fines up to as much as $6,000 for repeat offenders

At least three days in jail for a first offense

License suspension

And don’t forget insurance—with a DUI on your record, your annual

car insurance premium

could go up by an average of 80% or more.

Here’s how Texas’s DUI laws break down the penalties for adult offenders:

Offense	Penalty
DUI/DWI (1st offense)	Fines up to $2,000, imprisonment in jail for 3 to 180 days, and license suspension for up to one year
DUI/DWI (2nd offense)	Fines up to $4,000, imprisonment in jail for one month to one year, and license suspension for up to one year
DUI/DWI (3rd and subsequent offenses)	Fines up to $10,000, imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 10 years, and license suspension for 180 days to 2 years
DUI/DWI with a passenger under 15 years old	Child endangerment charge; fines up to $10,000, imprisonment in state jail for up to 2 years, license suspended for additional 180 days
Intoxication assault	Fines up to $10,000, imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 10 years, and license suspension for 90 days to 2 years
Intoxication manslaughter	Fines up to $10,000, imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 20 years, and license suspension for 180 days to 2 years

For minors and

teen drivers

, the charges are a little lighter—but they’re no less serious, especially given the impact they can have on your insurance premium and job opportunities:

Offense	Penalty
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (1st offense)	Class C misdemeanor: $500 fine, 20 to 40 hours of community service, and attendance at alcohol awareness class (parents may be required to attend if offender is under 18 years old)
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (2nd offense)	Class C misdemeanor: $500 fine, 40 to 60 hours of community service, and possible alcohol awareness class
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (3rd offense) under 17 years old	As above, but the case may be transferred to juvenile court as delinquent conduct
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (3rd offense) between 17 and 21 years old	Class B misdemeanor: fines from $500 to $2,000, imprisonment in jail for up to 180 days, 40 to 60 hours of community service, possible alcohol awareness class, and license suspension for either one year or 90 days with ignition interlock device

In general, a DUI conviction carries lighter penalties for minors than a conviction for DWI (driving while intoxicated).

While the punishment is milder for a first offense, minors with repeated DWI convictions or minors responsible for causing injury or death while intoxicated can face the same penalties as legal adults.

Offense	Penalty
Driving while intoxicated (1st offense)	Class B misdemeanor: fines up to $2,000, imprisonment in jail for 72 hours to 180 days, and license suspension for 365 days or 90 days with ignition interlock device
Driving while intoxicated (2nd offense)	Class A misdemeanor: fines up to $4,000, imprisonment in jail for 30 days to one year, and license suspension for 80 days to 18 months
Driving while intoxicated (3rd and subsequent offenses)	3rd-degree felony: fines up to $10,000, imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 10 years, and license suspension for 180 days to 18 months
Driving while intoxicated with a passenger under 15 years old	Felony: fines up to $10,000, imprisonment in state jail for 180 days to 2 years, license suspension for 90 days to one year
Intoxication assault	3rd-degree felony: fines up to $10,000, imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 10 years, and license suspension for 90 days to one year
Intoxication manslaughter	2nd-degree felony: fines up to $10,000 imprisonment in TDCJ for 2 to 20 years, and license suspension for 180 days to 2 years

Texas distracted driving laws

While driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is among the most common causes of fatal accidents in Texas, distracted driving isn’t far behind.

Did you know? The
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
found that in 2021, nearly one in five crashes that caused injuries or fatalities were caused by distracted driving.

But Texas law isn’t super specific about limits on distracted driving. The Texas Driver Handbook urges drivers to avoid all types of distractions on the road, including but not limited to:

Visual distractions that take your eyes off the road

Manual distractions that take your hands off the wheel

Auditory distractions that reduce your awareness of your surroundings

Cognitive distractions that take your mind away from driving

There’s one type of distracted driving that Texas state law specifically outlaws:

texting and driving

It is against the law in Texas to read, write, or send electronic messages (text or email) on a portable wireless communication device while driving.

Texas officially banned texting and driving in 2017, and it is now a primary offense in the Lone Star State—meaning that a police officer can pull you over for that alone.

Cell phone use is still legal in Texas if you’re not texting, but some cities, like

Dallas

, have passed stricter local laws.

You can make a call with a handheld or hands-free device on state roads as long as you’re over the age of 18 and have held your license for at least six months.

For new drivers, all cell phone use is banned for six months and drivers under 18 can’t use a handheld device for any reason except to call 911 or other emergency services.

The good news is that texting and driving will only land you with fines—no points on your license and no jail time (unless you cause serious bodily harm or death while texting). But those fines can be steep, as you’ll see below.

Offense	Penalty
Texting while driving (1st offense)	Fines from $25 to $99
Texting while driving (2nd and subsequent offenses)	Fines from $100 to $200

If you do cause an accident while texting and driving that results in serious bodily harm or death, you’ll be facing a Class A misdemeanor charge, which carries potential penalties including fines up to $4,000 and a full year in jail.

MORE:

How much a distracted driving ticket costs you in the long run

Texas seatbelt laws

In Texas,

seatbelts are required by law

for all passengers in any vehicle equipped with them.

Of course, not every passenger can use a safety belt.

Texas car seat laws

require the following types of car seats for children from birth to 12 years of age:

Birth to two years (or manufacturer’s weight and height ratings): Rear-facing infant seat

Two years or over manufacturer’s weight and height ratings: Front-facing infant and child seat

Four to eight years:

Booster seat

Once children reach four feet nine inches in height—usually between eight and 12 years of age—they’re big enough to use an adult seatbelt safely. Until then, any child should stay in a booster seat that adjusts their position so that the belt fits safely over their body.

Fines for seatbelt use apply to both drivers and passengers, depending on the circumstances:

If you fail to wear a seatbelt as either a driver or a passenger over 15 years of age, you’ll face a fine of $15 to $25.

Drivers who drive with a child under 17 who’s too big for a booster seat but isn’t wearing a seatbelt can be fined from $100 to $200.

If you have a child under eight years old or less than 4’9” tall who isn’t in a car seat, you’ll face fines from $25 to $200.

There are a few exceptions to these laws:

You are exempt from wearing a seatbelt, as prescribed by a licensed medical professional. You must carry a letter from the medical professional, which states that you are exempt from using one.

You are exempt from seatbelt laws while working a job that requires you to get in and out of a vehicle frequently.

You are operating a farm vehicle with a gross weight under 48,000 pounds.

The weirdest driving laws in Texas

Texas is renowned for being fiercely independent—they don’t call it The Lone Star State for nothing! It shouldn’t surprise anyone then, that Texas is home to some unique driving laws.

In eastern Texas, "tail light" has a very literal meaning. Some mounted police literally light up their horses' tails for visibility and, in Texarkana, it is illegal to ride a horse at night without tail lights.

Everyone knows the risks associated with drunk driving, but in Lubbock, it is illegal to drive within an arm’s length of alcohol, even if it has already been consumed. This means you are not allowed to have an inebriated friend sit in the passenger seat while you are driving.

In Denton County, it is illegal to park your vehicle and not use the parking brake. While using the parking brake is a good habit, it is weird that it’s written into law, especially considering the area is quite flat.

Windshield wipers are mandatory, even if you don’t have a windshield. For example, some models of the

Jeep Wrangler

have foldable windshields, enabling drivers to enjoy the open air as they cruise along. Although windshields aren’t required on any vehicles in Texas, windshield wipers are mandatory and are required for Jeep Wranglers, even when the windshield is folded down.

It is illegal to perform a U-turn in Richardson.

It is illegal to drive down Broadway in Galveston on Sundays before noon.

FAQs

Can you speed while passing in Texas?

No. Driving over the speed limit is illegal even if you’re trying to pass another vehicle—that’s why the law specifies that you should only pass if it’s safe to do so. If you need to break the speed limit to pass, it’s not safe.

Is Texas strict on DUI?

Texas has fairly strict DUI laws. Jail time is a mandatory part of any DUI conviction, even for minors.

How long does a DUI stay on your insurance record in Texas?

A DUI will stay on your record permanently in Texas unless you were charged and never convicted. The good news is that, on average, a DUI will only raise your insurance premium by about 58% in Texas—well below the national average of 94%!

Is it illegal to eat and drive in Texas?

No, but it is a dangerous form of distracted driving. If you must eat behind the wheel, keep it simple and keep your eyes on the road—but it’s better to pull over for a meal or snack if you can.

Is it illegal to drive with no shirt on in Texas?

No—but depending on the circumstances you could be charged with indecent exposure.

Does Texas have a left-lane law?

The Texas Motor Vehicle Code affirms that the center lanes and left lanes on Texas roads should only be used for passing. Drivers in Texas must keep right, unless:

When passing another vehicle on a two- or three-lane road

When driving on a one-way road

When the right lane is blocked

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