Texas Teen Driving Laws: A 2025 Guide for Parents and Provisional Drivers

For teenagers in Texas, getting a driver's license is a rite of passage symbolizing freedom and maturity. For their parents, it's a period of both excitement and significant concern. To help ensure this transition is as safe as possible, Texas has a comprehensive Graduated Driver License (GDL) program. This system is not meant to be an obstacle; it's a proven method for reducing teen driver crashes by introducing privileges in stages as they gain critical experience. [31]

Understanding these laws is essential for both teens and parents to ensure safety, avoid costly tickets, and protect that newly earned license. Here is a clear guide to Texas's teen driving laws for 2025.

The Purpose of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. This is largely due to inexperience combined with high-risk factors like driving at night and being distracted by friends in the car. The Texas GDL program directly addresses these risks by placing common-sense limits on new drivers, allowing them to build skills in a safer, more controlled environment before granting full freedom. [33, 35]

The program consists of distinct phases, each with its own set of rules.

Phase 1: The Learner License (Age 15-17)

This is the very first step, where all on-road driving practice begins. A teen must be at least 15 years old and enrolled in a driver education course to apply. [10, 15]

Key Learner License Restrictions:

Constant Supervision: A permit holder must always be accompanied by a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old. [5, 6]
Front Seat Only: The supervising driver must be seated in the front passenger seat at all times.
Zero Wireless Device Use: It is illegal for a permit holder to use any wireless communication device, including hands-free systems, while driving, except in an emergency. [6, 10]

Phase 2: The Provisional License (Age 16-17)

After holding a learner license for at least six months, completing a full driver education course, and passing the road test, a teen can earn a Provisional License. [6] This is a major step, as it allows for unsupervised driving, but with critical safety restrictions in place.

Provisional License Restriction 1: Driving Curfew

Nighttime driving is statistically the most dangerous time for new, inexperienced drivers. The GDL curfew addresses this risk directly.

Curfew Hours: A provisional license holder is prohibited from driving between the hours of midnight (12 a.m.) and 5 a.m. [6, 7]
Exceptions: The curfew does not apply if the teen needs to drive for work, a school-related activity, or a medical emergency. [7, 10]

Provisional License Restriction 2: Passenger Limits

Research consistently shows that a teen driver's crash risk increases exponentially with each additional peer passenger in the vehicle. Texas's law is designed to minimize this distraction.

The Rule: A driver with a provisional license may not transport more than ONE passenger under the age of 21 who is not a member of their immediate family. [6, 7]
The Exception: The passenger limitation does not apply if the passengers are family members. So, driving siblings to school is permitted. [7]

Provisional License Restriction 3: Cell Phones

The ban on using any wireless communication device (including for texting or talking on the phone) continues through the entire provisional license phase. This is a primary offense, meaning an officer can pull a teen over just for this violation. [7]

Consequences for Violations

Violating any of these GDL restrictions can have serious consequences.

Fines and Penalties: Violations can result in tickets and fines.
Delayed Full License: A conviction for a moving violation can delay a teen's ability to graduate to a full, unrestricted license. [18]
License Suspension: Serious offenses or repeat violations can lead to a suspension of driving privileges. [18]

The Final Step: The Full, Unrestricted License

At age 18, a teen's provisional license expires. If they have maintained a clean driving record, they are eligible to apply for a standard adult driver's license, and all GDL provisions are removed. [19, 31]

By working together, parents and teens can navigate the GDL process, ensuring the new driver builds the safe habits needed for a lifetime behind the wheel. It's recommended to create a parent-teen driving agreement to set clear expectations beyond what the law requires.