Home
About Us
Frequent Questions
Locations, Schedules and Rates
Instructional Permit
Coupon
Specials
Adult Driver Education
The Facts
Defensive Driving
Graduated Drivers License
Contact Information
Employment Opportunities
Links page

GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSE

 

The Texas graduated driver License (GDL) was implemented as a result of Senate Bill 577.  This law changed original licensing requirements for persons under age 18.  GDL creates two phases of driving requirements for minors.  The effective date of the law is January 1, 2002.  Basic requirements for obtaining a license have not changed.

 

Phase One

Applicants under age 18 must hold an instructional permit for a minimum of six months prior to issuance of a provisional Class A, B, or C driver license.  In addition, the minimum age of the person who must accompany any instruction permit holder during the operation of the vehicle is 21 years of age.

 

The instructional permit must remain valid during the mandatory six-month period to meet this regulation.  If an instruction permit expires during this period, the permit must be renewed to complete the six-month requirement.  For example, a person obtained their original instruction permit on January 1, 2002.  The mandatory six-month period to hold the instruction permit expires July1, 2002.  Their birthday is March 1, 2002 and they did NOT renew the instruction permit at that time, but came to obtain their provisional license on July 1, 2002.  An additional valid three month period of driving instruction will be required to cover the time from March 2, 2002 until July 1, 2002, because the license expired on their birthday.

 

Once the applicant has held a valid instruction permit or hardship license for a minimum of six months, has reached the age of 16 for a Class C license, and has completed both the classroom and laboratory (driving) portions of driver education, they are eligible to "graduate" to Phase Two.

 

Phase Two

Phase Two restricts the driving privileges of persons under 18 years of age during the six-month period following the issuance of an original Class C driver license (Provisional License).  These persons may not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger in the vehicle under the age of 21 who is not a family member.  In addition, they may not operate a motor vehicle between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless  the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related activity or because of a medical emergency.

 

The license restriction will state, "TRC 545 424 applies until mm/dd/yy" and will indicate the date in which the second phase of the graduated driver license expires for the person who holds that license.  Upon completion of the six-month period, the above time and/or passenger restrictions no longer apply.  The licensee may wish to apply for a duplicate license at a driver license office to remove this restriction.  A fee is required to obtain a duplicate license.  If not, this restriction will be removed at the time the applicant renews the license on their next birthday, provided the Phase Two six-month time has lapsed.

 

Provisional Driver License

All original licenses, other than an instruction permit, issued to persons under 18 years of age will be marked "Provisional."  The license will be vertical and will be dated to expire on the applicant's next birthday occurring after date of issuance.  A fee is required to obtain this license.  The renewal fee is required for each one year of renewal period.  No renewal notice will be sent as it is the responsibility of the applicant to obtain a verification of enrollment and attendance from their school.  If the instruction permit or driver license is not due for renewal a fee is required for a duplicate instruction permit or duplicate license (i.e.: lost license, change of address, removal of GDL restrictions).

 

Grandfather Clause

Senate Bill 577 provides a "grandfather" clause for applicants under 18 years of age issued a license or instruction permit prior to January 1, 2002.  Any applicant under 18 who has a driver license or instruction permit that was issued prior to January 1, 2002, will NOT fall under ANY phase of the GDL requirements.  A person must have actually obtained the license or instruction permit prior to January 1, 2002.  Completion of driver education alone by that date does not apply to this clause.

 

Miscellaneous

There are forty-six states and District of Columbia which have some form of a graduated driver license system enacted.