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The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) offers the driver license knowledge test in English and Spanish. You select the language on-screen at the DPS office computer station before starting the 30-question written test. No other languages are offered for the knowledge test.
English and Spanish are the only two test languages at all DPS driver license offices. After document verification, you proceed to a testing station computer and pick from an on-screen menu. The selection locks in; you cannot switch languages mid-test.
Confirm your language selection on the computer screen before clicking 'Start Test' to avoid being locked into the wrong language for all 30 questions. Double-checking that screen is the easiest step in this whole process, so don't skip it.
Learn more about test language options or check how many questions you'll face.
Choosing Spanish does not create a lower licensing standard. The same Class C knowledge and passing requirement apply.
Yes. The knowledge-exam passing requirement remains 70% whether you take it in English or Spanish.
Texas DPS says the non-commercial driver license knowledge test is offered in English or Spanish. You must still be able to understand road signs written in English.
You may bring a personal translator to assist with communication before and after the knowledge test, but they cannot help during testing. Spanish instructions may be available for the behind-the-wheel driving test if a bilingual examiner is present, though this is not guaranteed.
An applicant in El Paso assumed the driving test would be in Spanish due to the city's demographics. They arrived without practicing English road signs and failed for not understanding the examiner's English-only command to 'merge onto the interstate.' The DPS does not guarantee bilingual examiners.
Audio support is not available for non-English languages. The standard test provides full text support on computer screens. Applicants needing oral administration due to a reading disability must request this accommodation separately through DPS.
| Test Component | Language Rules |
|---|---|
| Knowledge (Written) Test | English or Spanish text only. No audio for Spanish. |
| Behind-the-Wheel Driving Test | Primarily in English using hand signals. Spanish instructions depend on examiner availability. |
| Road Sign Recognition | Mandatory understanding of English signs, regardless of permit test language. |
Even if you take the written test in Spanish, road signs in Texas are English-only. This catches people off guard during the driving test.
What if I do not speak English or Spanish well enough for the permit test? A personal translator may help you communicate with DPS before and after the exam but cannot help during the knowledge test. If you need a disability-related accommodation, contact DPS in advance; certified ASL interpreter support can also be requested.
Language selection happens at the testing station. Choose the available test language before starting the exam; the language choice does not change the passing score or the application fee.
Fees depend on the credential, not the language: the under-18 learner license is $16, while a new Class C license for ages 18-84 is $33. See the DPS fee schedule.
Application forms also use the DPS age cutoff: DL-14B for applicants under 17 years 10 months and DL-14A for applicants age 17 years 10 months or older. See DPS forms. Full document preparation belongs in Eligibility & Documents.
Download the official Texas Driver Handbook in Spanish, Form DL-7S, free from the DPS website. Even applicants testing in Spanish must recognize English road signs since all Texas road infrastructure uses English text. Download the official Texas Driver Handbook (DL-7) in English or Spanish from the DPS website.
A student in San Antonio studied only the Spanish translation of the handbook but used an outdated community website for practice questions. They failed the permit test because several questions on new state laws had different phrasing on the official DPS test.
Applicants testing in Spanish still need to recognize English road signs during the driving test. Free Texas permit practice test resources include bilingual sign flashcards and Spanish-language mock exams.
| Common Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I use a translator during the test? | No. Translators are only allowed before and after. |
| Is the test available in audio format? | Only as an accommodation for reading disabilities, not for language choice. |
| What if I fail? | The $33 application fee covers 3 test attempts within 90 days. |
Some approved driver-education schools can administer the Class C knowledge exam in Spanish. DPS allows certified schools to request English-only or English-and-Spanish test versions, so confirm the option with your provider before testing.
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