DL-14A vs DL-14B: Which Texas Driver License Form You Need
Form DL-14A is the Texas driver license and identification card application for anyone 17 years and 10 months of age or older. If the applicant is younger than that, the correct form is DL-14B — the minor version, which a parent or legal guardian signs alongside the teen. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) publishes both, and bringing the wrong one is one of the easiest ways to turn a single DPS visit into two.
The good news: once you know which form is yours, the application is straightforward. This guide covers what each form does, the rules printed on the forms that trip people up, and what to bring so you walk out with a license — not a list of things to come back with.
Key Takeaways
DL-14A is for applicants 17 years, 10 months and older; DL-14B is for minors under that age and requires a parent or guardian’s signature.
Both forms must be completed in ink, and DPS states that applications are held for 90 days only — and that payment cannot be refunded once an application is submitted.
Don’t sign the form at home. The signature sections are completed in front of a DPS employee or notary.
The form is only the application — you still need proof of identity, your Social Security number, two proofs of Texas residency, and your driver education certificates.
The DPS application fee is $16 for applicants under 18 and $33 for ages 18–84, per the DPS fee schedule.
What Is Form DL-14A?
The DL-14A is the multi-purpose adult application for a Texas driver license or identification card. On the first section of the form you select what you’re applying for: an original license or ID, a renewal, a replacement, a modification, or an address or name change. First-time adult drivers, out-of-state transfers, and long-time Texans renewing a card all use this same form.
Download the current version directly from DPS: Form DL-14A (Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application). DPS revises its forms periodically — the current DL-14A is the August 2025 revision — so print a fresh copy from the DPS site rather than reusing an old printout from a drawer.
Who uses the DL-14A?
Anyone applying at 17 years and 10 months of age or older — adults 18–24 finishing the required adult driver education course, adults 25 and up, and drivers moving to Texas from another state. If the road test is next on your list, adult driving lessons with a professional instructor are the fastest way to show up test-ready.
DL-14A vs DL-14B: The Difference That Matters
Both forms collect the same basics — legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, Texas address — but the minor form adds obligations for teen drivers and their parents.
Detail | DL-14A (Adult) | DL-14B (Minor) |
Who uses it | Applicants 17 years, 10 months and older | Applicants under 17 years, 10 months |
Who signs | The applicant, in front of a DPS employee or notary | The teen and a parent or legal guardian cosigner |
School requirements | None | DPS can verify enrollment through the Texas Education Agency; a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form is required at the appointment |
Driver education proof | Adult driver education certificate for first-time applicants ages 18–24 | |
Application fee | $33 (ages 18–84) | $16 (under 18) |
Two DL-14B details surprise almost every family. First, the parental authorization a parent signs applies to the teen’s renewal and replacement transactions until the 18th birthday, unless the parent rescinds it — it isn’t a one-time signature. Second, the form authorizes school administrators or law enforcement to notify DPS if the student is absent for at least 20 consecutive instructional days, which connects the license directly to school attendance. Both the teen and the cosigning parent also acknowledge receiving state information on distracted driving, driving while intoxicated, and Texas’s implied consent law before the application is processed.
How to Fill Out the DL-14A Without a Second Trip
Follow the rules printed on the form
The forms carry their own instructions, and DPS enforces them:
Ink only. Every field must be completed in ink — no pencil.
Applications are held for 90 days only. Submit your application when you’re ready to complete the process, not months ahead of it.
No refunds. DPS states it cannot refund payment once an application is submitted, so confirm you have every required document before you pay.
Match your documents exactly
DPS compares the application against the documents you bring. Use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your birth certificate or passport — no nicknames — and your physical Texas residence address, not a PO Box. Small mismatches are a common reason applicants get sent home.
Don’t sign it at home
The DL-14A includes a sworn statement, and the form instructs you not to sign until directed by a notary public or a driver license employee. Fill out everything else in advance to save time at the counter, then leave the signature lines blank.
What to Bring With Your Application
The application is one document in a stack. For most applicants, DPS also requires:
Proof of identity — an original document such as a state-issued birth certificate or valid passport. Photocopies are not accepted.
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence.
Social Security number — DPS verifies it electronically, but bring your card or an official document as backup.
Two proofs of Texas residency — documents like a utility bill, bank statement, or lease, each showing your name and Texas address, and each from a different source.
Driver education proof — the DE-964 certificate for teens, or the adult course certificate for first-time applicants ages 18–24.
An Impact Texas Drivers certificate if you’re taking the driving skills test — ITTD for teens, ITAD for adults. The certificate expires 90 days after completion; our guide to the Impact Texas Drivers program covers the timing.
The application fee — $16 under 18, $33 for ages 18–84, per the DPS driver license fee schedule.
Teens under 18 also bring their current VOE form. If the paperwork stack feels like the hardest part of the process, that’s normal — and it’s exactly what SafeWay’s teen driver education program walks families through, alongside the training itself.
Conclusion
Choosing between the DL-14A and DL-14B comes down to one number: 17 years and 10 months. From there, success at DPS is preparation — a freshly downloaded form filled out in ink, unsigned until you’re told, matched by original documents and the right certificates. Get those pieces in order and the appointment is the easy part.
The application proves who you are. Your training proves you’re ready to drive. SafeWay Driving handles the second part — and helps you get the first part right, too.
FAQ
What is a DL-14A form in Texas?
The DL-14A is the Texas Department of Public Safety application for a driver license or identification card, used by applicants who are 17 years and 10 months of age or older. It covers original applications, renewals, replacements, and name or address changes. You can download it free from the DPS website and complete it before your appointment.
What form do I use for a Texas driver license if I’m over 18?
Adults use Form DL-14A. If you’re 18–24 and applying for your first license, bring your adult driver education certificate with it; at 25 and older, the course is optional but the same DL-14A applies. Don’t use DL-14B — that’s the minor application and requires a parent’s signature.
What are two proofs of Texas residency?
Two documents that each show your name and Texas residence address, issued by two different sources — for example, a utility bill and a bank statement, or a lease agreement and a Texas voter registration card. Two documents from the same company don’t count as two proofs. A PO Box doesn’t work, because DPS needs your physical residence address.
Can I apply for a Texas driver license online?
Not as a first-time applicant — original license applications are handled in person at a DPS driver license office, with the printed DL-14A or DL-14B and your supporting documents. Some renewals and replacements can be completed online if you qualify. Filling the form out at home before your visit is the real time-saver.
How long is a DL-14A application good for?
DPS states on the form that applications are held for 90 days only. Practically, that means you should submit your application when you’re ready to complete every remaining step — testing included — within that window. DPS also notes that payment cannot be refunded once the application is submitted, so double-check your document stack first.
Ready to turn the paperwork into a license? SafeWay Driving trains new drivers across Texas with professional, patient instructors — find a SafeWay Driving location near you or contact us today to get started.