If you are anticipating a move from a different state to the state of Texas, you need to follow my very simple and easy to understand instructions in order to make the transfer as painless as possible.
1. First, visit this Web Site to understand where you need to start-
2. Next, read the following information related to your license transfer-
TX Driver’s License/ID Cards
When you move to Texas, you’ll need to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license to the state within 90 days of establishing residency. You’ll need to visit your local TX DPS office in person with various documents and payment for the driver’s license fee. You will also need to surrender your out-of-state driver’s license.
3. Apply for Your New Texas Driver’s License
Once you’re ready to apply for your new driver’s license, visit your local driver license office and:
• Submit a completed Application for Texas Driver License or ID Card (Form DL-14A).
• Present appropriate proof of ID. The TX DPS provides a full list of accepted documents, but expect to bring:
o Proof of identity, which could include:
1 primary document (e.g. passport, military ID, etc.).
OR
2 secondary documents (e.g. birth certificate, Certificate of Birth Abroad, etc.).
OR
1 secondary document AND 2 supporting documents (e.g. Social Security card, voter registration card, 1099, etc.).
o Proof of Social Security number (e.g., Social Security card, W-2 or 1099)*.
o Proof of lawful presence in the U.S. (e.g., birth certificate, I-94).
o Proof of residency (2 documents) (e.g., current mortgage statement, medical card, etc.)*.
*Note. Texas requires very specific documentation to prove identity, social security number and residency. Please check the state approved documents list to make sure you have the correct supporting documents.
• If you are a new resident, present proof of TX vehicle registration.
• Present proof of auto insurance for each vehicle you own OR an affidavit that you don’t own a vehicle.
• Surrender your out-of-state or out-of-country license (if applicable).
• Pass the knowledge exam and driving test (unless you’re exempt).*
• Pay the $25 new driver’s license fee.
o Applicants 85 years old and over pay a $9 driver’s license fee.
o Disabled veterans may be able to waive the fee. (See “Fee Exemption for Disabled Veterans”)
4. Once you’ve met all of the above requirements, you’ll be issued a receipt which you can use to drive legally until your new license arrives. Your permanent Texas driver’s license will be mailed to you within 3 weeks.
5. Your license expires 6 years after the issue date on your birthday.
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Sounds pretty simple, right?
Now I will walk you through what really happened today when my wife and I tried to get our Texas Driver’s License.
9:00- arrived at the Driver’s Licenses office.
9:05- stood in line along with twenty other people in the hall “outside” the office for the waiting room was completely filled.
9:20- visited with an older woman who explained to us that this was the second time she had tried to get her license transferred. The first time, after waiting in line for hours, she was told that she needed her marriage certificate in order to register due to the fact that her husband had recently died.
9:30- the same woman was told that because the title of their new car was in her husband’s name, she needed to have the title transferred into her name before she could get her license.
9:31- we sadly waved goodbye to the same lady as she stormed down the stairs and out the door.
10:00- we were given numbers and directed to fill out additional forms as we waited in the main waiting room along with 50 other people.
10:35- an announcement was made saying “Unfortunately, this offices connection to all information related to Pass Ports has crashed and you will not be able to use your Pass Port for identification purposes today”.
10:36- My wife eased my concern for this situation saying, “It’s OK we have our SS cards, Missouri Driver’s License, title for our car, tax records, etc. we’ll be fine”.
10:37- my heart started up again and I could soon take short, belabored breaths.
11:00- our numbers were called and we sat in front of a very nice lady who checked our SS cards and Missouri driver’s licenses.
11:05- we were told that my wife needed to go to another desk to fill out her application with another clerk; even though my wife had done all of the “filling in” on both applications and I had no idea what was going on.
11:10- then I was asked when I had my stints put in and instructed to fill out another form.
11:15- after filling out my “stint form” to the best of my ability, I handed it back to her upon which she handed it back saying, “you need to fill out the date of the procedure, the first time you were diagnosed with a heart problem, when you last saw your doctor and when you will be visiting with your doctor in the future.
Now I must admit that I am not the most perceptive, fact intensive, practical person in the world but for most of my life I have been able to get by with humorous prattle such as, “How should I know, I’m a professor” or “I don’t know my wife takes care of that” or “I’m an artist, we don’t bother with things like that”!
11:20- eventually I was asked to place my two thumbs on a small section of glass so that my thumb prints could be recorded. Then I was told to stand in front of a backdrop for my picture. At this point I knew we were about to escape with our new Texas Driver’s License.
11:30- shock fell upon the face of the clerk finishing my license request.
11:30:01- she explained that the only thing I had to do was pay the fee and leave.
11:30:10- she also shared with me the fact that the whole system had now crashed!
11:30:20- I stopped breathing again.
11:31- my clerk feverishly started rebooting her system and final informed me that this happens from time to time and she didn’t know how long it would be before we could complete our current task.
11:32- I visited with the clerk for some time and realized that nothing was going on in the room except a few heated comments from persons also waiting for their Driver’s License.
11:35- by now I knew how many children the clerk had, where they went to school, what instruments they played in band, where her son when to college, how long it took to get her dreadlocks done and a few hundred other unimportant facts about a computer and its lot in life.
11:40- due to the fact that all we had to do is pay the fee, I asked if we could return later, after the computer glitch was repaired and was told that that would be fine.
12:00- my wife and I enjoyed a very nice lunch at a restaurant around the corner and as we ate, we laughed at our most recent debacle.
