Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts - Fiscal 2024
Revenue Object 3025 – Driver's License Fees – Operator, Chauffeurs and Commercial

Each operator of a motor vehicle in Texas is required to hold a valid driver's license.

1. Fee is $32 for most driver’s licenses (classes A, B, and C) including originals and renewals, issued for eight years. Commercial licenses are $96.
2. An occupational driver's license is $10 renewable annually.
3. Changing from a lower to higher class license or adding a type of vehicle (other than a motorcycle) is a fee of $10.
4. Learner license or provisional license is $15.
5. A duplicate license, commercial license or commercial learner’s permit is $10.
6. Motorcycle (Class M) license requires regular drivers license ($32) plus:
   1. Applicants requesting additional authorization on a new license application to operate a motorcycle must pay $15.
   2. Renewal of a class A, B, or C license that already includes motorcycle authorization includes a fee increase of $11.
7. A general reinstatement fee of a suspended/revoked license under Transportation Code 521 is $100. Additional reinstatement fees may apply based on the nature of the suspension/revocation.
   1. Reinstatement fee is $100 for those placed on community supervision after conviction of DWI under Penal Code 49.04-49.08.
   2. Reinstatement fee is $125 due to an administrative license revocation after arrest for DWI. Paid in addition to any other required fees for suspension.
   3. Reinstatement fee after automatic revocation for an offense involving certain fraudulent governmental records is $100.
8. Fee for issue or renewal of a driver’s license, provisional license, commercial license, learner license or hardship license issued to a person subject to registration under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedures (Sex Offender Registration Program) is $20. Commercial learner's permit is $24.
9. Voluntary $1 fee on license issue or renewal to fund the Blindness Education Screening and Treatment Program established under Section 91.027, Human Resources Code.
10. A judge may require an examination of a defendant under 25 on deferred adjudication for a misdemeanor traffic violation holding a provisional license. The reimbursement fee for examination is $10. Deposited to General Revenue. (art. 45.051(b-2)
11. For persons 85 years or older, the issue and renewal fee of a driver's license is $8 and a commercial driver’s license or commercial learner’s permit is $25, and expires after two years.
12. Fee for a nonresident commercial driver's license is $120. Fee for a temporary nonresident commercial license is $20.
13. Fee for issuing enhanced license for additional personal protection in amounts necessary to implement and administer the program.
14. Driver’s license and commercial license fee is set by the department for a person whose residence is a correctional or parole facility.
15. Fee of $24 for a driver’s license valid for one year issued to a person who is not a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the U.S.
16. $10 fee for revocation of statement of anatomical gift on a driver's license.
17. $60 fee for commercial driver's license hazardous materials endorsement. Expires in five years.

Disabled veterans, foster or homeless youth, individuals with CPR certification, victims and children of victims of family violence, are exempt from the driver's license fees.

Time of application for license before operating vehicle.

The first dollar from each driver's license fee was deposited in the Public Safety Building Fund (No. 0081) until 9-1-85. For period 9-1-83 thru 8-31-85 25¢ of the driver's license fee was deposited to the Rail Passenger Service Study Fund (No. 0505) (created by H.B. 1273, 68th Leg., R.S., effective 1-1-84.)

(2) and (4) amended by S.B. 288, 68th Leg., R.S., effective 9-1-83.

(1), (4), (5), and (6c) amended by H.B. 1593, 69th Leg., R.S., effective 9-1-85.

(1), (4), (5), and (6c) amended by H.B. 1935 and S.B. 859, 71st Leg., R.S., effective 9-1-89.

(1), amended by H.B. 11, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S.

(3) and (5) amended by H.B. 1126, 72nd Leg., R.S.

Fees were deposited to the Operators and Chauffeurs License Fund (0099) until H.B. 3050, 74th Leg., R.S. exempted 0099 as an account from loss of dedication (§ 403.094, Government Code) for court costs and for federal amounts. Account 0099 was not exempted for fees, therefore deposit was changed to General Revenue (0001).

(3) amended and (6a) added S.B. 99, 75th Leg., R.S.

(6b) added by H.B. 1200, 75th Leg., R.S.

(7a) added by H.B. 434, 72nd Leg., R.S. Amended by S.B. 510 and S.B. 371, 73rd Leg.

(7c) added by H.B.1048, 75th Leg., R.S.

(7) and (7a) amended by S.B. 370 76th Leg., R.S.

(7) amended by H.B. 3641, 76th Leg., R.S.

(7b) amended by H.B. 63, 77th Leg., R.S.

(8) Added by H.B. 2663, 77th Leg., R.S.

(9) Added by S.B. 1403, 75th Leg., R.S., effective 9-1-97.

H.B. 3588, 78th Leg., R.S. and H.B. 2, 78th Leg., 3rd C.S. provided for revenues to be deposited into the Texas Mobility Fund (No. 0365) beginning 9-1-05.

S.B. 1863, 79th Leg., R.S. changed the deposit of most of these fees from the Mobility Fund (0365) to General Revenue (0001) for the 2006-07 biennium.

(10) Added by S.B. 1005, 79th Leg., R.S.

Change of address certificate repealed by H.B. 1789, 79th Leg., R.S. and replaced with issue of duplicate license ($10 fee). H.B. 1789 repealed disability certificate fee under 521.423.

(11) Added by H.B. 84, 80th Leg., R.S.

(12) Added by S.B. 1260, 80th Leg., R.S.

(13) Added by S.B. 11, 80th Leg., R.S. The fee is required for constitutional purposes under Art. 3, § 49-K and could not be used for the DPS program.

(14) Added by H.B. 2161, 81st Leg., R.S.

(15) Added by S.B. 1, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S. eff. 9-28-11.

Disabled veterans exempted by H.B. 1148, 82nd Leg., R.S.

Commercial learner's permit under (8) increased to $24 by H.B. 1888, 84th Leg, R.S.

(16) Added by H.B. 3283, 84th Leg., R.S.

Instruction permit changed to learner license by H.B. 3050, 85th Leg., R.S.

Exemptions for foster youth added by H.B. 123 and individuals with CPR certification added by H.B. 1078, 86th Leg., R.S.

Moped fees (6 (c)) eliminated by H.B. 3171, 86th Leg., R.S.

(10) amended by S.B. 346, 86th Leg., R.S. 

S.B. 616, 86th Leg., R.S. increased fees and added (17). Effective for licenses issued/renewed after June 1, 2020.

Exemptions for victims of family violence added by S.B. 798, 87th Leg., R.S.

(2) amended by H.B. 291, 88th Leg., R.S.