The Teen License and Its Curfew
Transp. Code 545.424 — midnight to 5 a.m., one passenger under 21, and no phone
A driver under 18 can get a Class C license at 16 or older after a driver education course, school enrollment or a diploma, a parent's permission for school record checks, and the license exam, and only after holding a learner or hardship license for at least six months.
Who handles this in Texas: State Bar of Texas, Lawyer Referral and Information Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Texas directory.
| Under 18, no driving | Unless |
|---|---|
| Under 18, no drivingAfter midnight and before 5 a.m. | UnlessThe drive is needed for work, a school related activity or a medical emergency, or the driver is accompanied as a learner would be |
| Under 18, no drivingWith more than one passenger under 21 who is not family | UnlessThe driver is accompanied as a learner would be |
| Under 18, no drivingWhile using a wireless communication device | UnlessIt is an emergency |
Not a reason for a stop. A peace officer may not stop a vehicle or detain its driver for the sole purpose of finding out whether the driver has broken these rules.
Using a phone while driving under 18 carries a fine of $25 to $99, and $100 to $200 after an earlier conviction. Family farm work counts as employment for the hours.
A curfew that keeps a minor off the street, as opposed to out from behind the wheel, is set locally where it exists and is not on this page. A particular ticket is a question for a licensed Texas attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Transp. Code 545.424 — Operation of a vehicle by a person under 18
- Transp. Code 521.204 — Restrictions on a minor's driver's license
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.