The quick answer
DL-14A is the Texas adult driver license application. If you are an adult applying for a Texas driver license, this is the form to bring to DPS. It does not replace your adult drivers ed certificate, ITAD certificate, or residency documents. It is the application that goes with the rest of your paperwork.
Do not bring DL-14B. DL-14B is the minor application. Adults use DL-14A and sign for themselves.
DL-14A vs DL-14B
The names are easy to mix up. The difference is simple:
| Form | Who it is for | Adult drivers ed student? |
|---|---|---|
| DL-14A | Adult driver license or ID applicants | Yes. Use this form. |
| DL-14B | Minor driver license or ID applicants | No. This is not the adult form. |
If you found an old page talking about DL-14B for an adult license appointment, ignore it and use DL-14A instead.
What DL-14A asks for
DL-14A asks for the basic information DPS needs: your legal name, birth date, Social Security number if applicable, Texas residence address, mailing address if different, previous license history, citizenship or legal-status answers, and required declarations.
Fill it out carefully. DPS compares the application against the documents you bring. Small mismatches can create friction at the counter.
How to fill it out without creating DPS problems
- Use your legal name. Match your identity document. Do not use nicknames, shortened names, or a different last name without name-change documentation.
- Use your physical Texas residence address. A PO Box can be a mailing address, but it is not your residential address for residency proof.
- Answer previous-license questions accurately. If you have held a license or permit in another state or country, answer honestly. DPS checks driver history.
- Bring matching residency proof. Your two printed residency documents should show your name and Texas residential address.
- Print a clean copy. If your handwriting is hard to read, fill the PDF digitally where possible, print it, then sign where required.
Where the adult drivers ed certificate fits
Your ADE-1317 Certificate of Completion is separate from DL-14A. DL-14A tells DPS what you are applying for. The ADE-1317 proves you finished the TDLR-approved six-hour adult drivers ed course.
For first-time applicants ages 18-24, the adult driver education course is required. For applicants 25 and older, it is optional, but if you take it, the ADE-1317 shows DPS that you completed the course and passed the in-course written exam. Either way, the course does not replace the vision or road test.
Happy Drivers Ed is a TDLR-approved provider, Provider #C3476. You can start the six-hour course for $39.95, finish online, and download your certificate when you complete it.
Common DL-14A mistakes
The form itself is not difficult, but the details matter. These are the mistakes we would avoid:
- Bringing DL-14B instead of DL-14A.
- Writing a nickname instead of the legal name on your identity document.
- Putting a PO Box where DPS expects a physical residence address.
- Forgetting to bring two printed proofs of Texas residency.
- Assuming DL-14A replaces your ADE-1317 or ITAD certificate.
- Relying on an old fee amount instead of checking DPS directly.
The smart order before DPS
- Finish the Texas adult drivers ed course if it is required for your age or if you want to complete the written-test part before DPS.
- Download and print your ADE-1317 Certificate of Completion.
- Download the official DL-14A, fill it out, and print it.
- Gather identity, Social Security, and two Texas residency documents.
- Complete ITAD before the road test and print that certificate.
- Use the DPS appointment checklist to confirm every item before you leave.
Official links
- DPS: DL-14A Adult Driver License Application PDF
- DPS: Apply for a Texas Driver License
- DPS: Texas Residency Requirement