Driving in Texas
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Created by TC, updated 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013
Driver’s License
Auto Insurance
Parking
Getting Stopped by the Police
Driver’s License
•  All drivers need a valid license to drive.
•  Foreign Driver Licenses
•  If you have a foreign driver license, are between the ages of 18
and 75, and are now in Texas for an extended period or
permanently, Texas may recognize your license. . This only
applies for foreign nationals of countries that have reciprocity with
the United States―in other words, countries that offer a similar
privilege to U.S. citizens who are in their nation.
•  Check:
http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/other-license-info.php
to see if your country qualifies.
International License
•  If your country does not have a reciprocity
Driver's License agreement with Texas, an
International Driver's License will have to
be obtained for driving in the U.S.
particularly if your stay. Texas Department
of Public Safety has strict rules regarding
the length of stay and the ability to obtain
a Texas Driver's License.
Texas Driver’s License
Requirements
(Q 1-2)
1. I-20 Form
2. Passport
3. I-94
This is only valid for the
Arlington Office on
Arkansas Lane.
Extra Requirement for Those 18-24 Years
(Q 4)
•
18- to 24-year-old Driver License Applicants Must Take
•
Applicants must submit a certificate proving that they
successfully completed a driver education course approved by
the Texas Education Agency.
Applicants who present proof of successful completion of the
approved course
•
–  complete an approved 6 hour adult driver education course and
–  complete a driving skills test to become a licensed driver in Texas.
–  will not be required to submit to the written highway signs and traffic
laws test required under Texas Transportation Code, but
–  must still pass the driving skills examination.
Extra Requirement (cont.)
A list of approved courses can be found here: http://
•  www5.esc13.net/drivers/list-adult-online-driver-
•
education-schools.html
The cost of the online course varies.
For the approved courses, you must call each
one to ask for time and cost of classes.
Driver’s License & Lawful Entry
•  You must have proof of lawful entry in order to get an original,
renewal, or duplicate Texas driver licenses or identification
cards.
•  Cards issued will have
–  a temporary Visitor designation and
–  status date on the face of the card.
•  Applicants must present
–  passport,
–  visa, and
–  I-94 card that shows LAWFUL TEMPORARY ADMISSION to the U.S.
Renewal of Driver’s License and ID Card
•
1) Before the expiration of the Temporary Visitor status date, the
applicant must
–
–
–
•
•
Go personally to a driver license office,
Present valid documentation of
•
•
a status change or
extension of stay in the U.S.
obtain a duplicate (or renewal) with an updated Temporary Visitor status date.
2) If the applicant does not do Number 1 on or before the status
date expiration,
–
the card will be cancelled and
–
the person may not drive until the cancellation has been lifted.
3) If the expiration date of the card is on or before the Temporary
Visitor status date, documentation will be required to update the
Temporary Visitor status date when the card is renewed.
Texas Auto Insurance (Q 5)
•  You must have insurance before you register
your car.
•  Insurance covers damages to cars and
medical bills.
•  Insurance is not optional.
Texas Auto Insurance
•  There is a big choice of insurance coverage
(what insurance will pay).
•  You can compare companies to find the best
rate (what you pay).
•  The law requires minimum coverage.
•  Each company has its own requirements for
accepting you as a customer.
Basic Types of Insurance
Coverage
(Q 6)
This is the least amount of insurance. It pays for the
other person and his/her car. It doesn’t pay anything
for you or your car.
This part pays for you and your passengers.
This section protects you from
drivers who have no insurance or
not enough insurance.
This part is what most people refer to
as full coverage. This coverage pays
for damages to your auto.
Remember:
When you buy insurance, you need to
know what your insurance covers.
The minimum amounts required by Texas
law may not be enough to pay all of the
bills if you cause an accident.
Cheap is not always the
way to go!!!
Cost of Not Having Insurance
(Q7)
•  Texas law provides severe penalties for
violating the state's financial
responsibility laws.
•  A first conviction will result in a fine
between $175 and $350.
•  Subsequent convictions could result
–  in fines of $350 to $1,000,
–  suspension of your driver's license, and
- impoundment of your automobile.
“If you're not covered,
you'll be discovered."
(Q8)
•  Texas uses a real-time insurance
verification system called
TexasSure.
•  This allows law enforcement
officers and county tax officials
to instantly verify whether a
vehicle has the required auto
liability coverage.
Tip
(Q9)
Many ELI students borrow their friend’s car.
Please be aware that loaning your car could
be dangerous for you if your friend has an
accident.
In the last year many smaller insurance
companies are not honoring drivers whose
names don’t appear on the insurance form.
When this happens, all expenses are the
responsibility of the owner of the car.
Car Registration & Inspection
•  In addition to
keeping insurance
on your car and
maintaining it in
good working order,
you also need to
have a current
registration tag (top
one) and a current
inspection tag
(bottom one).
UTA Parking
(Q10)
You
cannot
have 2
decals.
You live off campus =
Permit from ELI.
You live on campus = Decal for the
place you live from the parking
office (1225 W. Mitchell St., Wetsel
Building)
The color will vary depending on
where you live.
How To Display Your Decals
(Q11 & 12)
•  The decal from ELI
is on the rear view
mirror.
•  The decal not from
ELI is on the left
side of the front
window.
Parking Rules
•  ELI decal: Park in
student parking
only.
•  For the other decals
you are limited to
parking at the
location the decal
indicates.
More Parking Rules
•  Don’t park over the lines.
(Q12)
More Parking Rules
Correct Parking >>>>
•  Pull into the parking
spot. Notice the
front end of the cars
are inside the
parking space.
Wrong Parking >>>>
(Q12)
More Parking Rules
•  If you park in the
wrong area, you will
get towed or
ticketed.
(Q13)
The End