How to Obtain a Free Birth Certificate, driver’s license, ID, or driver’s education in Texas: Instructions and the Law
Learn how to obtain vital records in Texas with our comprehensive guide. Understand the legal requirements and follow our step-by-step instructions to navigate the process smoothly.
Who Qualifies for the Fee Exemptions?
Texas uses the federal definition of a homeless child or youth as set forth in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) and includes situations such as:
- You are staying in a home that is not yours or your parent’s (or legal guardian’s) because you had to leave your home
- You are in an unstable living situation, without a safe or steady home
- You are sleeping in a motel, car, tent, abandoned building, or public place
- You are staying in a shelter or transitional living program
OR If you are in foster care you also qualify for the fee exemptions.
How Do I Get My Birth Certificate for Free in Texas?
- Fill out this application form.
- Get this form completed by your school counselor (or if you are in a shelter or program for youth experiencing homelessness, someone at the program can complete the form).
- Mail those two forms with a copy of your ID (see here for ID requirements) to this address. Or bring the forms to a local office with your ID and turn them in right there.
How Do I Get My Identification Card and Driver’s License for Free in Texas?
- Fill out this application form.
- Get this form completed by your school counselor (or if you are in a shelter or program for youth experiencing homelessness, someone at the program can complete the form).
- Get proof of your identity (check here for the different ways to prove your identity).
- Get proof of your Social Security number (check here for ways to prove that).
- Grab your original birth certificate (not a copy).
- Make an appointment to bring everything to your local DMV office.
How Do I Get My Driver’s Education for Free in Texas?
Texas also has a program for free driver’s education for youth who are younger than 26 years old and aged out of the Texas Foster Care system or have experienced homelessness. The Youth Driver Education Funding Program pays for driver education classes, behind-the-wheel training, and driver tests.
- If you think you may be eligible for the program, complete the application
- After completing the online application, you will receive an email containing your unique DEFY Identification Number. After submitting the online application, you will have 10 calendar days to submit your eligibility documents to drivereducationprogram@twc.texas.gov. Make sure to include your DEFY number in the subject line of your email.
You can find more information on the Texas Workforce Commission Driver’s Education Program website as well as this resource for applicants.
If you run into any trouble…
Below is a list of relevant laws you can present to your school, the vital records office for obtaining a birth certificate, the DMV when applying for a driver’s license or ID, or with the Texas Workforce Commission for driver’s education.
Also, if the vital records office or DMV won’t give you your documents, you can contact the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project at 877-313-3688 or info@texasfosteryouth.org for help (even if you have not been in foster care).
Texas State Laws
Health & Safety Code §191.0049
On request of a child or youth described by this section, the state registrar, a local registrar, or a county clerk shall issue, without fee or parental consent, a certified copy of the child’s or youth’s birth record to:
(1) a homeless child or youth as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a;
(2) a child in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services; and
(3) a young adult who:
(A) is at least 18 years of age, but younger than 21 years of age; and
(B) resides in a foster care placement, the cost of which is paid by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
(a) In this section:
(1) “Foster child or youth” means:
(A) a child in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services; or
(B) a young adult who:
(i) is at least 18 years of age, but younger than 21 years of age; and
(ii) resides in a foster care placement, the cost of which is paid by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
(2) “Homeless child or youth” has the meaning assigned by 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a.
(b) This section applies to the application for a personal identification certificate only for a foster child or youth or a homeless child or youth.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 521.101 (Personal Identification Certificate), Section 521.1426 (Domicile Requirement; Verification), or any other provision of this chapter, a child or youth described by Subsection (b) may, in applying for a personal identification certificate:
(1) provide a copy of the child’s or youth’s birth certificate as proof of the child’s or youth’s identity and United States citizenship, as applicable; and
(2) if the child or youth does not have a residence or domicile:
(A) provide a letter certifying the child or youth is a homeless child or youth issued by:
(i) the school district in which the child or youth is enrolled;
(ii) the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program
funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; or
(iii) the director of:
- a basic center for runaway and homeless youth; or
- a transitional living program; or
(B) use the address of the regional office where the Department of Family and Protective Services caseworker for the child or youth is based.
(d) A child or youth described by Subsection (b) may apply for and the department may issue a personal identification certificate without the signature or presence of or permission from a parent or guardian of the child or youth.
(e) The department shall exempt a child or youth described by Subsection (b) from the payment of any fee for the issuance of a personal identification certificate under this chapter, subject to Section 521.4265 (Identification Fee Exemption Account).
A person is exempt from the payment of any fee for the issuance of a driver’s license, as provided under this chapter, if that person is:
(1) younger than 18 years of age and in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services;
(2) at least 18 years of age, but younger than 21 years of age, and resides in a foster care placement, the cost of which is paid by the Department of Family and Protective Services;
(3) a homeless child or youth as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a;
(4) a victim of dating violence as defined by Section 71.0021, Family Code;
(5) a victim of family violence as defined by Section 51.002, Human Resources Code; or
(6) a child of a victim described by Subdivision (4) or (5).
(a) Unless prohibited under Section 521.4265(c), the Texas Workforce Commission shall on request pay the fees associated with meeting a requirement imposed under this subchapter or Chapter 1001, Education Code, for a person who is:
(1) eligible for a driver’s license fee exemption under Section 521.1811; or
(2) younger than 26 years of age and:
(A) was in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and
Protective Services on the day before the person’s 18th birthday; or
(B) is a homeless child or youth as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a.
(b) The Texas Workforce Commission by rule shall establish a process by which:
(1) a person described by Subsection (a) may apply to that commission for the payment of fees under this section; and
(2) that commission pays fees associated with meeting a requirement imposed under this subchapter or Chapter 1001, Education Code, to appropriate entities on behalf of the person described by Subsection (a).
Subchapter A. Youth Driver Education Funding Program Eligibility
Unless prohibited under Texas Transportation Code, §521.4265(c), the Agency shall, upon request from an individual who meets the eligibility criteria in this section, pay the fees associated with obtaining a driver’s license imposed under Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 521, Subchapter H, or Texas Education Code, Chapter 1001. Eligible individuals for the Youth Driver Education Funding Program include individuals:
(1) eligible for a driver’s license fee exemption under Texas Transportation Code, §521.1811; or
(2) younger than 26 years of age who were or are:
(A) in the managing conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on the day before the individual’s 18th birthday; or
(B) a homeless child or youth as defined by 42 United States Code §11434a.
Subchapter B. Use of Youth Driver Education Funds
(a) To receive a driver education fee waiver, an eligible individual must identify a driver education provider with whom he or she intends to enroll that:
(1) is registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration as a certified
Texas driver education provider;
(2) is a registered vendor in accordance with rules established by the Agency and the
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; and
(3) charges a rate that does not exceed twice the average rate of all other certified Texas driver education providers within a 30-mile radius of the selected certified Texas driver education provider’s physical location. For driver education providers providing online instruction, their rate will be compared to the average rate for online driver education instruction available in Texas.
(b) Once a driver education provider is selected, the eligible individual must visit a website designated by the Agency to complete and submit via the website, email, or mail, the Driver Education Waiver Request Form, which includes:
(1) individual eligibility verification; and
(2) Youth Driver Education Funding Program eligibility verification.
(c) Agency staff shall review the form within five business days of submission and notify the requestor of the individual’s eligibility status. If staff is unable to determine eligibility, staff will make reasonable efforts to contact the individual for further information.
(d) Once participant and Youth Driver Education Funding Program eligibility are determined, Agency staff shall:
(1) for an eligible individual, submit a payment request on the individual’s behalf to the
Agency’s Finance Division; or
(2) for an ineligible individual, send a response to the individual alerting them of their ineligibility.
(e) After an eligible participant has completed enrollment with the selected provider, or submitted documentation that enrollment cannot be completed without payment, the Agency’s Finance Division shall review and process the payment request in keeping with Agency policies and procedures regarding fee payment, and if sufficient funds have been transferred from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to the Agency. If enrollment is not possible without payment, TWC will work with applicants to enroll them at time of payment.
(f) An eligible participant who does not complete driver education or a test paid for under this chapter must wait for a period of three months before they enroll in a new course or test to be paid for by this chapter. An eligible participant may have the required waiting period waived by providing a written attestation describing the circumstances that prevented them from attending or completing the driver education or test and explaining why they assert the circumstances were outside their control.
(g) The Agency shall pay driver education providers for services provided to an eligible individual from the fund after the individual’s application receives approval from the Agency, the driver’s education provider submits required payment documentation that is accurate and complete, and the individual submits a completed driver education enrollment agreement.
(h) All Youth Driver Education Funding Program uses described in this chapter shall be monitored and reported on as required by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Agency, and DPS.
(i) Driver education providers shall repay to the Agency improper payments received or refunds due for driver education funded under this chapter in instances:
(1) involving fraud committed by the driver education provider;
(2) in which the provider was paid for driver education from another source;
(3) in which the provider did not deliver driver education; or
(4) in which a refund is due under Texas Education Code, Chapter 1001, Subchapter I.