This guide is for Texas teens (age 15-17) who need to get a driver’s license early due to a family emergency or economic hardship. This license is officially called a Minor Restricted Driver License (MRDL), but most people know it as the “Texas Hardship License.”
IMPORTANT: This is NOT the license for a DUI or suspended license. If your license was suspended, you need an Occupational Driver License (ODL), which is a completely different court-ordered process. This guide is only for new minor drivers.
The MRDL is difficult to get and is approved on a case-by-case basis. You cannot just go to your local DPS office. You must submit a detailed application by mail to the DPS Headquarters in Austin.
Who is Eligible for an MRDL?
To qualify, you must be at least 15, have your learner’s permit, and prove one of these four specific hardships:
- Economic Hardship: Your family’s finances depend on you. (e.g., you are the only person who can drive to your job to help pay family bills).
- Family Medical Hardship: A member of your family is sick or disabled, and you are the only person who can drive them to medical appointments.
- Death of a Family Member: A family member who normally drove other members of the household has died, and you must take over those driving duties.
- Vocational School: You are enrolled in a vocational education program and have no other way to get to your classes.
How to Apply for a Texas Hardship License (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Complete Driver’s Education
You must complete a full Texas Driver’s Education course (either parent-taught, online, or in-person). When you finish, you will receive a DE-964 (or DE-964E) Certificate of Completion. This is a required document.
Step 2: Get Your Learner’s Permit
You must apply for your learner’s permit and pass the written knowledge test at a DPS office. You must hold this permit for a minimum of 6 months and complete your 30 hours of behind-the-wheel driving practice before you can be issued the MRDL.
Step 3: Gather Your Application Documents
This is the most important part. You will need to mail a package with all of the following:
- Form
DL-77(Application for Hardship License): This is the cover sheet where you check the box for your hardship type. - A Detailed Letter: A personal letter, written by you or your parents, explaining your hardship in detail.
- Good Example: “My mother was diagnosed with [Illness] and must attend dialysis three times a week. My father works from 6 AM to 6 PM and cannot drive her. I am the only other person in the household. Here is a letter from her doctor and my father’s work schedule.”
- Bad Example: “I need to drive.”
- Form
DL-14A(Application for Texas Driver License): The standard, filled-out application. - Form
DE-964(Driver’s Ed Certificate): The original, official certificate. - Form
VOE(Verification of Enrollment): A form from your high school proving you are currently enrolled and have good attendance. - Supporting Evidence: This is critical. Include doctor’s notes, death certificates, letters from employers, etc., to prove your claim.
Step 4: Mail Your Application to Austin
Do not take this to a local DPS office. All MRDL applications must be mailed to the DPS headquarters in Austin for review.
Mailing Address: Texas Department of Public Safety Attn: Driver Issuance – Hardship P.O. Box 4087 Austin, TX 78773-0320
Step 5: Wait for a Decision
This process can take 4 to 6 weeks. The DPS will review your packet and mail you either an approval letter or a denial letter.
- If Approved: You will take your approval letter to your local DPS office to take your driving test and get your restricted license.
- If Denied: The letter will explain why. You cannot appeal the decision.
Texas Hardship License (MRDL) FAQ
The only fee is the $25 standard driver’s license issuance fee, which you pay at the local DPS office after your application is approved. There is no $130 reinstatement fee.
No. You must be at least 15 years old to apply.
You must hold your learner’s permit for a minimum of 6 months AND be at least 15 years old before the MRDL can be issued.
The license will have restrictions. You will likely only be allowed to drive to or from the location specified in your hardship (e.g., “To and from school” or “To and from [Doctor’s Office]”). You will also be subject to all other GDL restrictions, like no driving with more than one minor passenger.
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