Apply for a chauffeur permit

Applicants interested in chauffeur permitting should note the following:

• Chauffeur permits may be renewed within 30 days prior to the expiration date. There is no grace period on expired chauffeur permits.
• The Ground Transportation Office does not provide copies of any documents.
• The chauffeur permit application should be notarized in Travis County prior to submitting for review to the Ground Transportation Office. The Ground Transportation Office can notarize the application for an additional $6.00 charge.
• If the applicant is not a U.S. citizen, the applicant must bring a Green Card, Resident Card, I-90, employment authorization, or Social Security card along with a Texas driver's license.
• Applicants must provide proof of a successfully completed defensive driving course for any moving violation convictions that occurred within the past 3 years.
• Applicants must have a certified driving record from all states resided in within the past 3 years.
• If you have recently renewed your driver's license and are due for an extension, you must schedule an appointment prior to the permit expiring. 
• The application costs $25.00. Methods of payment accepted: credit and debit card, exact cash, money order, cashier's check and personal check (as long as it is not a temporary check). Make checks payable to the City of Austin.

1. Download and print the Chauffeur Permit Application form (1.12MB).
2. Carefully read and follow the instructions on the first page to gather everything you need for the application.
3. Fill out the form, but do not sign it. You must sign it in front of a notary in Travis County. Our office can notarize the form for an additional charge of $6.00.
4. Schedule an appointment to take the Chauffeur Permit Test. Send an email to MobilityServices@AustinTexas.gov or call (512) 974-7857 to make an appointment. When you call or email, confirm that our office has received the results of your background check.
5. Prepare for the test with our study guide (717 KB).
6. Come to our office to take the test. We are located at 1501 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX, 78704. Bring the following items:
   1. Completed and notarized Chauffeur Permit Application (1.12MB).
   2. Texas 3A Driving Record (and records from any other states you have lived in within the past three years)
   3. Copy of valid Texas driver's license
   4. $25.00 application fee.
   5. For non-U.S. citizens: a Green Card, Resident Card, I-90, employment authorization, or Social Security card
   6. If needed: proof of a successfully completed defensive driving course for any moving violation convictions that occurred within the past 3 years
7. If you pass the test, you will be issued a chauffeur permit that same day.
8. If you do not pass, you may take the test once per day for up to three days. If you do not pass after three attempts, you must come back after thirty days with new documents.

Conditional chauffer permits

Applicants with an out-of-state driver's license may receive a conditional chauffeur permit. The permit is valid for 90 days. If you receive a Texas driver's license while the conditional permit is valid, you can convert the conditional permit to a full permit.