Driving

For the State ID you will need to complete an application form, show your passport, visa stamp, I-94 card or printout, immigration status documents, proof of residency, and pay the application fee. You must have been a resident of Texas for at least 30 days to apply for a Texas ID Card or Driver License. You may not have both a state ID and Driver License, so if you are applying for a Driver License, there is no need to apply for a state ID.

1. Study the TEXAS DRIVERS HANDBOOK, published by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), as you will need to take a written exam.
2. Provide proof of identity.
3. Provide proof of valid immigration status.
4. Provide proof of Texas residency.
5. Provide proof of SSN or sign an affidavit affirming you are not currently eligible for an SSN.
6. Provide proof of having completed the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) requirements.
7. Provide proof of Texas vehicle registration and proof of liability insurance for your car if you own one.
8. Complete required forms available at any Texas Driver License office.
9. Pay the required application fee.
10. Pass a vision exam – take your glasses or contact lenses if you need them to drive.
11. Pass a written exam – the exam consists of two parts, road rules and road signs. The passing score is 70% on these two sections.
12. Pass a driving exam – upon passing the written exam you will need to schedule a driving exam (please note that you will usually not be able to take this road test on the same day). You will need to provide your own car for the driving test. If you do not own a car, you may consider using the Zipcar service available on-campus.
13. For individuals between the ages of 18 to 24, you will also require proof of having taken an approved driver's education course. For approved courses, click here.
14. For additional information, please see our DPS Frequently Asked Questions page.

Getting around in Houston without a car is not easy; yet owning a car is not a simple matter. One can never seem to be free of worry when they have a car. Some problem, responsibility, or detail presents itself daily: registration, insurance, inspections, license tag renewal, and maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! Still, most people cannot seem to resist the lure of owning this bright, shiny, powerful expression of who they are – or who they think they are – no matter how much trouble a car may be. Are you one of those who HAS to have a car? (Most of us are!) If so, you need to be aware of a few things before you even think of shopping for that Dream Machine. Otherwise you may want to take a look at our "Surviving in Houston without a Car" article.

 

Purchasing a new car is great – if you can afford it. International students seldom have established credit, and thus, must pay cash for their cars. This puts most, then, in the position of looking at used cars which usually do not require credit references and most of the time can be purchased with cash. However, if you are not careful, purchasing a used car may cost more in the long run. It pays to be informed when making any purchase. Especially when buying a car from a private seller, there are several things one must learn about to ensure that they are in compliance with the law and not being scammed. A former visiting scholar at Rice has provided OISS with the following information:

• Get an overview on used car prices. Very helpful free sites are Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guide and Kelley's Blue Book.
• Before making a test drive: Find out if you need liability insurance. In some cases, the current owner's insurance will cover any driver. Many times, however, if you want to drive on public streets, you will need your own liability policy first. If at all possible, have the car inspected by a mechanic before you make any commitment to buying it.
• Before buying the car: Get all the information on automobile insurance policies, including liability, comprehensive, and collision costs for the vehicle model, make, and year. Get the vehicle identification number. Ask to see the Title ("Certificate of Title") of the car. All the information needed to inquire about insurance for this particular car will appear on the Title. (This will also prove that the person selling you the car is the owner). Important: Make sure that no liens are recorded on the Title. (If money is owed on the car, another name will appear in the space for "lienholder.") In addition, the "clear" Title (no debts are held against the car) is blue, and the temporary Title (proof of sole ownership has not yet been issued) is red.
• Make arrangements with the insurance company you have chosen to begin the coverage, especially the liability insurance required by law, before you meet with the seller to finalize the transaction. Learn more about car insurance here.
• When buying the car: Take the amount of money agreed upon and in the form agreed upon (cash, check, etc.) to the pre-arranged site of the sale. Complete the form titled "Bill of Sale and Invoice." Both buyer and seller must sign. It is preferable to have the signatures notarized, but if there is no notary at the site of the sale, it is good idea to take someone with you who can witness the transaction. Complete the form "Application for Texas Certificate of Title." Be sure the instructions are printed on the back of the form. The seller signs on line 22; the buyer signs on line 23. The buyer and seller also sign on the indicated lines on the back of the Title.
• After buying the car: Take the Title, "Application for Texas Certificate of Title," and the "Bill of Sale and Invoice" to a Harris County Tax Office. You will pay a fee and the sales tax on the vehicle (approximately 6.25% of the sales price of the car) to transfer the Title to you, the new owner. The seller need not go to the Tax Office with you. You should receive your Title by mail within 4 to 6 weeks. For more information on how to register your car, click here.

Perhaps you don’t want to buy a car, but you need one occasionally for moving, shopping, or going on a road trip.

 

Become a member of the Zipcar program on campus! Any international student or scholar who is 18 years of age or older with an international or U.S. driver license may sign up for this program for a $25 membership fee. Once you sign up, you can rent the car by the hour or by the day and not have to worry about gas or insurance since it is included in the rental price. You can reserve the car online and let yourself in with your Zipcard. If you need to use the car to take a driving test at DPS, you just have to notify Zipcar a week ahead of time so they can produce the insurance letter for the car (which you will need to provide when you get to DPS).

 

If you do not have a U.S. driver license, you will need to submit a driving record from your home country. Further information about this requirement is available on http://www.zipcar.com/apply/foreign-drivers.

 

Find out more about the Zipcar and sign up at http://www.zipcar.com/universities/rice-university.