Well, this page seems to have become extremely popular according to Google Search Console insights. If you are getting your learner's permit, I hope you might come back this way after you have it to schedule some driving lessons with me 🙂 Â
And if you are getting ready to take your driving test, I would be very happy to do a lesson or two to help you get ready for that and even take you through a practice test, if you like!
How to (Hopefully!) Get a Same-Day Appointment at DPS
Most people try to do this by going to the DPS office very early in the morning (like 6 AM) and getting in line. If they are one of the first dozen or so people in line, DPS might give them an appointment later that same day.
But there is an easier way!
1) From the comfort of your own home, go to the DPS scheduler website at about 7:00 AM (or you could get on even a bit earlier to cover all your bases -- but you'll have to be extra patient 🙂). Enter your information, tap the LOG ON button, then NEW APPOINTMENT.
2) On the next screen, select the service you need:
If you are wanting to get your learner's permit, select APPLY FOR FIRST TIME TEXAS DL/PERMIT at the top. Â (If this service is grayed out, choose "CHANGE, REPLACE OR RENEW TEXAS DL/PERMIT.")
If you are wanting to get your license after passing your driving test at a driving school, choose CHANGE, REPLACE OR RENEW TEXAS DL/PERMIT. When asked if you want "skip the wait" and complete the transaction online, answer No (you cannot do this online, since you need to give them your results envelope). Note: If you don't see this service listed, choose "APPLY FOR FIRST TIME TEXAS DL/PERMIT." You just need to get yourself in the door, and then you can explain 🙂
If you are wanting to take your driving test/road test, scroll down to the section entitled Road Skills Tests and Select CLASS C.Â
3) Enter your phone number, email address, and contact preference. Leave the "Day of the Week" set to Any Day and enter your ZIP Code, then tap/click the NEXT button at the bottom of the page as shown below:Â
4) On the next screen, you will see a "Selected Location" and below that, "Other Suggested Locations". For each location, you will see "Next Available Date". These are likely to be between one and three months out, depending on the service you selected. But don't worry; we're not done yet!
5) Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the PREVIOUS button to go back to the previous page (the "Customer Details" page, where you enter your zip code/city) to try again to get an appointment for today. NOTE: Â Do NOT use the Back button on your browser for this step, and do not refresh the page -- or you will have to start over from the beginning. Be sure to use only the PREVIOUS button at the bottom of the page.
6) Click the NEXT button at the bottom of that page (see image above). This will refresh the available appointments at the different locations.
7) Keep repeating steps 5 and 6. At a certain point, you should all of a sudden see appointments for Today! NOTE: It may not be for the "Selected Location" showing at the top of the list!  Scroll down the page and check all listed locations for today's date. Tap on "Select ⟫" to select that location.  Be patient and keep trying. Some appointments for the same day can open up at 7:50 AM or later. When a same-day appointment appears, select that location if it is not already listed at the top as the "Selected Location", then scroll down to the bottom of the page, choose today's date, and then choose your appointment time. You will want to do this quickly before someone else grabs that appointment you are looking at! Click through to confirm your appointment.
Note: If the "Selected Location" at the top is not the DPS office you want (or not the one showing an appointment for today), just tap on "Select ⟫" under your desired office location then tap on today's date at the bottom, choose your appointment time, and click through to confirm your appointment.