Third-party road test inside the Loop and in Harris County (Houston, 2026)

Updated October 23, 2026. Posted prices re-checked on each school’s own website on October 23, 2026. This site is independent and not affiliated with DPS, TDLR, or any driving school. No school paid to be listed or ordered on this page, and there are no affiliate links or featured (paid) spots on it.

Texas lets certified driving schools give the official Class C road test, so you don’t have to wait for a DPS appointment^[1]. In Harris County, DPS lists 89 road-test sites run by 62 schools (some schools appear under more than one name or location)^[2]. Most of them are well outside central Houston, for example along Highway 6, FM 1960, Westheimer, Bissonnet and the Katy Freeway (I-10). If you live inside the 610 Loop, this page shows which sites are closest.

Some Houston residents report trouble getting a DPS appointment; one r/houston thread from April 2025 is titled “Anybody else having trouble scheduling a appointment at the DPS?”^[8] DPS appointments are booked through its scheduler^[7]. A school-given road test is a separate route. You still go to DPS afterward to get the license itself. Our guide explains the steps: how to get a Texas road test without waiting months at DPS.

Road-test sites inside the 610 Loop (4)

Costal Driving Services (spelled as DPS lists it): DPS lists ZIP 77229 for 6702 Lyons Ave; the Census geocoder places that address in ZIP 77020 (Fifth Ward). Call to confirm the location.

Just outside the Loop (within 1 mile)

Also on the Loop: Houston Area Driving Schools, 5959 W. Loop S. Suite 190, Bellaire (713-349-9888, Price not posted). This address is on the West Loop South frontage road in Bellaire, which is outside the Loop. The geocoder could not place it, so it has no distance figure.

Posted road-test prices at Harris County sites (14 schools)

We found a road-test price on the school’s own website for 33 of the 89 Harris County sites (14 schools or price pages). DPS doesn’t set these prices: fees for a drive test given by a driver education school “are not regulated by the Department”^[1]. Sorted by the lowest price each page shows, which may apply only to some customers (see the terms).

Prices don’t include the DPS license fee you pay separately (for example, $33 for a new license at age 18–84, $16 under 18)^[3]. “Not stated” means the page doesn’t say; ask the school.

All 89 DPS-authorized road-test sites in Harris County, nearest to downtown first

Cities as DPS lists them: Baytown, Bellaire, Channelview, Crosby, Cypress, Houston, Humble, Katy, Kingwood, La Porte, Pasadena, Pearland, Spring, Tomball. *Straight-line miles from Houston City Hall (901 Bagby St.), not driving distance. 13 sites could not be geocoded from the DPS-listed address and are listed last.

“Price not posted” means we did not find a road-test price on the school’s own website when we checked on October 21, 2026. Call the school. Prices change; always confirm before you book. DPS says fees for tests given by driver education schools “are not regulated by the Department” (DPS).

How we decided “inside the Loop”

We ran each DPS-listed street address through the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder^[5] and tested the point against the path of I-610 from OpenStreetMap^[6] (both on October 23, 2026). Addresses the geocoder couldn’t match get no distance, and we don’t guess. One match that landed on the wrong side of a road name (FM 1960 East vs. West) was dropped. Geocoded points are approximate, so treat sites near the freeway as “near the Loop” and call ahead.

Before you book

• Check that you qualify for a school-given test (age, driver ed certificate, learner license, Impact Texas Drivers certificate)^[1].
• Ask whether the price includes the school’s car and how many attempts it covers. The table above shows only what each school’s page says.
• Some sites are meeting points in parking lots (the DPS listing says so), not offices. Confirm where to go.
• Check the school’s TDLR license number on TDLR’s provider search. “Name match” means we matched on name only^[4].

FAQ

Can I take my Texas road test at a driving school inside the Loop?

Yes, if you qualify. DPS lists 4 Harris County road-test sites inside I-610 by our check, and many more across the county.

Is a driving-school road test official?

Yes. Schools on the DPS Third Party Skills Testing list give the official Class C drive test^[1]. You still finish your license at DPS.

How much does a third-party road test cost in Houston?

Posted prices at Harris County sites range from $75 to $169 (lowest price on each school’s page), and 56 sites post no price. Check each school’s page or call.

Sources

1. DPS: Third Party Skills Testing (TPST) Program
2. DPS: Schedule a drive test at an authorized TPST school (school list)
3. DPS: Driver License Fees
4. TDLR: Driver education license data files
5. U.S. Census Bureau Geocoder (address coordinates)
6. OpenStreetMap contributors: I-610 geometry (ODbL)
7. DPS: Driver license appointments
8. r/houston: “Anybody else having trouble scheduling a appointment at the DPS?”

School list: DPS TPST list, retrieved October 21, 2026; names, addresses and phones are as DPS lists them, under its Harris County heading. Prices: each school’s own page, linked in the tables, re-checked October 23, 2026. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. We don’t rate or rank school quality; the order is by distance or price only.