Texas Special Requirements Test
Whether you're hauling kids in Houston or driving a church bus through the Hill Country, this test covers the Texas-specific rules you need to know.
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Texas requires the Special Requirements test for school bus and passenger endorsements. 20 questions, 80% to pass — start practicing now.
Key Topics
- •Loading/unloading procedures
- •Pre-trip inspection
- •Emergency evacuation
About the Texas Special Requirements Test
Topics Covered
- ✓School bus loading and unloading procedures — Texas has strict laws about stop arms and crossing students, especially on busy roads like FM 1960.
- ✓Pre-trip inspection for school buses — Texas summers can cause tire blowouts; you need to check tire pressure and brakes thoroughly before every trip.
- ✓Emergency evacuation — In rural West Texas, help can be miles away; you must know how to get students out fast and safely.
- + 3 more topics
📘 Study Tips & State Info
Texas DMV examiners focus heavily on the pre-trip inspection — they want to see you check everything from the stop arm to the undercarriage. Don't skip the air brake check if your bus has air brakes. Also, know the exact sequence for unloading students: set the parking brake, open door, check mirrors, give signal. Many students fail because they rush this.
Memorize the railroad crossing procedures. Texas requires all school buses to stop at every crossing — even if there's no train in sight. The test will ask you how far from the tracks to stop (15 feet minimum) and when you can proceed. Picture a crossing on a hot day in Texarkana — that'll help the answer stick.
Use the Texas CDL manual. It's free online. Focus on Chapter 10 (School Bus) and Chapter 11 (Pre-trip). Practice with our simulator until you can answer each question in under a minute. You've got 25 minutes for 20 questions, so don't waste time.
You take the Special Requirements test at any Texas DMV office that offers CDL testing. Most offices require an appointment — walk-ins are limited. The fee is $11 for the endorsement. You must have a valid Texas CLP and pass the General Knowledge test first. Texas also requires a background check for the school bus endorsement, so plan for that.
Testing locations include the big DMV in Austin on North Lamar, the Houston office on Westheimer, and smaller offices in places like Amarillo and McAllen. Check the Texas DMV website for hours and appointment availability. Bring your medical certificate and proof of residency.
One Texas-specific rule: if you're getting the school bus endorsement, you also need to pass a driving skills test in a school bus. The written test is just the first step. Make sure you study the Texas School Bus Driver's Handbook too — the DMV pulls questions from that.
About the Texas Special Requirements Test
Texas isn't like other states. Our roads stretch from the piney woods of East Texas to the desert out west. School bus drivers here deal with everything from congested city streets in Dallas to narrow farm-to-market roads in the Panhandle. The Special Requirements test makes sure you know how to handle all of it.
This test covers the unique rules for transporting passengers — especially school children. You'll see questions on loading and unloading, emergency evacuations, and the pre-trip inspection that Texas examiners love to grill you on. Summer heat on I-10 near El Paso can cause tire blowouts, so you better know how to check those tires.
You need this endorsement if you plan to drive a school bus (S) or any vehicle carrying 16 or more passengers (P). The test is 20 questions, and you need 16 right to pass. Texas DMV offices across the state offer it — from the big location in Austin to smaller offices in places like Lubbock.
Topics Covered
Study Tips
Texas DMV examiners focus heavily on the pre-trip inspection — they want to see you check everything from the stop arm to the undercarriage. Don't skip the air brake check if your bus has air brakes. Also, know the exact sequence for unloading students: set the parking brake, open door, check mirrors, give signal. Many students fail because they rush this.
Memorize the railroad crossing procedures. Texas requires all school buses to stop at every crossing — even if there's no train in sight. The test will ask you how far from the tracks to stop (15 feet minimum) and when you can proceed. Picture a crossing on a hot day in Texarkana — that'll help the answer stick.
Use the Texas CDL manual. It's free online. Focus on Chapter 10 (School Bus) and Chapter 11 (Pre-trip). Practice with our simulator until you can answer each question in under a minute. You've got 25 minutes for 20 questions, so don't waste time.
Texas Specific Information
You take the Special Requirements test at any Texas DMV office that offers CDL testing. Most offices require an appointment — walk-ins are limited. The fee is $11 for the endorsement. You must have a valid Texas CLP and pass the General Knowledge test first. Texas also requires a background check for the school bus endorsement, so plan for that.
Testing locations include the big DMV in Austin on North Lamar, the Houston office on Westheimer, and smaller offices in places like Amarillo and McAllen. Check the Texas DMV website for hours and appointment availability. Bring your medical certificate and proof of residency.
One Texas-specific rule: if you're getting the school bus endorsement, you also need to pass a driving skills test in a school bus. The written test is just the first step. Make sure you study the Texas School Bus Driver's Handbook too — the DMV pulls questions from that.