Where is the DPS driver license office in Baytown?

The Texas Department of Public Safety driver license office in Baytown is at 5420 Decker Drive, 77520. Listed hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Tuesday running until 6 p.m. DPS handles driver licenses and ID cards by appointment, so book a time on the DPS website before you drive over instead of relying on a walk-in. Baytown is also on the state's list of offices that take Saturday appointments, though the list does not publish Saturday hours. If you meant the city's police department, that is a different building: the Baytown Public Safety Building is at 3200 N. Main Street.

Hours and appointments

The weekday hours above are a listing, not a posted DPS schedule, and the state's own page is the authority, so check it on the day. Appointments are booked through the DPS driver license appointments page. The state's Saturday-appointments page names Baytown among the participating offices and carries a 2020 date, so confirm that Saturday slots still show when you book. Bring the confirmation if you booked one. The city's Moving Here page gives the same address, and the state's pages describe driver license services as appointment-based.

New to Texas

Out-of-state applicants should apply within 90 days of entering the state, and you can drive on a valid, unexpired out-of-state license during those 90 days. You apply in person at a driver license office and hand over any unexpired license from another U.S. state. According to the Harris County Tax Office's FAQ, you complete an application, prove your identity, and are photographed, fingerprinted and asked to sign. You also pass a vision exam. Your Social Security number is checked electronically with the federal government, and a license cannot be issued if it can't be verified. A valid out-of-state license can serve as a supporting identity document. Adults with a valid out-of-state license, or one expired no more than two years, generally do not have to take the knowledge or skills exams. A first-time applicant schedules and passes both the driving test and the written test. Bring every document in one folder, because an incomplete set means a second trip.

Fees

The county tax office's FAQ lists $25 for a driver license good for six years, $16 for an ID card for someone under 60 and $6 for an ID card for someone over 60. DPS sets its own fees and changes them, so read the DPS fee page before you go, and treat these numbers as a floor.

Changing your address

Your address on a license or ID has to be changed within 30 days of a move. You can do it online if you qualify: you need your current card, a credit card for the $10 processing fee, the last four digits of your Social Security number, a card that is not expired, age 18 or over, and no suspension or outstanding tickets or warrants. Otherwise go to the office on Decker Drive. The county adds that your license address is accepted even when it differs from your homestead address if you are active-duty military or a peace officer whose address is omitted.

Teens and the learner license

Teen licenses follow the graduated program. The learner license has to be held for at least six months, a licensed adult 21 or older sits in the front passenger seat, and all cell phone use is prohibited, even hands-free. DPS gives a temporary permit right away, and the card comes in the mail in two to three weeks. Local driving schools include Baytown Driving School at 605 Massey Tompkins Road, Island Driving School - Baytown at 407 W. Baker Road, Suite F, and Bay Area Driving School Inc at 900 W. Baker Road. Ask whether a course meets the Texas requirement before you pay. The teens page has the rest of the rules.

If your license is on hold

Unpaid tickets can put a hold on renewal through the state's Failure to Appear and Failure to Pay program, also called OmniBase, and the hold has to be cleared with the court before DPS will renew. The tickets and court page explains who to call.

The car side of moving

DPS does not register vehicles. New residents have 30 days to register a vehicle in Texas, with Form 130-U, proof of insurance and the $90 new-resident tax, and in Harris County that is the Tax Office. The Harris County Tax Assessor at 701 W. Baker Road is listed open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 to 4:30 and closed Wednesdays, with walk-ins for new residents from 8 to noon. The moving guide has the full list.

Bring every document in one folder, because an incomplete set means a second trip.

Other offices nearby

If the Baytown appointments are full, the Harris County tax office FAQ lists other DPS offices at 7710 Will Clayton Parkway in Humble, 2731 Red Bluff Road in Pasadena, 111 Tristar in Webster and several in Houston. They are each a drive, so look at the appointment calendar for Baytown first. Slots open and close as people cancel, so check again in the morning. The cross-town drives guide puts Humble at 40 to 45 minutes and Pasadena at 15 to 25 over the Fred Hartman Bridge.

Before you go

• Book an appointment on the DPS site instead of counting on a walk-in.
• Bring every document in one folder, including proof of identity and your current license.
• Check the current fee on the DPS site, since the county list may be out of date.
• Do not wait until day 90 if you moved from another state.
• Keep the confirmation with you on the day of the appointment.

If an expired license or an unreported change of address led to a ticket, the Baytown Municipal Court can dismiss some of these tickets for a $10 fee if you fix the problem before your appearance date. See how to respond to a citation.

Sources

• Texas DPS, moving to Texas: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/moving-texas
• Texas DPS, Saturday appointments, participating offices: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/saturday-appointments-participating-offices
• Texas DPS, changing information on your license or ID: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-change-information-your-driver-license-or-id-card
• Texas DPS, learner license for teens: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/texas-learners-license-teen
• City of Baytown, Moving Here: https://www.baytown.org/438/Moving-Here
• Harris County Tax Office FAQ: https://www.hctax.net/Property/PropertyFAQ
• Texas DMV, new to Texas: https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/new-to-texas

En español

La oficina de licencias de conducir del Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Texas (DPS) en Baytown está en 5420 Decker Drive, 77520. El horario listado es de lunes a viernes, de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m., y los martes hasta las 6 p.m. DPS atiende por cita, así que reserve en el sitio web de DPS en lugar de llegar sin cita. Baytown también aparece en la lista estatal de oficinas con citas los sábados, aunque la lista no publica el horario de sábado y lleva fecha de 2020; confirme al reservar. Si buscaba a la policía de la ciudad, es otro edificio: el Baytown Public Safety Building está en 3200 N. Main Street.

Si llegó de otro estado

Solicite la licencia de Texas dentro de 90 días de llegar; durante ese tiempo puede manejar con una licencia vigente de otro estado. Debe presentarse en persona y entregar cualquier licencia vigente de otro estado. Llenará una solicitud, comprobará su identidad, y le tomarán foto y huellas y firmará; también presentará un examen de la vista. Su número de Seguro Social se verifica por vía electrónica. Los adultos con una licencia vigente de otro estado, o vencida hace no más de dos años, por lo general no tienen que presentar los exámenes de conocimientos ni de manejo. Quien solicita por primera vez presenta ambos. Lleve todos los documentos en una sola carpeta; si falta uno, tendrá que volver.

Costos

Según la oficina de impuestos del condado de Harris, la licencia de conducir cuesta $25 y dura seis años; la tarjeta de identificación cuesta $16 para menores de 60 años y $6 para mayores de 60. DPS fija sus propias tarifas y las cambia, así que revise la página de tarifas de DPS antes de ir; trate estas cifras como un mínimo.

Cambio de dirección

Debe cambiar la dirección en su licencia o tarjeta dentro de 30 días después de mudarse. Puede hacerlo en línea si califica: necesita su tarjeta vigente, una tarjeta de crédito para el cargo de $10, los últimos cuatro dígitos de su Seguro Social, tener 18 años o más y no tener suspensión, multas pendientes ni órdenes de arresto. Si no califica, vaya a la oficina de Decker Drive.

Adolescentes y licencia de aprendiz

La licencia de aprendiz debe mantenerse al menos seis meses, un adulto con licencia de 21 años o más debe ir en el asiento delantero y se prohíbe todo uso del celular, incluso con manos libres. DPS entrega un permiso temporal de inmediato y la tarjeta llega por correo en dos a tres semanas. Hay escuelas de manejo locales: Baytown Driving School (605 Massey Tompkins Road), Island Driving School - Baytown (407 W. Baker Road, Suite F) y Bay Area Driving School Inc (900 W. Baker Road). Pregunte si el curso cumple el requisito de Texas antes de pagar. Vea la teens page.

Si su licencia tiene un bloqueo

Las multas sin pagar pueden bloquear la renovación mediante el programa estatal de Falta de Comparecencia y Falta de Pago (OmniBase); el tribunal debe liberar el bloqueo antes de que DPS renueve. Vea tickets and court.

El vehículo

DPS no registra vehículos. Los residentes nuevos tienen 30 días para registrar un vehículo en Texas, con el Formulario 130-U, prueba de seguro y el impuesto de $90 para residentes nuevos; en el condado de Harris se hace en la oficina de impuestos, en 701 W. Baker Road, abierta lunes, martes, jueves y viernes de 8 a 4:30, cerrada los miércoles, con atención sin cita para residentes nuevos de 8 a mediodía. Vea la moving guide.

Otras oficinas cercanas

Si no hay citas en Baytown, hay oficinas de DPS en 7710 Will Clayton Parkway (Humble), 2731 Red Bluff Road (Pasadena), 111 Tristar (Webster) y varias en Houston. Revise primero el calendario de Baytown, porque los espacios se abren cuando alguien cancela. Humble queda a 40 a 45 minutos y Pasadena a 15 a 25 por el puente Fred Hartman.

Si una licencia vencida o un cambio de dirección sin avisar causó una multa, la Corte Municipal de Baytown puede desestimar algunas de estas multas por una cuota de $10 si usted corrige el problema antes de su fecha de comparecencia. Vea cómo responder a una citación.