Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Program: A Full Overview

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) is a free Texas DPS program about the dangers of distracted driving, and it has two parts: Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) and Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD). Every applicant who takes the driving skills test must finish the right ITD program first, unless an exemption applies. The certificate must be printed and is valid for 90 days, whether you test at DPS or at a third-party school.

Key Facts

What it is: a DPS program that uses real-life stories to show the risks of distracted driving. See what ITD is.
Two programs: ITTD, a 2-hour teen video, and ITAD, a 1-hour adult video. See the two programs.
The rule: DPS rule 37 TAC 15.62 sets who takes which and when. See the rule.
Adults choose: applicants 18 or older may complete either program. See who takes which.
Proof: a printed certificate, shown before the skills test and within 90 days. See the certificate.

What Impact Texas Drivers Is

ITD is a DPS safety program, not a driving course. The DPS ITD page says it “features real-life stories highlighting the devastating impact of distracted driving.” It is required before the driving skills test.

DPS did not invent the idea alone. The ITAD course overview says the program “is modeled after an initiative developed by the California non-profit Impact Teen Drivers.” That page says ITAD is “part of the Impact Texas Driver (ITD) program.”

The program has its own website. The Impact Texas Drivers portal carries the tagline “Saving Lives Through Awareness and Education.”

What the Videos Cover

DPS describes the adult video in the most detail. The ITAD overview says it “explains, with factual evidence, the dangers of distracted driving.” It uses state-specific statistics, videos and materials, plus stories of people killed or seriously injured.

The overview names the theme too: “good people making poor choices.” Those choices “center around cell phone use as well as attempting to multitask in the vehicle.” For more, see what the ITAD video covers.

The Two Impact Texas Drivers Programs

DPS lists exactly two programs on its ITD page:

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD). A 2-hour video. It is required for drivers 15 to 17 taking an approved parent-taught or minor driver education course.
Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD). A 1-hour video. It is required for drivers 18 to 24 who must take adult driver education, and for drivers 25 or older.

Both are free. The ITAD FAQ and the ITTD FAQ each say DPS offers the program free of charge.

There is no third program. “Impact Texas Young Drivers” is only hidden image text on the adult button of the portal. Our ITTD vs ITAD comparison explains the name and compares the two side by side.

The Rule Behind ITD: 37 TAC 15.62

DPS sets the ITD requirement in its own rule, 37 TAC 15.62. Here is what each part says:

Part of the rule	What it requires
(a)	All skills examination applicants complete the appropriate ITD program and get proof
(a)(1)	Under 18 in a parent-taught or minor and adult course: ITTD, after behind-the-wheel training and before the skills exam
(a)(2)	18 or older: an ITD program before the skills exam, either ITAD or ITTD
(b)	Proof goes to the testing entity before the skills exam, no later than 90 days after completion
(c)	Original or renewal applicants at a DPS office also take a vision test

The rule has changed over time. It was adopted effective July 6, 2014, and amended several times since. The latest amendment took effect March 5, 2025.

The four DPS steps for Impact Texas Drivers: choose ITTD or ITAD, complete it online, print the certificate and bring it to the driving test

Who Takes Which Program

Age is the main dividing line. The rule and the DPS ITD page line up like this.

Ages 15 to 17

Teens in a parent-taught or minor driver education course take ITTD. The ITTD FAQ also covers teens who finished a teen driver education course and hold a DE-964. They take it after classroom and behind-the-wheel training.

Ages 18 to 24

DPS lists ITAD for this group when they must take adult driver education. The ITAD FAQ says anyone with an ADE-1317 from the six-hour course must complete ITAD. The same FAQ says applicants 18 or older can complete either program.

Ages 25 and Older

DPS lists ITAD for drivers 25 or older. These applicants have no driver education requirement, per the DPS apply page. They still need an ITD program before the skills test.

For a closer look at the adult side, see our Impact Texas Adult Drivers guide.

Where ITD Fits in the License Process

ITD sits near the end. The Texas Driver Handbook says all applicants “must complete the Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) course appropriate for their age group” before the driving exam.

The DPS ITD page sets the order. It says ITD comes “after the behind the wheel driver education requirements” and before the driving skills test. For adults 18 to 24, the ITAD FAQ says to complete ITAD after the six-hour adult course.

So driver education comes first, then ITD, then the skills test. The vision and knowledge tests also come before the driving test.

The 90-day limit shapes the timing for every age. The ITTD FAQ says teens take ITTD within 90 days of the skills exam.

The ITAD FAQ says adults take ITAD no more than 90 days before it. Booking the driving test first makes that window easier to hit.

What ITD Does Not Replace

ITD adds to driver education. It does not stand in for any part of it.

The DPS ITD page says the ITD programs do not replace the distracted driving module in the 24-hour teen driver education course. It says the same for the 6-hour adult driver education course. The ITAD FAQ adds that ITAD “is a separate requirement” from those six hours.

ITD and Third-Party Skills Testing

You can take the driving test at a DPS office or at a DPS-certified school. ITD applies either way. The DPS ITD page says third-party skills testing also requires ITD, based on your age.

The DPS third-party testing page lists ITAD for applicants 18 to 24 and for those 25 and older. It says the ITD certificate must be dated within 90 days before the drive test.

Who Is Exempt

Some new residents skip ITD. The DPS Moving to Texas page covers adults 18 and older with a valid out-of-state license, or one not expired over two years. They are exempt from ITD, adult driver education and the knowledge and skills exams.

They still surrender the out-of-state license and apply at DPS. The exemption is for the tests and courses, not the visit.

The ITD Website

Both programs run on one portal. Its home page has two buttons, one for Impact Texas Teen Drivers and one for Impact Texas Adult Drivers.

The portal lists a few technical rules:

Device. “a DESKTOP COMPUTER or a LAPTOP is needed.”
Not supported. Cell phones, tablets and iPads.
Browsers. Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Skipping error. Set your computer clock to the current date and time, and close background programs.

Each program splits its video into modules. ITAD has three, and ITTD has eight, per each FAQ.

You can view modules on their own, but each must be finished before the next. Our ITAD how-to walks through sign-up and login.

The Certificate in Both Programs

The proof works the same way for teens and adults. The DPS ITD page lists four steps: choose ITTD or ITAD, complete it online, print the certificate and bring it to your driving skills test appointment.

Both FAQs say you must print the certificate and submit a paper copy. Electronic copies are not accepted. Each certificate is valid for 90 days, and the ITTD FAQ says the teen certificate “displays an expiration date.”

If the 90 days pass before you pass the skills test, you take the program again. See our Impact Texas Drivers certificate guide for reprints and timing.

History of DPS rule 37 TAC 15.62, the Impact Texas Drivers rule, from its 2014 adoption to the March 2025 amendment

Getting Help With ITD

Start with the FAQ for your program. If it does not answer your question, the ITAD Contact Us page listed [email protected] and 512-424-5623 when we checked. Its hours were 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central, Monday through Friday.

The ITAD pages also have an En Español link. The Contact Us page says to send Spanish translation requests to the ITD email address.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the DPS pages, ITD portal and rule text we checked on October 26, 2026, every source named the same two programs. None named a third.

The DPS ITD page listed its four steps in order, and it put the 90-day validity inside the second step, right after completing the program online. The rule’s note listed its most recent amendment as effective March 5, 2025.

The ITD portal home page still showed a 2016 DPS copyright line in its footer. The ITAD and ITTD FAQs both answered the same core questions: fee, modules, certificate life and paper copies.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each point comes from a DPS page or rule:

Treating ITD as driver education. DPS says ITD does not replace the distracted driving module in either course.
Picking ITAD under 18. The rule sends applicants under 18 to ITTD.
Assuming adults must use ITAD. Rule 15.62 lets applicants 18 or older choose either.
Skipping ITD for a third-party test. Certified schools require it too.
Waiting too long after finishing. Proof is due within 90 days of completion.
Looking for a young drivers program. DPS runs only ITTD and ITAD.

How Requirements Can Vary

Texas driver license rules come from state law, Texas DPS rules and TDLR rules, and they apply statewide. What you need still depends on your age, whether you hold a license from another state, and which tests you have already passed.

Laws, fees and office procedures can change. Check the Texas DPS and TDLR websites for current rules before you book an appointment or enroll in a course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Impact Texas Drivers program?

It is a free DPS program about the dangers of distracted driving. It uses real-life stories and has two parts: a teen video and an adult video.

What programs are part of ITD?

Two. Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) is a 2-hour video, and Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) is a 1-hour video.

Do I have to take ITD to get a Texas license?

If you take the driving skills test, yes, unless an exemption applies. Rule 37 TAC 15.62 says all skills exam applicants must complete the appropriate ITD program.

Can an adult take the teen version?

Yes. Rule 37 TAC 15.62 says applicants 18 or older can complete either ITAD or ITTD.

Who made the Impact Texas Drivers program?

DPS developed it. DPS says it was modeled after an initiative from the California non-profit Impact Teen Drivers.

Does ITD replace my driver education course?

No. DPS says ITD programs do not replace the distracted driving module in the 24-hour teen course or the 6-hour adult course.

Is the ITD website available in Spanish?

The ITAD pages have an En Español link. For other Spanish help, DPS asks you to email [email protected].

How long is the ITD certificate good for?

90 days. It must be printed and given to the testing entity before the skills exam.

Conclusion

Impact Texas Drivers is one DPS program with two videos: ITTD for teens and ITAD for adults. Rule 37 TAC 15.62 decides which one you take, and adults 18 or older may pick either.

Print the certificate and use it within 90 days of your driving test. If you are 18 to 24 and still need the six-hour course, see Driving Logic’s online Texas adult driver education course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Texas and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas driver license and driver education rules are set by Texas law, Texas DPS and TDLR, and they can change. Check the official DPS and TDLR websites for current requirements before you apply.