What Is Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD)? The Complete Guide

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) is a free, 1-hour Texas DPS video in three parts about the dangers of distracted driving, and applicants 18 and older must finish it, or the teen version, before the driving skills test. It is separate from the six-hour adult driver education course, and DPS says to take it after that course. The certificate must be printed and is valid for 90 days, while new residents with a valid out-of-state license are exempt.

Key Facts

  • What it is: a free, 1-hour DPS video in three modules about distracted driving. See what ITAD is.
  • Who must take it: applicants 18 and older who take the driving skills test, using ITAD or ITTD. See who must take it.
  • Who is exempt: adults 18 and older with a valid out-of-state license, or one not expired over two years. See who does not need it.
  • When: after the six-hour course, and no more than 90 days before the skills test. See when to take it.
  • Proof: a printed certificate, valid for 90 days. See the certificate.
  • Not the course: ITAD does not replace or count toward the six-hour adult course. See ITAD vs the course.

What Impact Texas Adult Drivers Is

ITAD is the adult half of the DPS Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program. The DPS ITD page calls it a “1-hour video.” The ITAD FAQ says DPS offers it “free of charge.”

The subject is distracted driving. The ITAD course overview describes “a 3-part video that explains, with factual evidence, the dangers of distracted driving.” It uses real-life stories of people killed or seriously injured, and its theme is “good people making poor choices.”

DPS modeled ITAD after an initiative from the California non-profit Impact Teen Drivers. For a deeper look, see what the ITAD video covers and our overview of the whole ITD program.

Who Must Take Impact Texas Adult Drivers

The duty comes from DPS rule 37 TAC 15.62. It says “Applicants ages 18 years of age or older must complete an ITD program prior to taking the skills examination.” The same rule lets them choose ITAD or the teen program, ITTD.

Two DPS pages describe the adult group in more detail:

  • The DPS ITD page lists ITAD for drivers 18 to 24 who must complete adult driver education, and for drivers 25 or older.
  • The ITAD FAQ says any applicant who took the six-hour course and got an ADE-1317 certificate must complete ITAD.

The course overview adds one more line. It says all skills exam applicants 18 and older who completed a driver education program must complete the applicable ITD program before the driving skills exam.

ITAD by Situation

Here is how the rules apply to common situations:

Your situationWhat DPS requires
First Texas license, age 18 to 24, after the six-hour courseITAD or ITTD before the driving skills test
First Texas license, age 25 or olderITAD or ITTD before the driving skills test; no course required
Driving test at a certified third-party school, 18 or olderITAD, with a certificate dated within 90 days of the test
New resident, 18 or older, with a valid out-of-state licenseExempt from ITD
New resident with no license, or one expired over two yearsNot exempt; the vision, knowledge and skills exams apply
Under 18ITTD, after behind-the-wheel training

The DPS apply page confirms the age split for the course. It requires a six-hour adult course for ages 18 through 24, with “No driver education requirements for ages 25 and older.”

Five checks to see whether ITAD applies to you: the driving test, your age, an out-of-state license, your choice of video and your test date

Who Does Not Need ITAD

Two groups do not take ITAD.

New Residents With a License

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. It says they are exempt from the knowledge and skills exams, ITD and the adult driver education requirement. They still surrender the old license and apply at DPS.

The exemption has a limit. DPS rule 37 TAC 15.55 says an applicant with no license, or one expired more than two years, must take the vision, knowledge and skills exams. Anyone who takes the skills exam needs an ITD program first.

Applicants Under 18

Teens take the teen program. Rule 15.62 says applicants under 18 in a parent-taught or minor and adult driver education course complete ITTD. They take it after the behind-the-wheel part of their course.

ITAD or the Teen Video

Adults have a choice. Rule 15.62 says applicants 18 or older “can complete either” ITAD or ITTD.

ITAD is a 1-hour video, and ITTD is a 2-hour video. Our guide to ITTD vs ITAD compares the two and explains the “Impact Texas Young Drivers” name, which is not a separate DPS program.

When to Take ITAD

The FAQ sets two limits. ITAD “should be completed after the 6 hour Adult Driver Education Course.” It must also be done “no more than 90 days prior to” the skills exam.

So the timing depends on your test date. Book the test, then plan ITAD inside the 90 days before it.

Applicants 25 and older have no course to finish first. Our guide to how the ITAD modules work and when to watch walks through the planning.

How Long ITAD Takes

DPS lists ITAD as one hour. The FAQ says the video is “broken up into three (3) modules that you can view independently,” and each one must be finished before the next. You do not have to watch it in one sitting.

You need a desktop or laptop with Chrome or Firefox. The Impact Texas Drivers portal says the video does not work on a cell phone, tablet or iPad. See how long ITAD takes for session planning.

How to Complete ITAD

The process happens on the DPS portal. You register, log in with an authorization code sent by email from “CRIME RECORDS,” watch the three modules and print the certificate. Our step-by-step ITAD guide covers each screen and the fixes DPS lists for common problems.

Is There an ITAD Quiz?

DPS does not describe one. The ITAD overview and FAQ talk about a video, modules and a certificate, with no quiz, score or answer key. See ITAD questions and what to expect for what DPS does publish.

The ITAD Certificate

When you finish, a copy of the certificate is emailed to you. You can also log in at any time to print it. The FAQ says you “must print the certificate and submit a paper copy to the driver license office or TPST School.”

The DPS ITD page says “The certificate is valid for 90 days.” If you do not pass the skills exam in that time, the FAQ says you restart ITAD. Our Impact Texas Drivers certificate guide covers reprints and the 90-day rule.

ITAD basics: run by Texas DPS, a 1-hour video in three modules, a distracted driving subject, no fee and a 90-day paper certificate

ITAD vs the Six-Hour Course

ITAD and adult driver education are two different steps. The FAQ says “ITAD is a separate requirement” from the six hours. The DPS ITD page says ITD does not replace the distracted driving module in the six-hour course.

The six-hour course comes from a TDLR-licensed provider and ends with the ADE-1317 certificate. ITAD comes from DPS and ends with an ITD certificate. See ITAD vs ADE for a full comparison.

Where ITAD Fits in Your License Steps

The Texas Driver Handbook says all applicants must complete the ITD course for their age group before the driving exam. The driving exam comes only after all other exams are passed.

So ITAD sits between the course and the road test. You still apply at DPS, show your documents and pass the vision and knowledge tests. Our guide on getting a Texas license at 18 lists every step.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the DPS and ITAD pages we checked on October 26, 2026, three sources described who takes ITAD. The DPS ITD page used age groups.

The FAQ pointed to the ADE-1317. Rule 15.62 covered everyone 18 and older.

None of them conflicted. All three let adults use ITAD, and the rule and FAQ both allowed ITTD instead. The DPS course choice page also said the six-hour adult course is required for ages 18 to 24 before testing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from a DPS page or rule:

  • Thinking ITAD is only for 18 to 24. DPS lists it for drivers 25 or older too.
  • Treating ITAD as the six-hour course. The FAQ says it is a separate requirement.
  • Watching before the course. DPS says ITAD comes after the six-hour course.
  • Watching too early. The certificate lasts 90 days.
  • Showing a phone screen. DPS takes paper copies only.
  • Taking ITAD with a valid out-of-state license. New residents who qualify are exempt.

ITAD Guides in This Series

Each guide covers one part in depth:

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 Impact Texas Adult Drivers?

It is a free, 1-hour DPS video about the dangers of distracted driving. It is split into three modules and ends with a certificate you print.

Who has to take ITAD?

Applicants 18 and older who take the driving skills test must complete ITAD or the teen version, ITTD. DPS lists ITAD for ages 18 to 24 in adult driver education and for ages 25 and older.

Do I need ITAD if I am 25 or older?

Yes, if you take the driving skills test. You have no driver education requirement at 25 and older, but rule 37 TAC 15.62 still requires an ITD program.

Is ITAD free?

Yes. The ITAD FAQ says DPS offers it free of charge.

Is ITAD part of the six-hour adult course?

No. The FAQ calls ITAD a separate requirement. DPS says to complete it after the six-hour course.

I just moved to Texas. Do I need ITAD?

Not if you are 18 or older with a valid out-of-state license, or one not expired over two years. DPS says you are exempt from ITD and the knowledge and skills exams.

How long is the ITAD certificate valid?

90 days. Print it and present it before your driving skills test. If the window passes before you pass the test, you take ITAD again.

Conclusion

Impact Texas Adult Drivers is a free, 1-hour DPS video on distracted driving that applicants 18 and older complete, or swap for ITTD, before the driving skills test. Take it after the six-hour course if you are 18 to 24, and time it within 90 days of your test. If you still need that course, start with 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.