What Is Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD)? The Complete Guide

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) is a free, 2-hour video program from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) about the dangers of distracted driving. Teens 15 to 17 who take a parent-taught or minor driver education course must finish it after behind-the-wheel training and before the driving skills test. The certificate is good for 90 days, and the test cannot go ahead without it.

Key Facts

What it is: a 2-hour DPS video program about distracted driving. See what ITTD is.
Who takes it: drivers 15 to 17 in an approved parent-taught or minor driver education course. See who has to take it.
Cost: none. DPS offers it free of charge. See length and cost.
Timing: after behind-the-wheel training, before the skills test. See where it fits.
Certificate: valid 90 days, printed on paper, shown before the test. See the certificate.
Not a substitute: ITTD does not replace driver education. See why teens need both.

What Is Impact Texas Teen Drivers?

ITTD is one of two programs in the DPS Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) program. DPS says the program is “designed to educate drivers about the risks and consequences of distracted driving, ultimately saving lives.”

The teen version is a video you watch online. It runs on the official DPS site at impacttexasdrivers.dps.texas.gov. Nothing is mailed, and there is no classroom.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) describes it the same way. Its provisional license page calls ITTD “a free, two-hour informational video about distracted driving.”

Why the Program Exists

DPS built ITD around one danger: a driver whose attention is off the road. The ITTD course overview says the videos explain the dangers “with hard facts” and share real stories of teens.

For what the videos teach and why that matters, read what ITTD teaches.

Who Has to Take ITTD

The DPS ITD page names the teen group plainly. The 2-hour video “is required for” drivers aged 15 to 17 taking an approved parent-taught or minor driver education course.

The official ITTD FAQ page adds detail. It says applicants younger than 18 in an approved Parent Taught Driver Education or Minor and Adult Driver Education course “shall complete” ITTD.

The ITTD sign-up form shows who the program expects. It lists four driver education types to choose from:

Parent Taught (PTDE), with a menu to pick the parent-taught course.
Driver Education School, with a field for the school’s TDLR number.
High School, with a field for the school number.
Out Of State Equivalent, for a course taken in another state.

The rule is not new. The FAQ ties it to teen applicants with a drive test on September 1, 2015 or later.

Adult drivers have their own video. See ITTD and ITAD below.

Where ITTD Fits in Getting a License

ITTD comes near the end, not the start. DPS says the program “must be completed after the behind the wheel driver education requirements and prior to taking the driving skills test.”

The ITTD FAQ calls it “the last step before taking the driving skills examination.” Here is the order in short:

The teen starts classroom work and gets a learner license.
The teen completes the behind-the-wheel part of driver education.
The teen watches ITTD and prints the certificate.
The teen takes the driving skills test within 90 days.

The DPS provisional license page lists ITTD with the other items for a first license. Our ITTD vs PTDE timeline shows each stage in detail.

How Long It Takes and What It Costs

DPS lists ITTD as a 2-hour video. The FAQ says it is split into eight modules, and you do not have to watch them all in one sitting.

There is no fee. The ITTD FAQ says it “is offered by the Department free of charge.” Be careful with any site that asks for payment to take it.

Our ITTD length guide breaks down the time and the 90-day clock.

How to Complete the Program

DPS lists four short steps for the ITD program. Pick the right video, finish it online, print the certificate, and bring it to the skills test.

A few setup rules matter for teens. The site says a desktop or laptop is needed, and the video does not work on a phone, tablet or iPad. The registration form must use the student’s own information.

Tech Notes Before You Start

The main ITD page gives a few setup tips. Following them can save a restart:

Browser: use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Clock: if you see an error about skipping, set the computer clock to the current date and time.
Other programs: close programs running in the background, even ones you cannot see.

Five steps for Impact Texas Teen Drivers, from finishing behind-the-wheel training to showing the printed certificate at the skills test

For each screen of the process, see how to complete ITTD.

The Certificate and the 90-Day Window

When all modules are done, the certificate is e-mailed to the address on the account. The FAQ says you can also log in at any time to print it again.

Three rules come with it:

Paper only. The FAQ says you “must print the certificate and submit a paper copy.”
90 days. DPS says the certificate is valid for 90 days.
Required for the test. DPS says “You cannot take the test without it.”

If the teen does not pass the skills test within 90 days of the certificate date, the FAQ says they must restart ITTD. Our certificate guide covers printing and timing.

ITTD Is Separate From Driver Education

ITTD is not part of the driver education course. The FAQ says it “is a separate requirement” and is not part of the 24 classroom hours.

DPS also says the ITD programs “do not replace the distracted driving module” in the 24-hour teen course. A teen needs both. This table shows how they differ:

Item	Driver education course	Impact Texas Teen Drivers
Run by	A TDLR-licensed provider, school or parent instructor	Texas DPS
Main parts	24 classroom hours plus 44 in-car hours	One 2-hour video
Cost	Set by the course you use	Free
Proof you get	DE-964 certificate	ITTD certificate, valid 90 days
When it ends	Before the skills test	Within 90 days before the skills test

The in-car hours come from the TDLR rule at 16 TAC 84.50. For the full parent-taught path, read our Texas parent-taught drivers ed guide.

ITTD and ITAD Are Not the Same

The ITD site has a second program for adults. Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) is a 1-hour video at impacttexasdrivers.dps.texas.gov/ITAD/.

DPS says ITAD is for drivers 18 to 24 who must take adult driver education, and for drivers 25 or older. A teen under 18 takes ITTD. Our ITTD vs ITAD comparison shows how to pick.

What the Videos Cover

The ITTD course overview says the program focuses on cell phone use and trying to do more than one thing while driving. It also shares stories of Texas teens lost in distracted driving crashes.

The overview mentions a video called “GDL Made Simple.” It reviews teen crash risk and Texas limits for new drivers, such as passenger rules.

Wondering about a quiz? Our article on ITTD questions and what to expect covers what DPS does and does not say.

Summary card of Impact Texas Teen Drivers: who runs it, video length, cost, modules and certificate life

Getting Help With ITTD

The ITTD Contact Us page lists two ways to reach the program team. You can e-mail ITD@dps.texas.gov or call 512-424-5623 on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central time.

The page asks you to check the FAQs first. It also asks you not to e-mail your certificate to them. The printed copy goes to the test, not to the help desk.

Questions about the license itself belong with DPS. For the full list of first-license steps, see our Texas teen drivers license guide.

Our Review of the DPS ITD Page

On the DPS Impact Texas Drivers page we checked on October 26, 2026, the teen video was listed at 2 hours and the adult video at 1 hour. The page listed four steps and said the certificate is valid for 90 days.

The page also said third-party skills testing requires ITD completion based on age. That means the rule applies whether the test is at a DPS office or with an approved third-party tester.

Common Mistakes With ITTD

Each mistake below comes from the DPS and ITD pages:

Taking it too early. DPS says to finish it after behind-the-wheel requirements. An early certificate can expire before the test.
Choosing ITAD by mistake. Teens 15 to 17 in a teen course take ITTD.
Using a phone. The site says the video is not compatible with a cell phone, tablet or iPad.
Bringing a screen copy. A paper copy is required at the test.
Registering under a parent’s name. The certificate prints only for the name on the account.
Treating it as driver education. ITTD does not replace any part of the course.

Impact Texas Teen Drivers Guides in This Series

Each guide below goes deeper on one part of ITTD:

How long ITTD takes: the 2-hour video, modules and the 90-day clock.
How to complete ITTD: each step from sign-up to the test.
ITTD questions: what to expect in the course.
The ITTD certificate: printing it and using it at the test.
ITTD vs PTDE: where the video fits in parent-taught driver education.
ITTD vs ITAD: the teen and adult programs side by side.
What ITTD teaches: the topics and why they matter.

How Requirements Can Vary

Texas driver education rules come from TDLR, and driver license rules come from Texas DPS. They apply statewide, but what you need depends on the student’s age, the course method, and whether the classroom part comes from a parent-taught course, a driving school, or a public school.

Fees, forms, and office procedures can change. Check the TDLR parent-taught pages and the DPS driver license pages before each step, and follow the instructions from your course provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD)?

It is a free, 2-hour DPS video program about distracted driving. Teens in a parent-taught or minor driver education course must finish it before the driving skills test.

Who has to take ITTD?

Drivers 15 to 17 taking an approved parent-taught or minor driver education course. DPS lists this group on its Impact Texas Drivers page.

Is ITTD free?

Yes. The ITTD FAQ says DPS offers it free of charge. You do not pay a provider to take it.

When should my teen take ITTD?

After the behind-the-wheel part of driver education and before the skills test. The certificate lasts 90 days, so plan the test date first.

Does ITTD count as driver education?

No. It is a separate DPS requirement. It does not replace the 24 classroom hours or the distracted driving module in the teen course.

Can I watch ITTD on my phone?

No. The ITD site says a desktop or laptop is needed. It says the video is not compatible with a cell phone, tablet or iPad.

What if the certificate expires before the test?

The ITTD FAQ says a teen who does not pass the skills test within 90 days must restart the program. Then the teen prints a new certificate.

Conclusion

Impact Texas Teen Drivers is a short, free DPS video, but the driving test cannot happen without its certificate. Finish it after behind-the-wheel training, print the certificate, and test within 90 days. Driving Logic’s Texas Parent Taught Drivers Ed course is coming soon, and TDLR lists licensed providers for the full course now.

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 education and licensing rules are set by TDLR, Texas DPS, and Texas law, and can change. Check the official TDLR and DPS websites for current requirements.