Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD): What It Is and When to Take It

Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) is a free, 2-hour distracted-driving video from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) that teens must complete before their driving test. It is the last step before the road test: DPS says teens must finish it within 90 days of taking the driving test, after all classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction.

Timing is where families most often trip up, so this guide focuses on when to take it and how to keep the certificate valid.

Key takeaways

• ITTD is required for teens 15 to 17 who take a minor or parent-taught driver education course.
• It is free and takes about two hours, split into eight modules.
• Take it after all drivers ed hours are done, and no more than 90 days before the driving test.
• The certificate expires after 90 days. If it does, your teen must redo the program.
• Print the certificate. DPS wants a paper copy at the test.
• ITTD does not replace drivers ed, the driving test or the distracted-driving lesson inside drivers ed.

What ITTD is

DPS describes the Impact Texas Drivers program as a distracted-driving education course built around real-life stories. There are two versions:

• ITTD (teens): a 2-hour video for drivers aged 15 to 17 taking an approved parent-taught or minor driver education course.
• ITAD (adults): a 1-hour video for adults. See Texas 6-Hour Adult Drivers Ed: Who Needs It.

The ITTD FAQ says the video is broken into eight modules that can be viewed separately, but each module must be finished before moving on. It is offered by DPS free of charge.

Who must take it

According to the ITTD FAQ, any applicant who has taken a teen driver education course must complete ITTD before the driving test. That includes teens in parent-taught driver education: applicants under 18 in an approved parent-taught program must complete ITTD after their behind-the-wheel training and before the skills exam.

The requirement has been in place for drive tests on or after September 1, 2015.

When to take it: the timing rules

Two rules work together:

1. After drivers ed is finished. The FAQ says ITTD should be completed after the 24 classroom hours and all behind-the-wheel instruction.
2. No more than 90 days before the driving test. The certificate shows an expiration date and is only valid for 90 days.

Here is how it fits into the full path to a Texas provisional license:

Step	What happens	Source
1	Start drivers ed (classroom). Courses are available starting at age 14.	DPS
2	Get a learner license after the first 6 classroom hours (concurrent) or all 24 hours (block), plus the knowledge test.	DPS
3	Hold the learner license at least 6 months and complete behind-the-wheel training and 30 hours of practice (10 at night).	DPS
4	Complete ITTD within 90 days of the driving test.	DPS
5	Pass the driving test and get a provisional license.	DPS

A simple timing plan

• Book the road test first, if you can, and note the date.
• Do ITTD in the weeks before that date, once all classroom and behind-the-wheel hours are done.
• Check the expiration date printed on the certificate against the test date.
• If the test gets rescheduled, recheck the date. If the certificate will expire first, plan for your teen to redo ITTD.

If the certificate expires, the FAQ is clear: they must restart the ITTD program.

On test day

The FAQ says you must print the certificate and submit a paper copy to the driver license office or third-party skills testing school. A photo on a phone is not enough. DPS adds that you cannot take the test without it.

If you misplace the printout, check the ITTD website for how to retrieve and reprint the certificate well before test day.

Bring the rest of the provisional license paperwork too. Per DPS, that includes a VOE form, diploma or GED if one was not presented with the learner license. For what the test itself involves, see The Road Test: What to Expect and Why People Fail.

What ITTD does not replace

• Not drivers ed. ITTD is a separate requirement on top of the 24-hour classroom course and in-car training.
• Not the distracted-driving lesson in drivers ed. DPS says ITD does not replace the distracted-driving module in the 24-hour teen course.
• Not the road test. The FAQ calls ITTD the last step before the driving skills exam.

Why it matters

Phones are a real risk for new drivers. Texas bans all cell phone use by learner and provisional license holders, including hands-free devices, except in emergencies. ITTD puts faces and stories behind that rule. Watching it together and talking about it afterward can make it stick. Our guide to Teen Driver GDL Restrictions Explained for Parents covers the other limits your teen will face.

Keep the drivers ed certificate safe too

ITTD is only one certificate in the process. Your teen's driver education certificate from the school or parent-taught provider is needed for licensing as well. If the school issues certificates through RoadVerified, anyone can confirm one at check a certificate using its code or QR.

FAQ

Who has to take ITTD in Texas?

Teens aged 15 to 17 who take an approved minor or parent-taught driver education course must complete ITTD before the driving test, according to DPS.

How long is the ITTD certificate valid?

90 days. The certificate shows an expiration date. If it expires before the driving test, your teen must restart the program.

When should my teen take ITTD?

After finishing all 24 classroom hours and all behind-the-wheel instruction, and no more than 90 days before the driving test. Booking the test first makes the timing easier.

How much does ITTD cost?

Nothing. DPS offers ITTD free of charge.

Can I show the ITTD certificate on my phone?

No. The ITTD FAQ says you must print the certificate and hand in a paper copy at the driver license office or testing school.

Find a verified driving school

ITTD comes at the end of drivers ed, so start with the right school. Find licensed Texas driving schools in our directory and look for the verified check mark.