Impact Texas Drivers is a free video program from the Texas Department of Public Safety that you must finish before your Texas driving skills test. The teen version, Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD), is a 2-hour video, and its printed certificate is valid for 90 days, according to DPS (dps.texas.gov).
People often search for ITTD answers. There is no answer key to learn: the DPS FAQ describes ITTD as a video split into modules that you complete in full. Below is how it works and when to take it so the certificate does not expire.
Impact Texas Drivers at a glance
| Detail | Teen (ITTD) | Adult (ITAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Ages 15 to 17 in an approved parent-taught or minor driver education course | Ages 18 to 24 after the 6-hour adult course, and drivers 25 and older |
| Length | 2-hour video in 8 modules | 1-hour video in 3 modules |
| Cost | Free from DPS | Free from DPS |
| Certificate valid | 90 days | 90 days |
| When | After your behind-the-wheel driver ed requirements, before the driving test | After the 6-hour adult course, before the driving test |
| Proof | Printed paper copy | Printed paper copy |
Quick answer: who needs it and when
Anyone taking a Texas driving skills test needs an Impact Texas Drivers certificate. DPS says the certificate "must be presented before the administration of the driving skills test", and "You cannot take the test without it." Teens 15 to 17 take ITTD. Adults take the adult version, ITAD, although DPS's FAQ says applicants 18 or older can complete either one.
Timing matters more than anything else. DPS says to take it after your behind-the-wheel driver education requirements and before the driving test, and the certificate must be dated within 90 days of that test.
What the Impact Texas Drivers program covers
ITTD is a safety video, not a test you study for. DPS does not post a module-by-module outline on the pages we checked. What DPS does say:
- The teen video is about two hours long and split into eight modules.
- You can watch the modules in separate sittings.
- Each module must be completed in full before the next one opens.
- ITTD does not replace the distracted driving module inside the 24-hour teen driver education course. It is an extra requirement.
- It also does not replace the written knowledge test, which you take to get your learner license.
How to complete it: online, time and cost
ITTD is taken online through the DPS Impact Texas Drivers site (impacttexasdrivers.dps.texas.gov). It is free: the DPS FAQ says "ITTD is offered by the Department free of charge." If a website asks you to pay for the ITTD certificate itself, close it and go to the DPS site.
- Finish your driver education behind-the-wheel requirements.
- Pick a driving test date, or at least a target month.
- Within 90 days of that date, open the DPS Impact Texas Drivers site and choose the teen program.
- Watch all eight modules. You can stop between modules and come back.
- Print the certificate and keep it with your test documents.
What you get after: the certificate and how it is used
At the end you print a certificate that shows an expiration date. Bring the paper copy to your driving test, whether you test at a DPS office or with a third-party skills testing school. The DPS FAQ is clear that an electronic copy is not accepted.
If you do not pass the driving skills test within 90 days of the date on the certificate, DPS says you must restart the program and get a new certificate.
Common mistakes
- Taking ITTD months before the driving test and letting it expire.
- Bringing it on a phone instead of printing it.
- Paying a third-party site for something DPS gives free.
- Thinking ITTD replaces driver ed or the knowledge test. It does not.
- Leaving it for the night before the test. Give yourself time to watch all eight modules.
FAQ
Is the Texas permit test hard?
It is manageable if you study the Texas Driver Handbook. The handbook we reviewed says you need 70 percent to pass. Most people who struggle skipped road signs or the numbers, like following distance and parking distances, so practice those.
Is there a test at the end of ITTD?
The DPS FAQ describes ITTD as video modules you must complete in full, and it does not describe a scored exam. There is nothing to memorize ahead of time, so we do not publish answers.
How much does ITTD cost?
Nothing. DPS offers both the teen and adult programs free of charge.
How long is the ITTD certificate valid?
90 days. If you do not pass the driving test within 90 days of the certificate date, you restart the program.
Can I show my ITTD certificate on my phone?
No. DPS says you must print it and hand in a paper copy at the driver license office or third-party testing school.
