What Is Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD)?
In plain terms: ITAD (Impact Texas Adult Drivers) is a free, roughly one-hour video from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) about the dangers of distracted driving. You watch it once on your computer. It is required before the DPS driving skills (road) test for adults 18–24 who take driver education and for applicants 25 and older. You complete ITAD after you finish your 6-hour adult driver education course and before your road test, then bring the printed certificate to your appointment.
What does ITAD cover?
ITAD is the adult track of the Texas DPS Impact Texas Drivers program. The video focuses on the real-world dangers of distracted driving and is watched once, in full, on the official DPS portal. It typically covers:
- Texting and phone use while driving
- The impact of crashes on victims and their families
- First-person stories from crash survivors and responders
- Texas distracted-driving laws
- Habits that make you a safer driver
ITAD is completely free — there is no charge to watch it or to get the certificate. It is a separate step from the paid driver education course; for what the course itself costs, see our pricing page.
Who needs to take ITAD?
This is the most misunderstood part of ITAD. The 6-hour driver education course is only required for first-time applicants under 25 — but ITAD itself is required for everyone taking the DPS driving skills test, including applicants 25 and older. Only driver education is optional at 25+; ITAD is not.
| Applicant | 6-Hour Course | ITAD |
|---|---|---|
| First-time applicant, 18–24 | Required | Required before the road test |
| Applicant 25 or older | Not required (optional) | Required before the road test |
When should you take ITAD?
Complete ITAD after you finish your 6-hour adult course and before your DPS road test. The ITAD certificate is valid for 90 days, and that clock starts on the date printed on the certificate — so you want it dated close to your road test, not months ahead.
The recommended order
- Finish your 6-hour adult driver education course and earn your Certificate of Completion.
- Schedule your DPS driving (road) test appointment.
- Watch ITAD close to that appointment so the 90-day certificate is still valid, and print it.
- Bring both certificates to DPS and take your road test.
How to take ITAD step by step
ITAD is watched on the official DPS Impact Texas Drivers portal. It must be watched on a desktop or laptop computer — it is not compatible with a cell phone, tablet, or iPad.
- Open the official ITAD portal on a desktop or laptop. ITAD is only available through Texas DPS at impacttexasdrivers.dps.texas.gov/ITAD/. There is no other legitimate source.
- Register for the course. Create an account with your email and a password. When you register, enter C3476 as the TDLR Number — that is the Happy Drivers Ed TDLR driver education provider number.
- Watch the full video. You must watch ITAD start to finish. You can pause and resume, but you cannot skip ahead.
- Print your certificate. When you finish, print the certificate so you have a physical copy to hand to the examiner at your road test.
For a closer walkthrough of the registration screen and what to enter, see how to take ITAD.
How long is the ITAD certificate good for?
The ITAD certificate is valid for 90 days. You must pass your DPS driving skills test within 90 days of the date on the certificate, or you'll need to restart ITAD. The 90 days counts forward from the date the certificate was issued — not backward from your road test — so plan to take ITAD close to your appointment.
Is ITAD the same as ITTD?
No. ITAD (Impact Texas Adult Drivers) is a different program from ITTD (Impact Texas Teen Drivers), the teen track for applicants under 18. They are both part of the Texas DPS Impact Texas Drivers program, but they serve different applicants. If you are an adult applicant, ITAD is the one that applies to you — not ITTD.
| ITAD | ITTD | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Impact Texas Adult Drivers | Impact Texas Teen Drivers |
| For | Adult applicants | Teen applicants |
| Run by | Texas DPS | Texas DPS |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Everything on this page is about ITAD — the adult program. If you are taking the adult driver education course, complete ITAD, not ITTD. For a side-by-side breakdown of the two programs, read ITAD vs ITTD: Which Do Texas Adults Need?
Where ITAD fits in getting your Texas license
ITAD is one step in a short sequence. Each piece is handled by a different party, so it helps to keep them straight:
- Happy Drivers Ed — the 6-hour online driver education course and your Certificate of Completion.
- Texas DPS — ITAD, the vision test, the written (knowledge) test, and the driving (road) test, plus issuing your license.
- TDLR — licenses and oversees driver education providers like us (provider #C3476).
Completing the 6-hour course and passing the in-course written exam means you do not retake that written test at DPS, but the vision and road tests are still taken at DPS — and ITAD is required before that road test. For the full journey, see how to take ITAD.
ITAD comes after you finish your course, so the first move is the course itself — and that's the one part Happy Drivers Ed handles for you. Our Texas adult driver education course is 100% online and self-paced: 6 hours you can complete on your own schedule for $39.95 (regular $64.95). The moment you pass, you get your ADE-1317 Certificate of Completion and do not retake the written knowledge test at DPS. Knock out the course first, then ITAD, then the road test.
Start Your Course — $39.95Want the full breakdown of what's included before you enroll? See our pricing page.
Contact & support for ITAD
Because ITAD is run entirely by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Happy Drivers Ed cannot reset your ITAD account or reissue your ITAD certificate. For trouble with the ITAD course or portal, contact DPS directly:
- Email: [email protected]
- ITAD portal: impacttexasdrivers.dps.texas.gov/ITAD/
For questions about your Happy Drivers Ed course or certificate, use our contact page.