Impact Texas Drivers Program

What is Impact Texas Drivers?

The Texas Impact Drivers Course, also called the Impact Texas Drivers program or ITD, is an education initiative that focuses on the dangers of distracted driving. The Impact Texas program is separate from driver education and not a substitute for the distracted-driving module that is included in drivers ed. The ITD course aims to further educate Texans about the risks of distracted driving, using real-life stories from Texas roads.

The ITD program consists of a free online video produced by the state of Texas. After viewing the video, students receive an Impact Texas course certificate that they must bring to their road driving test. Every prospective Texas driver who needs to take the road skills test must complete an ITD course first.  

Impact Texas Drivers Courses

There are two Impact Texas Drivers course tracks, and they depend on the applicant’s age and driver education path.  

Note: If you complete a teen driver’s ed course but delay your road test until after you turn 18, you can choose to take either the ITTD or ITAD course. 

Impact Texas Drivers vs. Driver Education

One of the most common misconceptions about the Impact Texas program is that it replaces driver education. The ITD course is a separate, additional step in the licensing process. The ITD content is not included in, and does not replace, standard driver education. 

Here is how Texas driver’s ed and the ITD course compare: 

How Impact Texas Drivers Fits into the Texas Licensing Process

The ITD course is one of the final items to check off your licensing list. Because the DPS requires a valid ITD certificate before a driving skills test can begin, use the timeline below to plan your ITD course completion. 

1. Step 1: Complete Drivers Education
   • Teens (15–17): Finish your required Texas teen driver’s ed course, 24 classroom hours and 44 behind-the-wheel hours, to receive Form DE-964. You can complete this requirement entirely online using one of our state-approved options:
     • If a parent or guardian will be your driving instructor, enroll in the NextDoorDriving.com Texas Parent-Taught Drivers Ed Course.
     • If you prefer an online classroom format paired with a local commercial driving school or a licensed instructor for your behind-the-wheel hours, choose the NextDoorDriving.com Texas Instructor-Led Teen Drivers Ed Course.
   • Adults (18–24): Finish the 6-hour adult driver education course to get Form ADE-1317. Applicants can fulfill this requirement online in a single day through the NextDoorDriving.com Texas Adult Drivers Ed Course.
   • Adults (25+): Drivers ed is optional but recommended.
2. Step 2: Register on the DPS Impact Portal
   • Create a free account on the official Impact Texas Drivers website. 
3. Step 3: Complete the Correct ITD Course Track
   • Teens (15–17): Watch the ITTD video.
   • Adults (18+): Watch the ITAD video.
4. Step 4: Print and Test
   • Print your ITD completion certificate immediately. Schedule and pass your road test with the DPS or a Third Party Skills Testing (TPST) provider within 90 days. 

Quick Registration Guide

Follow these steps to set up your Impact Texas account and link your driver education records correctly.

1. Step 1: Create your ITD account

• Go to the official Impact Texas Drivers website and click “Register.”
• Enter a valid email (serves as your username and certificate delivery address) and a strong password.
• Enter your name and birthdate as they appear on your legal documents.

2. Step 2: Link Your Driver’s Ed Certificate
   • Fill out the certificate portion.
   • Driver Education Type: Select “Driver Education School.” (Teens using non-Next Door PTDE: Check “PTDE” and select your provider).
   • TDLR (School) Number: Search for “Next Door Driving INC” or enter the school number: C3424. (The portal labels this field “TDLR Number” by mistake).
   • ADE/DE Control Number: Look at the top right of your certificate. Type only the digits after the “ADEE” prefix.
   • Permit Number (teens only): Enter your Learner License number when prompted.

Note for Age 25+: If you are 25 or older and have not taken driver’s ed in the last two years, skip the certificate fields and check the box: “Check if 25 and over and never taken a driver education course.”

Review for typos, click “Save,” and start your video course.

Technical Warning: Do Not Use a Phone for ITD

The DPS specifically states that the ITD course is not compatible with mobile devices, so if you use a smartphone or tablet, you may face issues like video freezing, progress not saving, or the course crashing. The official Impact Texas portal works best on a desktop or laptop computer with a stable internet connection.

Pro Tip: If you experience technical problems with the ITD course, try clearing your browser cache, closing extra tabs, restarting your browser, or switching to Chrome, Edge, or Firefox before continuing. 

New Texas Residents 

New Texas residents only need the ITD course if they must take the road driving test.

For drivers 18 or older who surrender a valid out-of-state driver license, DPS generally waives the knowledge test, skills test, ITD requirement, and adult driver education requirement.

New residents transferring a learner’s permit may be exempt from the knowledge test, but must still complete the correct ITD course and pass the driving skills test.

Military, recently discharged military, and NATO personnel may qualify for knowledge or skills test exemptions in certain cases. If the applicant is exempt from the driving skills exam, the ITD requirement will not apply. 

The ITD Certificate 

As you register for your ITD course, keep these administrative rules in mind:

• 100% free: The ITD program and certificate are completely free.
• 90-day validity: Your ITD certificate is valid for exactly 90 days from issuance. There are no extensions; if it expires before you pass your road test, you must retake the course.
• Physical copies only: You must print and bring a physical copy to your test. Smartphones, screenshots, or PDFs on your device will not be accepted by the DPS or TPST examiners.
• Free reprints: If you lose your paper copy, log back into the DPS Impact Texas portal to reprint it for free. 

Common Mistakes that Delay the Texas Driving Test

Many people arrive for their road driving test only to discover they’re missing a key licensing component. Avoid these common ITD-related mistakes to keep your licensing process on track.

• Taking ITD before completing required driver education. If you are required to complete teen driver education or the 6-hour adult driver education course, finish that before trying to enroll in the Impact Texas Drivers course.
• Completing ITD too early. Leaving too long between your ITD course and driving test could mean your certificate expires, and you will need to re-take ITD.
• Choosing the wrong ITD course. Make sure you enroll in the correct program:
  • ITTD: For drivers under 18.
  • ITAD: For drivers 18 and older. 
• Forgetting to print your certificate. DPS requires a printed copy of the ITD certificate to begin the driving skills test.
• Thinking ITD replaces driver education. The Impact Texas Drivers course is a distinct requirement, and does not replace any part of the 6-hour adult driver education course or teen driver education.
• Thinking ITD replaces the driving skills test. Completing ITD does not earn you a driver’s license. You must still pass the Texas driving skills test unless you qualify for a DPS exemption.
• Entering the wrong registration information. When creating an ITD account, use the student’s information. You will need to provide a full legal name, a valid email address, a security question and answer, date of birth, and the ADE/DE Control Number that appears on the driver’s ed certificate you received from NextDoorDriving.com.

Impact Texas Drivers FAQ

4 Sources

1. 1. Texas Department of Public Safety – Impact Texas Drivers Program
2. 2. Texas DPS – Impact Texas Teen Drivers Program FAQ
3. 3. Texas DPS – Impact Texas Adult Drivers Program FAQ
4. 4. Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Driver License Application