Colorado Drivers License Instructions

DMV got you confused? Check out our easy instructions for earning your Colorado drivers license.

1. Complete a DMV-approved Colorado drivers education course

2. Study for the Colorado learners permit / instruction permit test

3. Apply for the Colorado learners permit / instruction permit

4. Take drivers training and practice driving under supervision

5. Take the driving test for your Colorado drivers license

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5

1. Complete a DMV-approved Colorado drivers education course

In Colorado, the type of permit you get depends on your age. If you are between 15 and 15½ years old when you apply for your permit, you’ll receive a Driver Education Permit. In order to qualify for your permit when you’re 15, you need to complete a DMV-approved Colorado drivers education course and receive an Affidavit of Completion.

As of April 23, 2007, if you are at least 14½ years old, you can take your Colorado drivers education course entirely online with DriversEd.com and receive the necessary DMV-recognized Affidavit of Completion.

2. Study for the Colorado learners permit / instruction permit test

In order to get the instruction permit and eventually the Colorado drivers license, everyone no matter how old must pass a written test on traffic laws and signs. 70% of test-takers fail on their first try and end up returning to the DMV.

A proven way to increase your chances of passing your learners permit test is with up-to-date online Colorado permit practice tests. Randomly generated questions test your driving knowledge and prepare you for the real deal.

Fifty online practice permit tests come free with our Colorado drivers education course.

3. Apply for the Colorado learners permit / instruction permit

Apply for your instruction permit at your local Drivers License Office. No appointment is necessary for the written permit test. Make sure to arrive early enough so that you have plenty of time to complete the process before the office closes.

To be eligible for the Colorado instruction permit, you must:

Submit two of the following forms of identification (photocopies or notarized copies are not accepted):

Certified State or County Birth Certificate
United States Certificate of Birth Abroad
Valid Passport
Valid Military Identification Card
Native American Tribal Identification Card
Resident Alien Identification Card
Naturalization Certificate
Valid Foreign Passport with Immigration Visa/I-94

Provide your Social Security number.
Pass a vision exam.
Pay the required fee.
Submit an Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship (DR 2460) signed by a parent or stepparent and verified by either a drivers license employee or a Notary Public.
Present an Affidavit of Completion of Driver Education Course (back of DR 2460) by an approved drivers education provider.
Pass a written permit test.

Once you pass the written permit test, you’ll be issued a Driver Education Permit if you are younger than 15 years and 6 months old. If you are between 15 years 6 months and 16 years old, you’ll get a Drivers Awareness Permit and if you’re 16 to 21 years old, you will be issued a Minor Instruction Permit. All these three permits types expire three years from the date of issue.

Instruction Permit Restrictions
If you are under 18, you can drive only with a drivers education instructor or the person(s) who signed the DR2460. This restriction is automatically lifted when you turn 18, at which point you may drive with any licensed driver 21 years of age or older.

When driving with an instruction permit, you cannot use a “mobile communication device” (e.g., a cell phone) except when you’re trying to contact the police or fire department, it’s an emergency, or you’ve already parked your vehicle.

4. Take drivers training and practice driving under supervision

If you are under 18, you must hold your permit for at least 12 months and must do both of the following before apply for the drivers license:

Complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a professional driving instructor from an approved driving school (if you got your permit between the ages of 15 & 15½).

Students in the outlying areas of the state, please note: If there is no approved behind-the-wheel training course offering at least 20 hours a week from a permanent location with an address that is within 30 miles of the permit holder's residence, then the student may complete a minimum of 12 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a parent, legal guardian, or an alternate permit supervisor instead of 6 hours with a professional driving instructor.
Complete an additional 50 hours of practice driving, 10 hours of which must take place at night. Keep track of the hours of your supervised driving on the Drive Time Log Sheet. Your parent or guardian (the same person who signed the DR 2460, Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship for you to get your permit) must verify the total driving time and total night driving time on your log sheet(s).

Want to make this supervised driving period as stress-free as possible? Our Behind-the-Wheel Training Guide directs parents step-by-step through the process of teaching their teen to drive.

It also comes with a FREE passenger-side rear-view mirror that lets you see exactly what your teen sees while driving.

5. Take the driving test for your Colorado drivers license

When you are ready to take the driving test, make an appointment at your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

To be eligible to take your driving test, you must:

Be at least 16 years old.
Be fingerprinted and photographed.
Have held your instruction permit for at least 12 months (if under 18).
Present a completed and signed Drive Time Log Sheet (if under 18). You must show 50 hours of driving experience; 10 hours of which must have been at night. Your parent or guardian (the same person who signed the DR 2460, Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship for you to get your permit) must verify total driving time and total night driving time on your log sheet(s).
Have completed 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed instructor (if you got your original permit between the ages of 15 and 15 ½).

Once you pass your driving test, you will be issued a minor drivers license, which will expire 20 days after you turn 21.

If you are under 18, your license will have the following restrictions:

You are not allowed to carry a passenger under 21 who is not a family member until you have had your license for at least six months.
You are not allowed to carry more than one passenger under 21 who is not a family member until you have held your license for at least one year.

While you are under 18, you cannot drive between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless you have held your license for at least one year.

DriversEd.com is a privately held company and is in no way associated with the Department of Motor Vehicles or any other government agency. DriversEd.com does not claim any responsibility for the accuracy of the drivers license information posted within or for the business practices associated with any other schools listed on the DriversEd.com site. For up-to-date information, please consult your local Department of Motor Vehicles or vehicle registration agency. Also, DriversEd.com is not liable for any information or claims posted within third party links.