DRIVER EDUCATION PERMIT

Teens can start the 30-hour driver education course at 14 years and 6 months of age. To take the written permit test, students must be within 30 days of their 15th birthday. The completion certificate is only valid for 180 days, so it must be taken to the DMV within that 180-day window.

  • Available to students 15 years to 15 years, 6 months.
  • Expires 3 years after issuance.
  • Must present a completed Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship and a completed Affidavit of Completion of a Driver Education Classroom Course indicating the minor has completed and passed the classroom portion of a state-approved driver education course within 6 months prior to applying for the instruction permit.
  • While holding this type of permit, you may only drive with your driver education instructor or the person(s) who signed the Affidavit of Liability (DR2460) until you are 15 years 6 months. At 15 years 6 months, you may drive only with the person(s) who signed the affidavit of Liability (DR 2460) until you are 18. This restriction is automatically lifted when you reach 18 years of age.
  • While you are under 18, if the person who signed the DR 2460 does not hold a valid Colorado driver's license, they may appoint an Alternate Permit Supervisor to supervise you while you are driving. The Alternate Permit Supervisor must hold a valid Colorado Driver's License and be 21 years of age or older. Drive time with an Alternate Permit Supervisor will count toward the 50-hour total required on the log sheet. The person who signed the DR 2460 may also allow any person 21 years of age or older, who holds a valid license, to supervise you while you are driving but that driving time does not count toward the 50-hour total required on the log sheet.

MINOR INSTRUCTION PERMIT

  • Available to students 16 years to 21 years of age.
  • Expires 3 years after issuance.
  • Minors under 18 must present a completed Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship (DR2460).
  • While holding this type of permit, you may only drive with the person(s) who signed the Affidavit of Liability (DR 2460) until you are 18.
  • While you are under 18, if the person(s) who signed the DR 2460 does not hold a valid Colorado driver's license, they may appoint an Alternate Permit Supervisor to supervise you while you are driving. The Alternate Permit Supervisor must hold a valid Colorado Driver's License and be 21 years of age or older. Drive time with an Alternate Permit Supervisor will count toward the 50-hour total required on the log sheet. The person(s) who signed the DR 2460 may also allow any person 21 years of age or older, who holds a valid license, to supervise you while you are driving but that driving time does not count toward the 50-hour total required on the log sheet.

MINOR DRIVER LICENSE

  • Minors under the age of 18 must hold an instruction permit for at least 12 full months and be at least 16 years of age before obtaining a Driver's License.
  • Minors under 16 years 6 months of age - when they apply for their driver's license - must complete Behind-The-Wheel (BTW) Driving Lessons before being issued the license. The BTW must include 6 hours of BTW training with an approved driver education instructor or 12 hours of BTW training with their parent/guardian/alternate permit supervisor, if there isn't an approved driving school offering at least 20 hours of BTW training per week, within 30 miles of the permit holder's residence. If the 12 hours are completed with the parent/guardian/alternate permit supervisor, the 12 hours are in addition to the 50 hours of driving with a parent/guardian requirement, for a total of 62 hours.
  • Minors under 18 years old must present a completed and signed Drive Time Log Sheet when applying for their driver's license.
  • Students 18 years and older do not have to hold an instruction permit for any required amount of time but do have to first purchase an instruction permit before taking the Driving Test.