Colorado Driver Education & Licensing Resources
Find Your COLORADO Driving Course
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Why Choose DOT Driving School in Colorado?
DOT Driving School is your trusted source for Colorado driving courses, driver education, and free study tools designed to help Colorado drivers become safer and more confident behind the wheel. Tap any topic to learn more.
We offer a complete selection of online Colorado teen drivers education, Colorado adult driver education, defensive driving / traffic school, and other driver improvement courses. Our online courses are recommended for additional practice, skill development, and driver knowledge.
Getting licensed doesn't have to be stressful or expensive. We combine high-quality online education with powerful free study tools. Practice as much as you'd like with our Free Colorado Permit Practice Test, designed to closely match the Colorado DMV knowledge exam. Build real-world confidence with our Free Driver's License Simulator, where you can practice driving scenarios in a fun, interactive environment. Study Colorado road signs, review Colorado traffic laws, and strengthen your driving skills before ever getting behind the wheel.
From teens earning their first learner's permit and adults obtaining a Colorado driver's license to drivers completing defensive driving or traffic school requirements — or anyone who simply wants to become a safer, more knowledgeable driver — DOT Driving School provides everything you need in one convenient place. Our courses are 100% online, self-paced, affordable, and supported by free study tools that help Colorado drivers succeed.
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How to Get a Colorado Driver's License
From your first learner's permit to a full Colorado driver's license, here's the general path most Colorado drivers follow. Always verify the latest requirements with Colorado DMV. Tap any step to expand the details.
You can apply for a Colorado instruction permit at 15 if you have completed or are enrolled in a state-approved driver education course. Applicants 18–20 must complete a 4-hour prequalification driver awareness program instead.
Study the Colorado Driver Handbook and pass the DMV knowledge test covering traffic laws and road signs, with an 80% passing score, plus a vision test. The test may be taken online at home or at a DMV office.
Hold your instruction permit for at least 12 months and log 50 hours of supervised driving — including 10 hours at night — with a licensed adult who is at least 21 years old.
After holding your permit for 12 months and completing driver education, pass the Colorado behind-the-wheel driving test covering vehicle control, turns, parking, and traffic.
Receive your minor (provisional) license at 16. For the first year, driving is restricted from midnight to 5 a.m. and passengers are limited for the first 6 months, with limited exceptions.
Your full, unrestricted Colorado driver license is issued at 18 — or at 17 after holding the license for 12 months with a clean record — when the minor license restrictions end.
Colorado Driver's Education Requirements
Colorado has specific driver education requirements for new drivers. Tap any topic to expand the details.
Colorado requires drivers under 18 to complete a state-approved driver education course within 6 months of applying for an instruction permit at 15. Applicants 18–20 must instead complete a 4-hour prequalification driver awareness program.
Teens must also log 50 hours of supervised driving — including 10 hours at night — with a licensed adult 21 or older, and hold the permit for 12 months before the driving test.
DOT Driving School connects you with recommended Colorado driver education and behind-the-wheel training courses that meet DMV requirements.
Colorado Permit Test Requirements
The Colorado permit test covers road signs, traffic laws, and safe driving practices. Tap any topic to expand the details.
The Colorado DMV knowledge test covers traffic laws and road signs from the Colorado Driver Handbook, and you must score at least 80% to pass. The test may be taken online at home (after pre-registration) or at a DMV office.
You must also pass a vision test. The instruction permit must be held for at least 12 months before the driving test for drivers under 18.
Before your DMV exam, practice with our free Colorado permit practice test — questions modeled on the Colorado knowledge exam covering road signs, traffic laws, and right-of-way rules. Take it as many times as you'd like to build confidence before test day.
Start the free practice test →Colorado Traffic School & Driver Improvement
Colorado offers an approved defensive driving course for point reduction and insurance discounts, plus court-ordered traffic school.
A 4-hour state-approved course that can reduce up to 4 points from your Colorado driving record once every 5 years and may earn an insurance discount.
A course drivers may be required to complete by a traffic court after a citation or to reinstate a suspended license.
Colorado Licensing Agency
Colorado driver licensing is administered by Colorado DMV. Tap any topic to expand the details.
Colorado driver licensing is administered by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV issues instruction permits, minor licenses, and full driver licenses statewide.
Learn about the Colorado DMV →Colorado Driver's License FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about Colorado learner's permits, driver education, and getting licensed.
You can apply for an instruction permit at 15 if you have completed or are enrolled in a state-approved driver education course. A parent or guardian must sign if you are under 18.
Yes. Drivers under 18 must complete a state-approved driver education course within 6 months of applying for a permit; applicants 18–20 must complete a 4-hour driver awareness program instead.
You must score at least 80% on the DMV knowledge test, which covers the Colorado Driver Handbook. The test may be taken online at home or at a DMV office.
You must log 50 hours of supervised driving — including 10 hours at night — with a licensed adult 21 or older, and hold the permit for 12 months.
For the first year, a minor license restricts driving between midnight and 5 a.m. and limits passengers for the first 6 months, with limited exceptions.
Yes. A 4-hour Level I defensive driving course can reduce up to 4 points from your record once every 5 years and may earn an insurance discount.
Disclaimer
Courses identified as “State Approved” are licensed, approved, or accepted by the applicable state agency, as specifically stated on the individual course listing. Not all courses offered through this website are state approved or state required.
DOT Driving School is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the DMV, DOT, FLHSMV, any state driver licensing agency, or any federal, state, county, or local governmental agency, except where a specific course approval or authorization is expressly stated.