Pro tip: Traversing Colorado's mountainous regions and urban streets demands skilled driving. Take advantage of our detailed tutorials on manual gear shifting and precise parallel parking. Improve your techniques for reverse parking and conducting three-point turns. Double-check that your mirrors are fine-tuned for maximum visibility. Practice your skills with our Online Driving Simulator, and if you're from outside the US, make sure to understand Colorado's international driver's license stipulations.
You must apply for the instruction permit in person at a DMV office that issues new permits. You can start the application process online before visiting a DMV office. Walk-ins are usually accepted, but you can make an appointment to help shorten your wait.
Note that if you cannot demonstrate lawful presence in the US, you must make an appointment ( no walk-ins) with one of these offices: Westgate, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs to get your SB251 permit.
You are required to verify
Select documentation with the help of this checklist.
Submit a completed Affidavit of Completion of a Driver Education Classroom Course (DR2956) showing that you completed the classroom or online portion of the driver education course or a Driver Awareness Class no longer than six months ago in the following cases:
A minor driver license is the second stage of Colorado's Graduated Driver Licensing program. It allows you to drive the same kinds of vehicles that an adult driver license would allow you to drive but with significant restrictions:
Hold an instruction permit for at least 12 months.
Practise supervised driving
You must submit completed drive time log sheets signed by your parent or guardian, showing that you completed at least 50 hours of driving time, 10 hours of which were at night.
Complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training if you are under 16 ½
If you live more than 30 miles from a certified driving school, an additional 12 hours of drive time may be substituted for the behind-the-wheel training (bring a map quest printout to the driver license office showing how far you live from the nearest school within your zip code). The 12 additional hours must be submitted on the drive time log.
Apply in person
You must apply in person at a DMV office that issues new licenses.
Note that if you cannot demonstrate lawful presence in the US, you must make an appointment (no walk-ins) with one of these offices: Westgate, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs to get your SB251 license.
Bring documentation
You are required to verify
Select documentation with the help of this checklist and submit your instruction permit.
If you are an emancipated minor, you must submit a completed Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship (DR2460). Your parent or guardian must sign it in the presence of a DMV employee or a Notary Public.
Pass a vision examination
The minimum vision standard is 20/40.
Pass the drive skills test
If you passed the test at a driving school, submit the Drive Test Completion Form that the driving school gives you. Alternatively, you can take the test at the DMV office by appointment only. You can make the appointment online for most test locations. Otherwise, call 303-205-5901. To take the test at a DMV office, you must provide a vehicle with a valid registration and proof of valid insurance. If you are applying for an SB251 license, you must take the test at a DMV office.
Pay the license fee
Pay the fee of $26.00 for a regular license or $79.58 for an SB251 license by cash, check or credit card.
Receive your license
The DMV will issue you a temporary license. You should receive your permanent minor driver license in the mail before the temporary license expires. If you have not received it after 30 days, contact the DMV office where you applied for it or call 303-205-5948.
Your license will expire on the 20th day after your 21st birthday, unless it is an SB251 license. An SB251 minor license expires on the 20th day after your 21st birthday or in 3 years, whichever comes first. Between your 21st birthday and the expiration of your minor driver license, you must renew your driver license; this time, you will be issued a full adult driver license.
To apply for a Colorado Class R adult driver license, you must first hold a Colorado instruction permit, which certifies that you passed a vision exam and a written exam. As an adult (21 years of age or older), you are not required to hold the instruction permit for any minimum amount of time. You may take your drive skills test as soon as you feel you are able.
Minor license holder? Your minor driver license expires on the 20th day after your 21st birthday. (An SB251 minor license expires on the 20th day after your 21st birthday or in 3 years, whichever comes first.) Between your 21st birthday and the expiration of your minor driver license, you must renew your driver license; this time, you will be issued a full adult driver license. Check here how to renew your license.
First timer? Start with Step 1.
Instruction permit holder? Start with Step 7.
You must apply for the instruction permit in person at a DMV office that issues new permits. You can start the application process online before visiting a DMV office. Walk-ins are usually accepted, but you can make an appointment to help shorten your wait.
Note that if you cannot demonstrate lawful presence in the US, you must make an appointment (no walk-ins) with one of these offices: Westgate, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs to get your SB251 permit.
You are required to verify:
Select documentation with the help of this checklist.
Alternatively, bring the written test completion form from a driver education school (You must take the test by appointment at a DMV office if you cannot demonstrate your lawful presence in the US.)
The DMV will issue you a temporary driver license. You should receive your regular license in the mail. If you have not received it after 30 days, contact the DMV office where you applied for it or call 303-205-5948.
A regular adult driver license is valid for five years, whereas, an SB251 adult license is valid for three years and will expire on your birthday.
The road test measures your skill and knowledge of legal and safe driving practices. Only the driver and the examiner are allowed in the vehicle during the test. You can bring an interpreter if needed for the instruction part of the test only.
All drive tests are by appointment only and will not be scheduled within one hour prior to the scheduled office closing time. If you are late for your appointment, you will have to reschedule. Note that not all driver license offices offer drive tests.
Your skills should include:
You should be able to demonstrate the following maneuvers:
Upon your return to the driver licensing office, you will be shown your score and your errors will be commented on. If you fail the skills test, you must wait until the next day before another exam will be given, unless the examiner feels you need more time to practice.
Colorado defines a resident of the state as a person who meets any of the following requirements, whichever occurs first:
If you hold a valid driver license that was issued by another US state or territory, you will normally not be required to take the written exam or drive skills test.
You must transfer your out-of-state license in person at a DMV office. Walk-ins are usually accepted, but you can make an appointment to help shorten your wait. If you are applying for an SB251 license and are not lawfully present in the US, you must make an appointment to transfer your license.
If it does not display your full legal name, provide your certified original state or county issued birth certificate, US passport (if applicable), or military ID (if applicable) to confirm your full name.
You are required to verify:
Select documentation with the help of these checklists.
$ 26.00 for a regular license; $ 79.58 for an SB251 license paid by cash, check or card.
Once you have met these requirements, the DMV will issue you a temporary driver license that will be valid for the next 30 days. You should receive your permanent driver license in the mail before the temporary license expires. If you have not received it after 30 days, contact the DMV office where you applied for it or call 303-205-5948.
If you hold a valid foreign driver license from Canada, France, Germany, the Republic of South Korea, or Taiwan, you don't have to take the written and drive skills tests. In your case the procedure of transferring the driver license is very much similar to transferring an out-of-state license.
If you hold a driver license from another country, the procedure of transferring your driver license is similar to that of applying for a new Colorado license. You may take your written exam and eye exam, purchase an instruction permit, take drive skills test and purchase a driver's license on the same day if over 18 years old. Chech here your full guide to applying for your Colorado driver license.
