Minor permits are valid for three years
Minor permits grant conditional, limited driving privileges for drivers under age 21 who are learning how to drive. You will be required to successfully pass the written test before a permit can be issued. Permit holders must drive with a licensed driver over the age of 21 in the vehicle with them. You will need to schedule an appointment to obtain your instruction permit.
The information outlined below is what is needed to obtain an instruction permit.
Obtaining your permit:
What do I need to do before I go to the driver license office?
- You must pre-register for a CO permit, visit the pre-registration page.
- Successfully complete 30 hour driver education course. See a list of schools.
- Study the Colorado Driver Handbook before taking Driving Knowledge (written) Test. You can also take the Colorado Driver Handbook Practice Quiz.
- You will be required to successfully pass the written test before a permit can be issued.
- Schedule an appointment to take the test in a DMV office. Alternatively, you may also take the test at home, and then schedule an appointment to get the permit issued.
What do I need to bring to the driver license office?
- Certificate of 30 hour driver education course completion
- Driving Knowledge (written) Test completion form from driver education school, if applicable
- Identification documents
- Parent, guardian or Colorado driver over 21 willing to sign the Affidavit of Liability DR 2460. The parent, guardian, or Colorado driver over 21 must come to the appointment with the applicant to sign.
- Parent or legal guardian to sign the Affidavit of Identity, if applicable. The parent or legal guardian must come to the appointment with the applicant to sign.
- Applicable fee
What do I need to do before I go to the driver license office?
- You must pre-register for a CO permit, visit the pre-registration page.
- Successfully complete an approve 4 hour driver awareness program or 30 hour driver education course within 180 days of applying for the permit. See a list of schools.
- Study the Colorado Driver Handbook before taking Driving Knowledge (written) Test. You can also take the Colorado Driver Handbook Practice Quiz.
- You will be required to successfully pass the written test before a permit can be issued.
- Schedule an appointment to take the test in a DMV office. Alternatively, you may also take the test at home, and then schedule an appointment to get the permit issued.
What do I need to bring to the driver license office?
- Driving Knowledge (written) Test completion form from driver education school, if applicable.
- Identification documents
- Parent, guardian or Colorado driver over 21 willing to sign the Affidavit of Liability. The parent, guardian, or Colorado driver over 21 must come to the appointment with the applicant to sign.
- Parent or legal guardian to sign the Affidavit of Identity, if applicable. The parent or legal guardian must come to the appointment with the applicant to sign.
- Applicable fee.
What do I need to do before I go to the driver license office?
- No formal education is required.
- Study the Colorado Driver Handbook before taking Driving Knowledge (written) Test. You can also take the Colorado Driver Handbook Practice Quiz.
- You are required to successfully pass the Driving Knowledge (written) Test before an instruction permit can be issued.
- You will be required to successfully pass the written test before a permit can be issued.
- Schedule an appointment to take the test in a DMV office.
- Alternatively, you may also take the test at home, and then schedule an appointment to get the permit issued.
What do I need to bring to the driver license office?
- Driving Knowledge (written) Test completion form from driver education school, if applicable
- Identification documents
- Parent, guardian or Colorado driver over 21 willing to sign the Affidavit of Liability DR 2460. The parent, guardian, or Colorado driver over 21 must come to the appointment with the applicant to sign.
- Parent or legal guardian to sign the Affidavit of Identity, if applicable. The parent or legal guardian must come to the appointment with the applicant to sign.
- Applicable fee
What do I need to do before I go to the driver license office?
- No formal education is required.
- Study the Colorado Driver Handbook before taking Driving Knowledge (written) Test. You can also take the Colorado Driver Handbook Practice Quiz.
- You are required to successfully pass the Driving Knowledge (written) Test before an instruction permit can be issued.
- Identification documents
- Schedule an appointment
What do I need to bring to the driver license office?
- No formal education is required.
- Study the Colorado Driver Handbook before taking Driving Knowledge (written) Test. You can also take the Colorado Driver Handbook Practice Quiz.
- You are required to successfully pass the Driving Knowledge (written) Test before an instruction permit can be issued.
- You will be required to successfully pass the written test before a permit can be issued.
- Schedule an appointment to take the test in a DMV office.
- Alternatively, you may also take the test at home, and then schedule an appointment to get the permit issued.
- Driving Knowledge (written) Test completion form from driver education school, if applicable.
- Parent to sign the Affidavit of Identity, if applicable
- Identification documents
- Applicable fee
An Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship form (DR 2460) is required for minors younger than 18. The signer must:
- Accompany the minor to their appointment to sign the form.
- Be willing to assume financial responsibility for any accident caused by the minor.
- Accompany the minor to any hearing related to the minor’s driver’s license or instruction permit.
- Hold a valid Colorado Driver License or
- Hold a valid driver license from another state with proper military identification or
- If the parent or legal guardian does not hold a valid Colorado Driver License, they may appoint an Alternate Permit Supervisor (on the affidavit) to supervise the minor while learning to drive.
The person who signed the Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship form (DR 2460) can withdraw their signature and the driving privileges of the minor by completing a Signature Withdrawal form (DR 2464) and submitting it at a driver license office. When a different person signs a new Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship form (DR 2460), a new permit must be issued. The appropriate fee will be charged upon issuance of the new credential.
If the parent or legal guardian does not hold a valid Colorado Driver License, they may appoint an Alternate Permit Supervisor (on the affidavit) to supervise the minor while learning to drive.
If you are a minor applying for a permit under the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act, you must have the required residency documents. These documents can be in the minor's or a guardian's name.
For customers needing accommodations with the Driving Knowledge Test, we offer:
- having the exam read by the testing machine
- translation to other spoken languages (test-taker must provide the translator)
- translation to sign language (see this information on ASL interpreters).
- at-home testing