Permits and Teen Drivers
C.R.S. 42-2-104 — a permit at 15 after a 30 hour course, 12 months on it and 50 hours, and no young passengers for 6 months
The department issues an instruction permit to a minor 15 or older who has finished a 30 hour approved driver education course within the last six months, online or in person.
Who handles this in Colorado: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Colorado directory.
No minor driver's license goes to anyone under 16. A minor gets one after holding a permit for at least twelve months and logging at least 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night.
| For a minor driver | Until the license has been held |
|---|---|
| For a minor driverNo passenger under 21 who is not family | Until the license has been held6 months |
| For a minor driverNo more than one passenger under 21 who is not family | Until the license has been held1 year |
| For a minor driverNo driving between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. | Until the license has been held1 year |
The limits do not apply with a parent or an adult 21 or older who has held a license for a year in the car, and the curfew allows school and work trips with a signed statement. A driver under 18 carries no more than one passenger in front and no more in back than there are seat belts.
Sources for this section (4)
- C.R.S. 42-2-106 — Instruction permits and temporary licenses - penalty
- C.R.S. 42-2-104 — Licenses issued - denied
- C.R.S. 42-4-116 — Restrictions for minor drivers - definitions
- C.R.S. 42-2-105.5 — Restrictions on minor drivers under eighteen years of age - penalties - legislative declaration
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Colorado attorney.