Driving Tests

Colorado Learner's Permit at 15: Driver Ed, Awareness and Supervisors

informational·how to guide·Published July 11, 2026

How do I get a learner's permit at 15 in Colorado, and who can supervise me?

You can apply for a Colorado instruction permit at 15. For applications until December 31, 2026, ages 15 to 15½ must finish a 30-hour driver education course. Ages 15½ to 16 can finish that course or a 4-hour driver awareness program. A parent, guardian or responsible adult 21 or older signs the Affidavit of Liability. When you drive, a licensed adult 21 or older sits in the front passenger seat.

Where these Colorado permit rules come from

The steps and the course rules come from the Colorado DMV permit page. The supervisor and affidavit rules come from Colorado Revised Statutes 42-2-106 and 42-2-108, the 2024 edition. The Colorado Driver Handbook agrees on the front-seat rule. The pre-registration page and the DMV page on the 2027 driver education change are the other sources. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Colorado DMV (dmv.colorado.gov) before you drive.

Which course you need at each age (applications until December 31, 2026)

Which course you need at each age (applications until December 31, 2026)
Your age	Course before the permit	Notes
15 years to 15 years and 6 months	30-hour driver education course	The awareness program is not an option yet.
15 years and 6 months to 16 years	4-hour driver awareness program OR 30-hour driver education course	Pick one. The awareness program option ends on your 16th birthday.
16 to 17 years	Not required	Applies only to applications until December 31, 2026.

Do you need the course before you apply?

Yes, if you are under 16, you must finish the course or program before you apply. Driver education comes from private providers, so you book directly with a school that the DMV approved. A driver education course is valid for 6 months from the date you finish it. The law (42-2-106, 2024 edition) also asks for a course finished within the last six months, so plan your permit appointment inside that time.

How to get your Colorado instruction permit

1
Finish the course or program if you are under 16
Keep the completion confirmation page. You need it later, printed or on your phone.
2
Pre-register online
First-time applicants pre-register before they take the written test. You do not need to pre-register if you already have a Colorado permit, license or ID card.
3
Pass the written test
The written test (driving knowledge test) is required for all ages. You can take the online @Home Driving Knowledge Test, or test in the office in English or Spanish. You can retake it as often as needed, but only twice in one day. Offices give no written test within 30 minutes of closing.
4
Make an appointment at a driver license office
The pre-registration confirmation letter does not replace the appointment. If you take the written test in the office and pass, you can finish the permit at the same visit when you bring the required documents. Bring your course completion confirmation and, if you passed the @Home test, its Certificate of Completion.
5
Bring the adult who signs the affidavit
If you are under 18, the adult signs the DR 2460 Affidavit of Liability at the appointment. You also take a vision test, give fingerprints, have your photo taken and pay the fee. You leave with a temporary paper permit, and the card comes by mail within 30 days.

Who can ride with you on a Colorado permit?

When you drive, a licensed driver who is 21 or older sits in the front passenger seat. The supervisor needs a valid Colorado driver license, or a military ID and a valid out-of-state license. For a minor, the law (42-2-106) names the supervisors: the parent, stepparent, grandparent with power of attorney, guardian or foster parent who cosigned your application; an alternate permit supervisor (21 or older, valid Colorado license) if the signer has no Colorado license; or an approved driver education instructor in a marked instruction car. The practice question on where a supervising parent must sit tests the seat rule.

Other people who want to supervise you

A relative or friend who is 21 or older and licensed offers to ride with you

The signer may let you drive with that person. Under the law for applications until December 31, 2026, these extra hours do not count toward the 50 hours of logged practice. The guide to the 50-hour Colorado drive log explains the log.

You are a foster child

Any licensed driver who is 21 or older can supervise you from the front passenger seat.

What the Affidavit of Liability means for the adult who signs

Under 18, your permit application needs the DR 2460 Affidavit of Liability, signed by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult. Minors in foster care can be exempt when certain conditions are met.
The signer must be 21 or older with a valid Colorado driver license, or an active military ID with a valid out-of-state license.
If the parent or guardian cannot come to the appointment, the signed form must be notarized. A form signed at home without a notary is not accepted.
The signer takes financial responsibility for any accident that you cause, and must come with you to any hearing about your permit or license.
The signer can withdraw the signature with form DR 2464 at a driver license office. Then your permit is canceled.

How long is the permit valid, and when can you get a license?

Your permit is valid for three years or until your 21st birthday, whichever comes first. If you are under 18, you must hold it for a full 12 months, or until your 18th birthday if that comes first, before you apply for a license. The practice question on the permit holding period and logged practice tests this rule.

What changes for applications on or after January 1, 2027?

The rules above apply to applications until December 31, 2026. For applications on or after January 1, 2027, ages 15 through 17 must complete a 30-hour driver education course before they get an instruction permit. If you already have your permit, the new requirements do not apply to you. The guide to the 2027 Colorado driver education requirement has the details.

Key takeaways

You can apply for a Colorado permit at 15. Under 16, you must finish a course or program before you apply.
For applications until December 31, 2026: ages 15 to 15½ need the 30-hour course, and ages 15½ to 16 can choose the 4-hour awareness program or the 30-hour course.
The adult who signs the Affidavit of Liability, an alternate permit supervisor or an approved instructor supervises you. Other licensed drivers 21 or older can ride with you if the signer allows it, but under the current law those hours do not count toward the 50 hours.
Your permit is valid for three years or until your 21st birthday. Under 18, hold it 12 months before you apply for a license.
Next step: practice on the free Colorado Class R practice test. Our questions are in English only.

Colorado permit at 15: common questions

Can I get a Colorado permit at 15 without driver education?

No, not for applications until December 31, 2026. From 15 to 15½, you need the 30-hour driver education course. From 15½ to your 16th birthday, you can choose the shorter 4-hour driver awareness program instead. If you do not want a course or program in 2026, you must wait until 16 to apply.

I am 16. Do I still need driver ed to get my permit?

Not if you apply by December 31, 2026: ages 16 and 17 need no course for the permit. For applications on or after January 1, 2027, ages 15 through 17 must finish a 30-hour driver education course first. If you already have your permit before the change, the new requirement does not apply to you.

My parent has no Colorado driver license. Who can supervise me?

If your parent has a valid out-of-state license and an active military ID, your parent can sign and supervise. If not, your parent can name an alternate permit supervisor on the affidavit. That person must hold a valid Colorado driver license, be 21 or older and sit in the front passenger seat when you drive.

Can I change the adult who signed my affidavit?

Yes. The first signer withdraws the signature with form DR 2464 at a driver license office, and that cancels your permit. The new signer then signs a new DR 2460 in the office, and you get a new permit. The DMV charges a fee for the new permit.

Can I take the written test online at 15?

Yes, the online @Home Driving Knowledge Test is one of the options for a permit, and you can also test in the office in English or Spanish. Pre-register first. If you pass online, bring the Certificate of Completion to your appointment, on paper or on your phone. You can retry, but only twice in one day.