Colorado's Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) law has three stages:

• Instruction Permit
• Restricted License
• Full Privilege License
  
  
• Legal Consequences

At all stages, teens must:

• Buckle up.
• Obey all traffic laws.
• Carry proof of insurance.
• No drinking and driving. Colorado has a ZERO TOLERANCE law for minor drivers

Instruction Permit

All new drivers under age 18 require a parent/legal guardian's signed Affidavit of Liability to get a instruction permit, which allows them to drive - with restrictions - under the supervision of a parent or guardian for one y ear. Whoever signs the affidavit is responsible for any financial liability.

How old does your teen need to be to apply?

16, or

15-year-olds who have completed and passed the classroom portion of a state-approved driver's education course within 6 months of applying for their permit

15 years and 6 months to 16 years and have completed a 4-hour driver awareness course

Laws for Teens with Instruction Permits

No talking or texting on cell phones while driving.

Who can ride with them:

If they're under 18, they may not drive with anyone except their driving instructor, parent or legal guardian.

If they're 18 and older, they may drive with any licensed driver 21 years of age or older.

After teens get their instruction permits, what do they need to do before they can apply for their driver's license?

• Hold an instruction permit for at least one year.
• Log 50 hours of driving time with a responsible, licensed parent, legal guardian, or alternate permit supervisor. Ten of those hours must be nighttime driving.
• Any minor issued a driver's education permit (the permit for minors 15 years up to 15 years and 6 months) on or after April 23, 2007, must complete behind-the-wheel training prior to applying for their driver's license. They may complete either 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a driving instructor from an approved school or 12 hours of behind-the-wheel training with their parent, guardian or alternate permit supervisor if there is no approved school offering at least 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training per week located within 30 miles of the permit holder's residence.
• Driving Log (PDF - Form DR 2324).
  

  Registro de horas de manejo (Spanish PDF - Form DR 2324)

Restricted License

Laws for Licensed Drivers Under Age 18

After fulfilling the instruction permit requirements, teens may apply for a driver's license. This first driver's license is a restricted license, the only type of license they may receive until they turn 18.

• No passengers under age 21 until driver has held a driver's license for at least six months. No more than one passenger under age 21 until driver has held a driver's license for at least one year. (Siblings and passengers with medical emergencies are exceptions.)
• All passengers with drivers under 18 must wear seatbelts. This is a primary, enforced law.
• Only one passenger may ride in the front seat.
• No driving between midnight and 5 a.m. until teen has had a driver's license for at least one year, unless accompanied by an instructor, parent or legal guardian.
  EXCEPTIONS:
  • Driving to school or school-authorized activity and the school doesn't provide transportation. Signed statement from school required.
  • Driving to/from work. Signed statement from employer required.
  • Medical emergency.
  • You're an emancipated minor.
• No drinking and driving. Colorado has a ZERO TOLERANCE law for minor drivers.
• Obey all traffic laws.
• Carry proof of insurance.
• Buckle up. Seatbelts save lives.

Full Privilege License

When your teen turns 18, restrictions are removed from their license. Then they have a full privilege license.

STATE-IMPOSED CONSEQUENCES

Primary and Secondary Offenses

Police officers can pull you over and cite you for a primary offense. They cannot pull you over for a secondary offense, however, if they have already pulled you over for a primary offense, they can cite you for a secondary offense. GDL violations are secondary offenses except for seatbelt violations, which are primary offenses. Violations can result in fines and in the accumulation of points. If a driver accumulates 6 or more points through age 18, their license may be revoked.

Penalties for seat belt and passenger restriction violations:

As a parent or legal guardian, you can pull your teen's license if they are under 18.