New young drivers education law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027

News Release

Nueva ley de educación para conductores jóvenes en vigencia a partir del 1 de enero de 2027 en español.

Statewide - On Jan. 1, 2027, new minor driver education standards will go into effect across Colorado. These new standards aim to increase the preparedness and knowledge of Colorado's youngest drivers.

The new standards require:

• A 30-hour driver education course for 15- through 17-year-olds (which may include an online course).
• Either a 30-hour course or a four-hour prequalification driver awareness program (which may include an online course) for ages 18 through 20 years old.
• A successfully completed motorcycle safety training program approved by Colorado State Patrol for those under 21 years old before being issued a motorcycle instruction permit or endorsement.

Prior to the new law, HB24-1021, teens who earned their permits at the age of 16 or older did not have to take an educational course before passing their written permit exam, a requirement that is now extended to all teens under the age of 18. Additionally, the new law will not affect behind-the-wheel training requirements, which will remain mandatory for all teens earning their licenses before 16.5 years of age.

"Teens are Colorado's next generation of motorists, and we want to prepare them to be safe drivers," said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. "By increasing knowledge and preparedness of safe driving practices, we can reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities in the years ahead."

Permit holders under 18 years of age must still complete a minimum of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving before they are eligible to receive a driver license.

Driving hours may be supervised by:

• The minor's parent or stepparent
• The minor's grandparent with power of attorney
• An individual who is 21 years of age or older and who signed the affidavit of liability
• The minor's foster parent who signed the affidavit of liability
• An approved driver education instructor
• An alternate permit supervisor who is 21 years of age or older and is appointed by the person who signed the affidavit of liability
• If the minor is a foster child, an individual authorized to supervise the foster child.

"These new regulations will help better prepare young drivers for the roads around them," said DMV Director of Driver Services, Benjamin Mitchell. "Unfortunately, teen traffic fatalities in Colorado have steadily risen over the past 10 years. It's time we improve our systems to better protect the newest drivers on our roadways."

The law also requires behind-the-wheel training instructors to submit a fingerprint-based criminal history check in place of a CBI background check before instructing. Background checks for instructors have always existed, but they'll now be completed through fingerprinting.

To learn more about the new teen driver education standards and find other teen driving resources, visit codot.gov/teeneducation.

Colorado Fatal Crash Data Dashboard

Colorado's Fatal Crash Data dashboard represents the official and most current number of vehicle occupants or non-motorists killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle along Colorado public roadways. The graph shows Colorado traffic fatalities year over year and can be filtered by categories such as month, county, age and traffic unit type. Learn more about crash metrics by visiting the Fatal Crash Data dashboard.