What You Need to Know About the Colorado Graduated Driver’s License Program
Like most states, Colorado adopted the GDL program to reduce the number of fatal traffic crashes involving teens. This program gives operators more time to develop skills, gain experience, and practice defensive driving techniques prior to heading out alone. The steps needed to complete the program depend on your age and if you have taken driver education.
Age 15
Apply for your permit if you have finished the classroom part of your driver’s education course
Age 15 years and 6 months
Apply for your permit after completing the four-hour driver awareness class
Age 16
If you choose not to enroll in a driver’s ed course, you must wait until you are 16 to apply for your learner’s permit.
No matter at what age you get your permit, you must have it for 12 months before you are eligible for your restricted license. While you have the permit, you must be accompanied by your parent or legal guardian or a certified driving instructor anytime you are behind the wheel, and they must be occupying the front passenger seat. You must accumulate at least 50 hours of driving practice with your supervisor, and ten of these hours must be driven at night.
After fulfilling the requirements of the learner’s permit, you are eligible for a license that has passenger and nighttime driving restrictions. While driving in this intermediate phase, you are not required to have a driving supervisor, however, you are prohibited from driving after midnight or before 5:00 a.m. for the first 12 months, unless your parent or legal guardian is with you, or you have signed statement requiring travel to or from work or school.
During the first six months of this phase, you must not have any passengers under the age of 21. After 180 days, you are permitted to have one minor passenger under the age of 21, unless they are your immediate family members.
You are eligible for full driving privileges and an unrestricted license when you reach age 17.