Revision to the New Colorado Driver Education Law
Provided to Virtual Drive of America on June 30, 2009
By the Compliance Office of the Colorado Department of Revenue 

Beginning on June 30, 2009 the driver's license offices will verify completion of a 6 hour BTW training for all applicants who enroll and complete a driver education classes to obtain their instruction permit.

1. At 15, the student may get their learner’s permit but will have to sign up for a 6 hour behind the wheel training from an approved driving school. 
2. At 15 ½, if you use a 30-hour program to obtain the permit you will need to supply proof of the 6 hours BTW to obtain the license or take a 4 hour driver awareness program.
   
3. If the student lives 30 miles or more from an approved driving school, they are eligible to use the parent behind the wheel training at 15. 

There are a few additional rules you must follow.

With any of the above, the student must hold the permit for 12 months and complete a total of 50 hours of behind the wheel of instruction (either a combined school/parent or by the parent).  The parent must log the 50 hours of in-car training using the form provided by Virtual Drive.  This form will be presented to the DMV at the end of the 12 month period. At this time, the student is eligible for their license.

Contact the Compliance Office at - 303-975-9734

Do You Have questions about Parent-Taught Drivers Ed? Kevin Knapp Virtual Drive President I can help! Give me a call today and I will help you decide if Parent-Taught Driver's Education is for you. Call me now at: 888-241-0896

Understand Colorado's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) Law

Beginning July 1, 2005, regardless of when you got your license, if you are under 18 you cannot drive a vehicle carrying a passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver license for at least 6 months. And, you cannot drive a vehicle carrying more than one passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver license for at least one year.

• If your parent or guardian is in the car with you, or
• If there is an adult passenger in the vehicle, 21 years of age or older, who has a valid license and has held a driver license for at least one year or
• If the passenger under 21 needs emergency medical assistance, or
• If the passengers under 21 are members of your immediate family and they are all wearing seatbelts.

So, if you were issued your license on January 1, 2005, on July 1, 2005, you would be able to carry only one passenger under 21 but no more than one until January 1, 2006, unless you meet one of the exceptions above.

There are also new restrictions on the time of day that you can drive. If you are under 18 you cannot drive between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m. unless you have held your driver license for at least one year

• unless your parent or guardian is in the car with you, or
• unless there is an adult passenger, 21 years of age or older, in the vehicle who has a valid license and has held a driver license for at least one year, or
• unless you are driving to school or a school-authorized activity and the school doesn't provide transportation. You will need a signed statement from the school official showing the date of the activity, or
• unless you are driving because of employment; you must carry a signed statement from your employer verifying your employment, or
• unless you are driving because of an emergency, or
• unless you are an emancipated minor but your parent(s) or guardian(s) have not canceled your license.