Is Drivers’ Ed Required? Why Is It Always Beneficial?
Whether you’re the parent of a teenager preparing to drive, a new driver getting ready to take the wheel yourself, or someone looking to polish your existing skills, you’ve probably wondered whether enrolling in a Colorado driving school is worth it.
In some instances, taking a state-approved drivers education program is required, but even when that’s not the case, it’s always worth considering seeking out a reputable school for driving instruction.
To help illuminate when a drivers education program is required, as well as why taking one is advantageous to any driver regardless of the necessity, the following information should shed some light:
In This Article
- When Does Someone Need to Take Drivers Ed In Colorado?
- Why Can’t I Just Go to a Driver License Office to Get a Colorado Driver’s License?
- Do I Need to Go to a Driving School to Get a Drive Test Completion Form?
- Why Is a Driving School Beneficial Even When Drivers Ed Is Not Required?
- State-Approved Drivers Ed Courses and Driving Lessons In Colorado
When Does Someone Need to Take Drivers Ed In Colorado?
In Colorado, the earliest a teen can get an instruction permit is age 15, and a driver’s license is available at 16. Students can start a driver education program at 14 years and 6 months, and they may take the permit test at 14 years and 11 months old. When deciding on drivers ed options, there are some state requirements to keep in mind:
- All teens between 15 and 15 ½ must complete a 30-hour classroom course, live or online, through a state-approved provider in order to be eligible to take the permit test, and obtain a learner’s permit.
- When teens are between 15 ½ and 16 years of age, they must complete the 30-hour course or a four-hour driver awareness class, which serves as an alternative driver education program option for that age group.
- After 16 years of age, no formal driver’s education program is required to obtain a learners permit, but it is strongly recommended and encouraged for teen drivers.
- When it comes to obtaining an actual license, drivers under 18 must complete 50 hours of logged driving practice, including 10 at night, with a licensed driver over 21 who has held a license for one year or longer, and minors must hold their permit for 12 months before applying. In addition, six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction is generally part of licensing eligibility, and a driver between 16 and 16 ½ must complete those six hours of behind training with a state-approved driving instructor. If there is not an approved driving school easily accessible within 30 miles of his/her home, 12 additional supervised hours of driving must be completed with a parent, guardian, or permit supervisor.
Colorado rules for drivers under 18 will become stricter starting in January 2027.
Why Can’t I Just Go to a Driver License Office to Get a Colorado Driver’s License?
To receive your Colorado driver’s license, you must bring or submit a drive test completion form to obtain a Colorado license. Once you submit your drive test completion form to the DMV, you’ll finish the process in person — where your permit or license paperwork is finalized and your Colorado driver’s license is issued.
Do I Need to Go to a Driving School for a Behind-the-Wheel Test and a Drive Test Completion Form?
Currently, the state of Colorado does not offer the driving skills test at the DMV. You can’t take the official license test at a Colorado DMV, and the required road exam must be taken through a state-approved third-party driving school to receive a drive test completion form, which is required to obtain a Colorado driver’s license. In order to pass the driving test to receive your Colorado driver license, you’ll need to go to a state-approved Colorado driving school. The road exam typically lasts about 20 minutes and evaluates more than 100 items.
Why Is a Driving School Beneficial Even When Drivers Ed Is Not Required?
Here are the reasons why utilizing a driving school’s services is a smart choice even if it is not formally required:
Driving Schools Offer Structured and Accommodating Schedules
When a parent, guardian, and/or other non-professional driving instructor is fully responsible for instructing a novice driver, it can be difficult to create a consistent driving schedule for the student.
Oftentimes, parents’ schedules involving work and additional responsibilities conflict with their students’ school timetables, and the result is sporadic driving lessons that only occur when parents have some free time available for their teen drivers, whereas professional schools offer more structured and consistent schedules for teen students.
Consistency helps build both confidence and competency behind the wheel. Because the Colorado driving manual is quite lengthy and involved, teaching the rules of the road requires ongoing dedication, which is why driving schools can often offer a more steady and well-paced option for budding drivers. This consistency helps students learn at their own pace while still meeting practice goals.
Driving Instructors Have Fine-Tuned Their Curriculum and Supervised Driving Teaching Methods
While it’s absolutely advantageous to gain driving experience with help from parents and other qualifying adults, certified driving instructors use effective teaching methods for new drivers and are experienced in both the subject matter and the best ways to help students understand and retain the information needed to become a safe driver.
When utilizing a driving school, parents can help their teens comprehend the driving manual and learn to drive on the road without shouldering the entire weight of responsibility. Parents can rest easy knowing their students are in the hands of experienced driving instructors — ones with a proven aptitude for teaching the rules of the road and delivering modern, reputation-backed drivers education. Behind-the-wheel instruction gives new drivers real-world practice with essential skills like lane changes and parallel parking.
Completing Driver Education Programs Can Help Save On Auto Insurance
When student drivers carry learners permits, they don’t need to have their own insurance policies, but that changes when they become licensed drivers.
Naturally, finding reliable insurance that is also cost-effective is the main goal. When it comes to keeping costs down, completing state-approved drivers ed courses can actually save new drivers money.
Insurance companies understand that driving schools help train skilled new drivers, which contributes to their main goal of minimizing the number of collisions their customers are involved with. Many insurance providers offer discounts to drivers who have completed state-approved driving programs, because it demonstrates that they have learned and practiced safe driving skills.
While you’ll need to ask your specific insurance carrier about any drivers ed-related discounts, completing driver education may qualify drivers for an insurance discount of up to 15% on premiums. Discounts frequently apply to drivers who take advanced driving courses, such as a defensive skills class.
Are You an Adult Driver? Professional Driving Lessons Can Help Educate a Licensed Driver New to a State
Driving lessons aren’t exclusively for student drivers, either. Adults 18 and older can also take lessons even though Colorado law does not require driving school for most adult applicants. Experienced drivers can use professional drivers ed courses to sharpen their skills in general, and they can also use them to better adapt to living in new areas.
For example, someone who mainly has experience driving in a small town in the South may find it difficult operating a vehicle in a large city that gets its fair share of snow, especially when adjusting to Colorado traffic laws and inclement weather in a new environment. A driving course based in the new location can make it easy for anyone to learn how to safely operate a vehicle and smoothly adjust to his/her new surroundings.
DriveSafe Offers State-Approved Drivers Ed Courses and Driving Lessons In Colorado
DriveSafe is Colorado’s most trusted driving school, and we earned this title by offering a full driver education program with classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel lessons that build confidence and instill safe driving habits in all of our students. These programs help students become a safe driver, and Driver Skills Day extends safety training for newly licensed drivers.
Whether you’re a parent in search of a comprehensive drivers ed program for your teen, a student driver looking to take driving lessons from one of our certified instructors, or a seasoned motorist who is interested in obtaining defensive skills to use in Colorado’s unique terrain, we can help. Students can also choose in person options, and Denver students in the Denver metro area may want to contact the school for local scheduling details.
Contact us today to find out which of our services will best help you learn how to drive safe for life.
