Colorado lawmakers change education requirements for young drivers

Maddie Rhodes
·2 min read
2

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado just adopted a new law that requires more driving education for minors before they hit the road.

House Bill 24-1021, the Motor Vehicle Minor Driver Education Standards bill, was passed and signed into law in mid-May. In short, it will increase education hours before drivers under 18 can be issued an instruction permit.

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Originally, drivers between 15 and a half to 16 years old could be issued an instruction permit after a driver education course or a four-hour driver awareness course. Drivers under 15 and a half years old could obtain a permit after a driver education course, including 30 hours of driving instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel driving training with a driving instructor or, if applicable, 12 hours with an adult.

Now, a new law is changing the age and hours before young drivers can get a permit. Under the new law, the education course hours are expanding. For an instruction permit, drivers under 18 must:

  • Complete a 30-hour driver education course

  • At least six hours of behind-the-wheel driving training with a driving instructor or 12 hours of training from a guardian or responsible adult

The bill adds a requirement that a minor who is 18 years of age or older and under 21 years of age must successfully complete a four-hour prequalification driver awareness program.

The bill also monitors the instructors.

“A person who has been convicted of certain violent or sexual crimes from providing behind-the-wheel driving instruction to minors and at-risk adults,” according to the bill summary.

Under the new law, commercial driving instructors must be fingerprinted to verify they haven’t committed a disqualifying crime.

While this bill was signed into law, you won’t see changes until April 1, 2026, when the bill is set to take effect.

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