Parents, this may come as a surprise, but your 8th grader can start planning for a Colorado learner’s permit now, before they even enter high school.
Waiting until high school can significantly delay the licensing process. With the right timing, your teenager can earn a Colorado driver’s license at 16 and already have a year of driving experience behind the wheel.
Who Benefits From Knowing When a Teen Can Get Licensed?
This information is designed for families and schools that want to understand when and how Colorado teens can begin the driver’s licensing process. This guide is helpful for the following:
Parents of 8th Graders
If your child is approaching age 14½, this page explains how early planning can help them earn a Colorado driver’s license at 16 without unnecessary delays.
Students Preparing for Driver Education
Teens who want to start driver education as soon as they are eligible can use this information to understand permit requirements, training hours, and testing timelines.
Middle School Administrators and Educators
Schools interested in educating families about Colorado’s early licensing timeline can learn about American Driving Academy’s new program, including presentations and printed materials.
Families Whose Schools Are Not Participating
Even if your middle school does not host an in-school program, American Driving Academy provides guidance and resources to help parents and students plan ahead.
How To Get Your Colorado Driver’s License at 16
The process of getting a driver’s license is much more complicated than it was 15 or 20 years ago. Many parents are surprised or confused by the steps necessary to get a driver’s license.
First, let’s get current with the requirements to get a driver’s license in Colorado:
- Must be at least 16 years old
- Must have held an instruction permit for a minimum of 12 months (under 18)
- Logged at least 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an instructor from a state-approved driving school (under 16 ½)
- Logged at least 50 hours of driving, including at least 10 at night
- Passed a road driving test
Here’s how it can work in plain English. It’s possible for a teenager to get a license at 16, but they need to be ahead of the game. To complete a driver education course, log 50 hours of driving, and hold an instruction permit for at least a year, a new driver must obtain a learner’s permit at the age of 15. To get that, they need to have a driving education course at 14 ½.
This is why middle school is not too early to start thinking ahead. Many 8th graders will be 14 ½ years old during the course of the year, which means they could start taking driving education courses in preparation for getting a permit at 15 and, ultimately, a full license at 16. If teens wait too long to get started, though, they could end up having to wait until they are 16 ½, or even later, to get a license.
A New Program for 8th Graders and Their Parents About Early Licensing
“Is It Time?” is a forward-thinking program offered by American Driving Academy to educate students and parents about the nuances of Colorado’s driving laws and how they apply to you and your teenager. The purpose of the program is to:
- create awareness
- provide some clarity
- and answer questions
In Colorado, no birth month gives teens an advantage. The key factor is starting driver education at 14½ and obtaining a learner’s permit promptly at age 15 so the 12-month requirement is met on time.
Parents and their teenagers can make informed choices about their driving goals. The program is available to any middle school and can be tailored to fit the needs of the student population. Printed handouts are available. Our program can also address safety concerns, such as texting and driving, that can’t be stressed enough for new drivers.
Trusted Colorado Driving Instruction for Teens and Families
If you would like your high school to get involved, please contact us immediately. We’d be glad to explain the program in more detail. In addition, American Driving Academy offers a full range of driving education courses for students of all ages, including new drivers starting at age 14 ½.
If you are a parent of an eighth grader or involved with a middle school, now is the time to start planning! Call our southern Colorado offices at (719) 442-0400 or our Northern Colorado offices at (303) 623-1404 for more information on the “Is It Time?”program. We’re also available online, where you can peruse our many instruction and testing locations, including Colorado Springs, Westminster, Longmont, and several locations in Denver.
American Driving Academy is Colorado's largest driving school, serving drivers across 15 Colorado locations since 1999, with more than 400,000 customers served through driver's ed, permit testing, drive testing, and behind-the-wheel lessons.