AAA Approved Driving School in Colorado
American Driving Academy has earned the AAA Approved Driving School designation — an independently verified credential awarded only to schools that meet AAA’s rigorous standards for curriculum, instruction, vehicle safety, and professional practice.
What Does AAA Approval Actually Mean?
The AAA Approved Driving School designation is a credential that must be earned and actively maintained. Schools must meet a comprehensive set of requirements covering people, curriculum, fleet, operations, and reputation. AAA reserves the right to send representatives to observe school operations at any time — and schools that fall short of the standard can lose approval.
American Driving Academy meets every requirement. Our approval reflects ongoing accountability across every dimension of how we operate — from how we hire and vet instructors to how we handle customer concerns, maintain our vehicles, and serve the communities where our families live.
- State-approved curriculum — kept current as driver education best practices evolve
- State-certified instructors who complete annual driving and criminal DMV record checks
- Camera-equipped training vehicles maintained in excellent mechanical condition
- Demonstrated complaint handling procedures, customer satisfaction standards, and community reputation reviewed by AAA
What Maintaining AAA Approval Actually Requires
AAA approval is not a one-time evaluation — it is an ongoing commitment. Here are the four areas where we must continuously demonstrate our standard.
Instructors & Personnel
All instructors must hold a valid state driver education certification and complete an instructor development course. Every instructor undergoes annual DMV driving record checks and criminal background checks. Professional conduct with students and families is a non-negotiable requirement.
Curriculum & Education
Our course content meets Colorado state curriculum standards. As an AAA Approved school, we are required to make ongoing efforts to keep our curriculum current — incorporating updated guidance as driver education best practices evolve. Complacency is not compatible with maintaining approval.
Fleet & Facilities
All of our training vehicles are equipped with in-vehicle cameras and must be maintained in excellent mechanical condition at all times. Our offices and classrooms must also meet AAA’s professional appearance standards — the environment where students learn reflects who we are.
Accountability & Reputation
We must demonstrate formal procedures for handling complaints and customer service issues, maintain customer satisfaction scores that meet AAA’s threshold, carry appropriate insurance, and uphold a community reputation that AAA reviews on an ongoing basis. AAA representatives may observe our operations at any time.
Teen Driver Safety Is a Serious Responsibility
Every lesson behind the wheel with a new driver counts. The quality of their instruction has a direct, measurable impact on their safety — and the safety of everyone around them.
A Curriculum Built for Real-World Safety
Our program goes far beyond what Colorado state law requires, using state-approved curriculum that covers the full range of challenges your teen will face from their first solo trip onward.
Topics covered in our program:
Click any topic to learn more.
“The greatest risk factor for new drivers is not recklessness — it is inexperience. Structured, high-quality driver education closes that gap faster and more safely than any other approach.”
— AAA Foundation for Traffic SafetyClassroom Instruction
Comprehensive coverage of Colorado traffic laws, rules of the road, and the risks unique to new drivers — taught by state-certified instructors.
Behind-the-Wheel Training
One-on-one in-car instruction with a certified instructor in a camera-equipped, dual-control training vehicle maintained in excellent mechanical condition — real roads, real situations, real skill-building.
Skills Evaluation
Structured assessment of your teen’s readiness — designed to ensure they are genuinely prepared before they drive independently, not just that they’ve logged enough hours.
- Valid Colorado state driver education certification — no exceptions
- Annual DMV driving record check — every instructor, every year
- Annual criminal background check through DMV records
- Completion of an instructor development course before working with students
- Professional conduct and communication standards with teen students and their families
Vetted Annually — Not Just at Hire
Colorado requires that driving instructors hold a state certification. That’s the floor. What sets our instructors apart is what happens after they’re hired: every year, without exception, each instructor’s driving record and criminal history are checked through the DMV. There are no gaps, no assumptions, and no tenure-based exemptions.
Before ever working with a student, each instructor must also complete a formal instructor development course — ensuring they are not just knowledgeable about driving, but prepared to teach it effectively and patiently to teenagers who are brand new behind the wheel.
The person in the passenger seat during your teen’s first driving lessons shapes habits and instills confidence that lasts a lifetime. We treat that responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.
Exclusive Savings & Benefits for AAA Members
Being an AAA Approved school means our students and their families enjoy real benefits. AAA members receive a discount on enrollment, and qualifying teen drivers may receive a complimentary AAA membership after completing our course.
$15 Off Any Drivers Education Complete Program
AAA members receive $15 off any of our Drivers Education Complete Programs. Call us to schedule and mention your AAA membership when you book — the discount is applied at the time of enrollment.
Call 303-623-1404 to ScheduleFree AAA Membership for Qualifying Teen Drivers
Available to qualifying students who have completed an American Driving Academy course and are dependents of active AAA Primary Members in Colorado
24/7 Roadside Assistance
Towing, battery jump-starts, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, and lockout service — available wherever your teen drives.
Travel & Retail Discounts
Savings on hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and thousands of national retailers — a membership that pays for itself.
Insurance & Identity Benefits
Access to AAA’s insurance products and identity theft monitoring — protections that matter as your teen gains independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about our AAA Approved status and what it means for your teen’s driver education.
What does it mean that American Driving Academy is AAA Approved?
How many AAA Approved Driving Schools are in Colorado?
Does AAA Approval make a real difference in the quality of instruction?
Who qualifies for the free AAA membership?
What should I look for when choosing a driving school?
How do I enroll my teen at American Driving Academy?
Enroll at One of Colorado’s Only AAA Approved Schools
Give your teen the best possible start behind the wheel — with a curriculum, instructors, and vehicles that have been independently verified by AAA.