Third-party drive tests with state-certified examiners.
Class, permit test, and 6 hours of lessons.
Course online, testing and lessons in person.
Behind-the-wheel lessons with patient and certified instructors.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 SafetyComprehensive coverage of Colorado traffic laws, rules of the road, and the risks unique to new drivers — taught by state-certified instructors.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ScheduleAvailable to qualifying students who have completed an American Driving Academy course and are dependents of active AAA Primary Members in Colorado
Towing, battery jump-starts, flat tire changes, fuel delivery, and lockout service — available wherever your teen drives.
Savings on hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and thousands of national retailers — a membership that pays for itself.
Access to AAA’s insurance products and identity theft monitoring — protections that matter as your teen gains independence.
Everything you need to know about our AAA Approved status and what it means for your teen’s driver education.
Give your teen the best possible start behind the wheel — with a curriculum, instructors, and vehicles that have been independently verified by AAA.
If under the age of 16, you need to first complete a driver's ed course. In-person and online options are available.
This 25 multiple-choice test is offered at many of our locations.
After passing the course and the permit test, you will need to go to the DMV to get your driving permit. To make a DMV appointment…
If you are under 16.5 years of age, you are required to take six hours of driving lessons before getting your driver's license. Learn to drive with our state-certified, friendly, and patient instructors.
After holding your permit for one full year, it is time to take your driver's license test.
You need to pass this test to get your permit. It is 25 multiple choice questions. We offer this test at many of our locations.
After passing the permit test, you will need to go to the DMV to get your driving permit. To make a DMV appointment…
If you are new to Colorado or you don’t have driving experience, we offer driving lessons 7 days a week. These are 2-hour lessons with state-certified, patient, and friendly instructors.
You are required to pass the driver's license test in order to get your driver's license. After passing, you may be eligible to get your license that same day without even having to visit the DMV.
