Erie In-Person Driver's Ed Packages
Erie teens take Colorado's highest-rated 30-hour classroom course with American Driving Academy. The five-day class meets teen permit requirements, with our expert-written workbook and videos filmed on Colorado roads. The class is just the beginning. Family-owned since 1999, we strive for the country's best safety record by exceeding state and industry standards. We prepare teens for safe, confident driving and support your family through permit testing, lessons, the Colorado drive test, and the licensing process.
- Local Office Serving Erie
- 16 Statewide Locations
- 400K+ Students Served
- 1Office serving Erie
- 400K+Students taught
- 16Colorado locations
Three Ways to Start
Compare Erie Driver's Ed Packages and Pricing
All three Erie packages start with the five-day, 30-hour class and the permit test, which teens can begin as early as 14 years and 6 months.
400K+
Students Taught
Colorado family-owned since 1999
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In-person classes. Open 7 days a week. | ||
| Permit Ready $195 Enroll now → | Road Ready $535 Enroll now → | License Ready $625 Enroll now → | |
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| Ready to Enroll? → | Enroll Now | Enroll Now | Enroll Now |
Your Erie Driving Class Schedule
Every Erie class is five days, on weekends during the school year and in fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks. Most class days run from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Pick a package to see which dates are open.Questions about what to purchase now? Call the Erie team at (303) 623-1404 and tell us your teen's age, permit status, and licensing goal.
Which In-Person Class Package Fits Your Teen?
Choose Permit Ready if…
Your teen needs the class and the permit test now, and you would rather buy lessons and the drive test later, closer to when your teen uses them.
Choose Road Ready if…
Your teen wants a license before 16½ and needs the six professional hours Colorado generally requires, with three private lessons included.
Choose License Ready if…
You would rather add the drive test up front, since bundling it here costs your family less than buying that same exam separately later on.
License Timeline for a New Teen Driver
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1
At 14½
Start the class
Complete the live 30-hour class across five days.
In every package -
2
At 14 yr 11 mo
Take the permit test
Pass the written permit test on Colorado road rules.
In every package -
3
At age 15
Get the permit
Visit the DMV on the 15th birthday or later.
At the DMV -
4
Permit year
Complete six hours
Finish three private 2-hour lessons that permit year.
In Road Ready & up -
5
At age 16
Pass the drive test
Pass the Colorado drive test and apply for a license.
In License Ready
Classroom in Old Town
Your Erie Driving School Location
The classroom sits on Briggs Street in Old Town Erie, so the 30-hour class and the appointments that follow all share one local address. Families come back for the permit test, three private lessons, and the Colorado drive test when each one comes up.
Old Town Erie
660 Briggs St #2Erie, CO 80516
The Erie office is backed by American Driving Academy's statewide network of 16 Colorado locations.
What Parents Get Locally
Why Erie Families Choose American Driving Academy
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Above State Standards
Colorado defines the curriculum. We extend it with a workbook written for Colorado drivers, professional videos filmed on Colorado roads, discussion, review games, and work that asks teens to defend a safer decision.
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Statewide Safety Partnerships
American Driving Academy is one of only two AAA Approved schools in Colorado, and we partner statewide with MADD Colorado and Bachus & Schanker on impaired driving and roadside readiness.
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Local Support for Parents
Permit timing and the year of supervised practice raise questions long after class ends. Call 7 days a week or stop by Briggs Street for a plain answer about what is done, what is required, and what comes next.
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Support Through Practice
The certificate is not the end. Course re-enrollment stays open, progress notes shape home practice, and dash-camera review lets families hold us accountable for the quality of behind-the-wheel training.
Notice What Changes
A 30-Hour Class That Builds Safe Judgment
Knowing a rule is different from noticing when it matters. In a live room, an instructor can freeze an example, ask what changed, and compare several answers before revealing the safest one. Students hear where classmates looked first and learn how speed, space, or another driver's mistake alters the decision.
The same rule changes with the road, and that is what the class spends time on. Following distance that is fine on an Old Town side street will not hold on Erie Parkway or Highway 7. A left turn onto County Line Road needs a bigger gap than one downtown. A mountain grade punishes late braking. Your teen thinks those differences through with an instructor before meeting them from the driver's seat.
The Full Curriculum
Erie Driving Classes: All 15 Topics
Fifteen connected topics give new drivers a full foundation, with time to question, discuss, practice, and review.
- 01 Seat Belt Safety
- 02 Car Insurance & Traffic Stops
- 03 Driving Under the Influence
- 04 Road Rage & Driving Mentality
- 05 Traffic Signs & Signals
- 06 Negotiating Intersections
- 07 Parking
- 08 Freeway Driving
- 09 IPDE / Smith System / Zone Control
- 10 Sharing the Road with Motorcycles & Bicyclists
- 11 Adverse Driving Conditions
- 12 Emergencies
- 13 Trains, Semis & Buses
- 14 Car Maintenance
- 15 Driver Distractions
People Who Can Explain
Certified Colorado Instructors Lead Every Class
A Certification Is the Starting Point
We value people who stay calm, prepare carefully, and turn serious experience into instruction a teenager can use.
- Military and police veterans with experience training others
- Teachers, counselors, coaches, and academic leaders
- Professional drivers and specialists in driver licensing
- Parents who have guided their own teens through practice
Michael D.
U.S. Army Veteran- Earned a master's in social work from Metro State Denver
- Worked with homeless veterans and Section 8 participants
- Found his love of teaching as a snowboard instructor
Michelle M.
Retired Teacher & Counselor- Retired from a career in teaching and school counseling
- Spent that career helping students work through problems
- Calls teaching new drivers a job she looks forward to daily
Ryan R.
Two Master's Degrees- Holds two master's degrees and years in the classroom
- Background spans education, fitness, and student development
- Known for a calm, encouraging approach with new drivers
Paula C.
20 Years in Licensing & Law- Two decades across driver licensing and law enforcement
- Taught all four of her own sons to drive, one after another
- Known for patience and building skill through repeated practice
Byron B.
20 Years, U.S. Army- Federal Police Officer for 10 years, eight as Director of Training
- Trained officers to drive safely in emergency conditions
- Teaching new Colorado drivers with us for over six years
Chelsea G.
Certified Peace Officer- Served Pueblo City and Custer County for five years
- Certified driving instructor and field training officer
- Taught new recruits to operate vehicles defensively
Three Coaching Checkpoints
Private Driving Lessons
Road Ready and License Ready include six hours of lessons, split into three 2-hour visits. Your teen practices at home in between, and the next visit starts from what changed. Every lesson runs in a dual-control, state-inspected car with a patient, state-certified instructor.
There is no fixed Erie route. The instructor starts from what your teen can actually do, not from a lesson plan. An early visit might work on how far ahead they are looking, not just how they steer. Later work can move to lane changes in real traffic, parallel parking, merging onto the freeway, or mountain roads where grades, curves, and weather demand different choices.
After each visit you hear what went well and what still needs work, so your own practice drives have a focus instead of just adding miles. The six hours satisfy Colorado's professional-training rule for licensing before 16½. Every package lesson includes the progress tracker and the Lesson Review Promise.
When the Permit Year Ends
Take Your Colorado Drive Test
Colorado driver license offices no longer give the road exam. American Driving Academy does, as a State-approved third-party testing center. We give more than 35,000 of them a year, so the examiner in the car has done this thousands of times.
License Ready covers the exam inside the $625 package. The drive test is not booked at enrollment: you pick the date once your teen meets Colorado's rules on age, permit-holding, practice and training. Permit Ready and Road Ready families may purchase the exam separately later.
The examiner gives directions without coaching, then goes over the result at the end. A passing result is sent to the state, and eligible students can often upgrade online.
Help You Can Return To
Complimentary Course Retakes and Ongoing Support
Finishing the class is not the end of what your family can use. The course stays open for a full review, a lesson concern can be examined, and eligible graduates may qualify for insurance or AAA benefits.
ADA Safety Advantage™
The 30-hour certificate does not close the door on the course. The original student may re-enroll at no charge when a full review would help, using whichever classroom or online format is running. Families may also schedule instructor time to talk through a new vehicle, an Erie intersection, or the next practice priority.
Lesson Review Promise
If an included lesson raises a concern, contact us within 7 days while dash-camera footage may still be available. We will look at the experience and follow up. The review does not promise a license, test result, refund, replacement lesson, instructor change, schedule change, or any other outcome.
Insurance Discounts May Apply
Some carriers consider driver education or a record of professional lessons when pricing a young driver's policy. The insurer alone decides eligibility, proof, and savings, so confirm the details before you budget around a discount.
Free AAA Membership May Apply
A teen graduate may qualify for a complimentary AAA membership through an active Colorado AAA Primary Member. Dependency, enrollment, territory, renewal timing, expiration, and all other program rules control the benefit.
What Does Colorado's 2027 Driver's Ed Law Mean for Erie Families?
HB24-1021 changes the education step for first permits beginning January 1, 2027. Applicants ages 15 through 17 will need a 30-hour driver education course. Those ages 18 through 20 may use that course or a 4-hour driver awareness program.
Completing Erie's five-day classroom program satisfies that education step, even when the student finishes before the new rule begins.
Behind-the-wheel training remains a different requirement. A teen seeking a license before age 16½ still needs six professional hours through an approved driving school during the permit year.
Read Colorado's 2027 Driver's Ed Guide for Parents →Reviewed for accuracy by Kevin Hughes, Owner and Colorado driver-education expert. Kevin has created extensive Colorado-specific driver's ed content and provided driver-safety expertise to local news outlets. Erie classroom and licensing information reflects Colorado driver-education requirements, HB24-1021, DMV guidance, and details American Driving Academy has reviewed directly with state regulators. Last reviewed: August 2026
What They Told Us
What Erie Students & Parents Say About Our Classes
My Driver's Ed instructor, Kevin, was patient and helpful throughout the class. He explained things clearly, answered questions, and helped me feel more confident while learning to drive.
Instructors were kind and patient, giving good feedback and encouragement that helped build confidence behind the wheel. The lessons were clear, supportive, and made learning to drive much less stressful.
Ilse was very great to work with! She was professional, patient, and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. She explained everything clearly and made me feel comfortable and confident throughout.
Your Teen Earns a Free AAA Membership
For a family that already belongs to AAA, finishing the course may open a roadside-assistance benefit for the new driver. An eligible teen dependent can receive a complimentary membership tied to an active Colorado AAA Primary Member, ending on that member's renewal date. The benefit is neither automatic nor standalone. AAA controls dependency, enrollment, territory, and all other terms, so confirm current eligibility before relying on it. Existing Primary Members can call 877-244-9790 to request enrollment for an eligible teen.
See AAA Eligibility and Membership DetailsChoose How They Learn
Classroom or Online: Which Fits Your Family?
Both paths fulfill the same Colorado requirements for a permit and license.
The Classroom Is a Great Fit When…
A classroom can fit a teen who stays engaged through live questions, group discussion, a fixed pace, and examples the instructor can pause and revisit.
All 30 hours run in one five-day Erie session on Briggs Street, with a workbook, games, video, and live explanation.
Online May Fit Better When…
Online can fit a teen who studies independently and needs to place coursework around school, work, sports, travel, or changing family plans.
Erie online packages keep the same Colorado focus and still cover permit testing, lessons, and the drive test.
Erie Driver's Ed FAQs: Classroom Cost and Permit
How much does driver's ed cost in Erie?
Erie classroom packages cost $195 for Permit Ready, $535 for Road Ready, and $625 for License Ready. Every package includes the five-day, 30-hour class and permit test. Road Ready covers six hours of lessons, while License Ready also covers the Colorado drive test and $25 sibling discount.
At what age can my teen start driver's ed in Colorado?
Students may begin the 30-hour classroom course at 14 years and 6 months. Starting around 14½ gives a teen time to finish class, take the permit test at 14 years and 11 months, and receive the permit on the 15th birthday or later.
What is the earliest age for a Colorado driver license?
A minor can first become eligible at age 16. The student generally must hold the permit for 12 full months, record 50 supervised hours including 10 at night, complete any required professional instruction, pass the drive test, and satisfy current DMV rules.
When does the five-day classroom course run?
Classes are scheduled on weekends during the school year and in fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks. Each class spans five days and usually meets from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Current Erie dates appear when a package is selected.
Are six hours of driving lessons required in Colorado?
Six hours through an approved driving school are generally required when a teen plans to receive a license before age 16½. A student licensing later may not need them, although professional lessons can still improve observation, control, confidence, and readiness.
Can lessons include highway and mountain driving?
Lessons are tailored to your teen's current skill. As control improves, instruction may include busier roads such as Erie Parkway, freeway entry, and mountain driving with grades, curves, and changing conditions. No single route or skill sequence is promised for every appointment.
Program Details
ADA Safety Advantage™ Fine Print
ADA Safety Advantage™ belongs only to the original student and cannot be transferred. Complimentary re-enrollment applies to the American Driving Academy 30-hour driver education course and may be completed online or in person, subject to course availability, platform availability, and enrollment policies. It does not include permit tests, behind-the-wheel lessons, drive tests, private tutoring, state fees, third-party charges, or other paid services. Instructor support must be scheduled and remains subject to availability.
The benefit carries no cash value. It remains available during the original student's lifetime while American Driving Academy continues operating and continues to offer the applicable course or support service.
Lesson Review Promise Fine Print
The Lesson Review Promise applies to behind-the-wheel lessons provided by American Driving Academy. When a student or parent is dissatisfied, American Driving Academy will examine the lesson experience and follow up with the student or parent. The promise does not guarantee a license, drive-test result, test eligibility, skill level, refund, free lesson, instructor change, schedule change, or another specific outcome. Documentation, footage availability, scheduling, and program policies govern the review and follow-up.
Colorado Age & Licensing Requirement Fine Print
Colorado permit and license requirements vary with the student's age, permit date, training history, supervised hours, documents, and current DMV rules. A student may begin the 30-hour driver education course at 14 years and 6 months and may take the permit test with American Driving Academy at 14 years and 11 months. The permit may be issued at age 15 after course completion, a passing permit-test result, and the required DMV process.
A Colorado minor must hold the permit for 12 full months before applying for a license. A student seeking a license before age 16½ generally needs six hours of behind-the-wheel training through an approved driving school. Exceptions may apply. Families must confirm current Colorado DMV requirements before permit issuance, drive testing, or licensing.
Start Erie Classroom Driver's Ed Today
Call Our Erie Team: (303) 623-1404American Driving Academy does not guarantee permit approval, license approval, insurance discounts, AAA membership, or drive-test results.