Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) helps young drivers build experience in stages. Know the permit requirements, keep an accurate driving log, and help your teen follow the rules during that important first year with a license.
For licensing before age 18, the key milestones are:
The minimum permit age is 15. Driver education requirements depend on the teen’s age and when the permit is issued. A parent, guardian, or eligible responsible adult must complete the DMV’s liability requirements for applicants under 18.
A permit holder must drive with an eligible licensed adult age 21 or older in the front passenger seat, authorized by the parent or guardian. Review the DMV’s supervisor and license requirements before practicing.
To get a license before turning 18, the teen must be at least 16, hold the permit for 12 full months, complete the required driving log and any required instructor training, and pass the driving skills test.
The under-18 log and permit-holding requirements do not automatically apply to students who apply for a license at 18 or older. Check the DMV’s full age-specific requirements.
For permits issued before January 1, 2027:
See the 2027 update below for new permits issued on or after January 1, 2027.
The 50-hour driving log: For a license application before age 18, document at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night. The teen, parent, guardian, or responsible adult must follow the DMV’s verification and signature instructions.
The 6-hour instructor requirement: License applicants younger than 16½ generally must complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an approved driving school. DMV exceptions may apply. Our crash avoidance class does not replace this requirement.
The DMV log allows approved driving-school training hours to be included in the 50-hour total. These are different requirements—not automatically a requirement to log 56 hours. Our class can contribute actual supervised driving time to the total, but not to the required driving-school instruction.
Download the official DMV Drive Time Log (PDF) · Find an approved driving school
Record each drive’s date, verifier’s initials, daytime hours, nighttime hours, and totals. Print the completed log for the license application and obtain the required adult signature.
If a qualifying student lives more than 30 miles from the nearest full-time approved driving school, the DMV may allow 12 additional supervised hours instead of the 6 driving-school hours. That exception requires a total of 62 hours. Read the DMV’s exact eligibility and documentation rules.
For newly licensed drivers under 18, gaining a license does not mean every restriction disappears.
Ages 15–17: An approved 30-hour driver education course will be required before a new permit is issued.
Ages 18–20: Applicants must complete either a 30-hour driver education course or an in-person 4-hour driver awareness program.
These new education requirements do not apply to teens who already obtained their permit before January 1, 2027. The existing under-18 permit-holding, driving-log, and applicable instructor-training rules remain in place.
Official requirements, printable guides, and practical tools for supporting a new driver.
Requirements reviewed October 19, 2026, using Colorado DMV and CDOT guidance. Older videos and brochures may describe pre-2027 permit education rules; read the DMV’s 2027 update if applying for a new permit on or after January 1, 2027. This is general educational information; official requirements and exceptions control.