The Colorado road test
The driving test, often called the road test or drive test, is the last step before a Colorado license. Colorado law says the licensing exam must include an actual demonstration that you can control a car with ordinary and reasonable care.
Many Colorado drive tests are given by approved third-party testers such as driving schools, rather than by DMV staff, so booking works differently from many states.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can check that you are eligible to take the test.
- You can explain how to book a minor's drive test.
- You can list what to bring and how to prepare the car.
- You can describe the skills an examiner looks for.
- You can avoid the most common reasons for failing.
What you need to know and understand
- You must be at least 16 to take the driving test for a minor license.
- Under-18 applicants must have held a permit for 12 months and completed the 50-hour log with 10 night hours.
- If you will be under 16 and a half when licensed, you need 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel training first.
- The DMV does not book these drive tests; you book with an approved third-party tester or testing location.
- Third-party testers may charge their own fees, the state charges a fee for each retake, and you may retake at most once a day, starting the day after a fail.
- The car you use must be legally registered, insured and in safe working order.
- Adults 18 and over do not have a 12-month permit holding period.
Before test day
- Confirm your permit has been held long enough and has not expired.
- Complete and sign your driving log, and gather your behind-the-wheel training certificate if you need one.
- Choose an approved third-party tester from the Colorado DMV's list and book a slot.
- Check the car: lights, signals, brakes, horn, tires, mirrors, seat belts and a clean windshield.
- Bring your permit, the log and training paperwork, proof of insurance and registration, and a licensed adult if you are a minor.
- Check the tester's fee and the current state retake fee in advance.
What the examiner watches
Expect a mix of basic control and real traffic. Common elements include:
- Pre-drive checks: adjusting seat and mirrors, buckling up, and knowing your controls.
- Moving off and stopping smoothly, with full stops at stop signs and lines.
- Turns, lane changes and merging with mirror and blind-spot checks and early signals.
- Keeping to speed limits and adjusting to conditions.
- Backing and parking maneuvers, such as parallel parking or backing in a straight line.
- Yielding correctly at intersections, to pedestrians and to cyclists.
Why learners fail, and how not to
Examiners mark errors as you drive, and serious or dangerous actions, such as running a stop sign, failing to yield, or hitting a curb hard, can end the test. Ask your tester how their scoring works before you start. Nerves cause many small slips, so practice on unfamiliar roads, not just your neighborhood. Our explainer on the Colorado driving test and third-party testers covers scoring in more depth.
Common mistakes
- Rolling stops at stop signs instead of a full stop.
- Skipping head checks before lane changes and pulling away from the curb.
- Driving too slowly through fear, which can hold up traffic and count as an error.
- Turning up with a car that has a broken light or expired registration.
Test yourself: The Colorado road test
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 42 (Colorado General Assembly): sections 42-2-104 and 42-2-111; Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Revenue (dmv.colorado.gov permit, testing and new-resident pages); Colorado Graduated Driver Licensing Laws resource guide (Colorado Department of Transportation). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the Colorado licensing agency.