Free Colorado DMV Practice Test (2026)
Practice for the Colorado permit test with a learning path built around the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles rules: a Colorado-only module on the state's own laws and teen-license limits, core rules-of-the-road lessons, instant explanations and a timed exam simulation.
Colorado permit test at a glance
You need a score of 80% to pass the Driving Knowledge (written) Test, which covers the Colorado Driver Handbook. You can take it online with @Home testing (computer with webcam, 60 minutes; test-takers under 19 need an adult over 19 as a proxy), at a DMV office or at a driving school, in English or Spanish. You may retest as often as needed but only twice in one day, and each retest adds an $11.50 state fee.
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles does not publish the exact number of questions, so our timed simulation uses a standard 25-question format with the official passing score of 80%.
Tip: Start with module 1, “Colorado laws & permit rules”. These 12 questions cover rules that are specific to Colorado, the part of the test that general study guides usually miss.
Colorado traffic laws you will be tested on
| Topic | Colorado rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol limits (BAC) | Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) starts at a BAC of 0.05% and DUI per se at 0.08%. Drivers under 21 can have their license revoked with a BAC over 0.02%. | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Express consent (chemical tests) | By driving in Colorado you agree to a blood, breath, saliva or urine test if an officer suspects impairment. Refusing means a 1-year license revocation and 2 years of driving with an ignition interlock. | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Cell phones | Colorado law prohibits using a mobile device while driving unless you use a hands-free accessory, and texting is banned; the only exceptions are contacting police, the fire department or an emergency. | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Seat belts | The driver, all front-seat passengers and children under 16 must be buckled. If the driver is under 18, every passenger must be buckled and there can't be more passengers than seat belts. | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Child passenger seats | Children under 2 who weigh under 40 pounds ride rear-facing in the back seat; children 4 to under 9 who weigh at least 40 pounds ride in a car seat or booster in the back seat if one is available. | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Move over law | Try to leave one empty lane next to an emergency vehicle stopped on the roadside. If you can't, slow to 25 mph when the limit is 45 mph or less, or to 20 mph below the limit when it is above 45 mph. | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Default speed limits | Unless posted: 20 mph on narrow, winding mountain highways and blind curves; 25 mph in business districts; 30 mph in residence districts; 40 mph on open mountain highways; 55 mph on urban interstates and highways; 65 to 75 mph on designated rural interstates and highways. | dmv.colorado.gov |
| Headlights | Headlights must be on from sunset to sunrise and whenever visibility is less than 1,000 feet. Dim your high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and use low beams within 200 feet of a vehicle you are following. | dmv.colorado.gov |
Colorado learner permit and teen license rules
- Drivers under 18 must hold the permit for 12 full months and be at least 16 before getting a license.
- Log at least 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 of them at night, on the DR 2324 log sheet or the RoadReady app.
- Your supervisor must be a licensed driver 21 or older sitting in the front passenger seat.
- If you are under 16½, also complete 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with an approved driving school (or 12 extra supervised hours if you live more than 30 miles from one).
- Newly licensed drivers under 18: no passengers under 21 for the first 6 months, then only one passenger under 21 until you've had your license 1 year (siblings and medical emergencies are exceptions).
- First year of licensed driving: no driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless a parent or guardian is with you, or for school or work (with a signed statement), a medical emergency or if you are emancipated.
- Drivers under 18 may not talk or text on a cell phone while driving, except to call police in an emergency.
How to get your Colorado learner's permit
- Complete the driver education your age requires: a 30-hour course if you are 15 to 15½, or a 30-hour course or 4-hour driver awareness program if you are 15½ to 16. Starting January 1, 2027, all applicants 15 through 17 need the 30-hour course.
- Pre-register online at myDMV.Colorado.gov before your first DMV visit.
- Pass the written test online with @Home testing, at a DMV office or at a third-party driving school, and keep your passing certificate.
- Book an appointment at a state driver license office and bring identity documents, two proofs of Colorado address and your driver education confirmation.
- A parent, guardian or responsible adult 21 or older signs the DR 2460 Affidavit of Liability at the office or in front of a notary.
- Pass the vision exam, give fingerprints, take your photo and pay the permit fee ($20 for a REAL ID permit, plus $11.50 for each written retest); you get a temporary paper permit and the card arrives by mail within 30 days.
Sample Colorado-specific questions
Here are four of the 12 questions in our Colorado module. Each one is based on the official Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337) or Colorado law; open the answer to see the rule behind it.
1. What is the minimum age to get a Colorado instruction permit?
- 14½
- 16
- 15
- 15½
Show answer
Correct answer: 15. You must be at least 15. Applicants from 15 to 15½ must first complete a 30-hour driver education course. Source: dmv.colorado.gov
2. If you are under 18, how long must you hold your instruction permit before applying for a license?
- 12 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 18 months
Show answer
Correct answer: 12 months. Colorado law requires minors to hold the permit for 12 full months (or until their 18th birthday, whichever comes first). Source: dmv.colorado.gov
3. How old must the licensed driver be who rides with a permit holder in the front passenger seat?
- 18 or older
- 21 or older
- 25 or older
- 19 or older
Show answer
Correct answer: 21 or older. With an instruction permit you must have a person 21 or older with a valid Colorado license in the front passenger seat. Source: dmv.colorado.gov
4. A permit holder younger than 16½ must complete how many hours of behind-the-wheel training with an approved driving school?
- 2 hours
- 4 hours
- 10 hours
- 6 hours
Show answer
Correct answer: 6 hours. Under 16½, you need 6 hours with a driving school instructor; if no approved school is within 30 miles, 12 extra hours with your supervisor can replace them. Source: dmv.colorado.gov
How this practice test works
- Learn the Colorado rules first: module 1 covers the state's permit test, teen-license limits and traffic laws.
- Work through the core modules: signs, signals, right-of-way, speed, lanes, special situations, impairment and sharing the road.
- Practice 5 questions at a time: every answer shows an explanation, and missed questions come back until you get them right.
- Take the timed Colorado exam simulation and review every mistake before your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Colorado permit test at home?
Yes. The @Home Driving Knowledge Test works on a desktop or laptop with a webcam and takes up to 60 minutes. If you are under 19, an adult older than 19 must act as your proxy. After you pass, you still need an in-person DMV appointment to get the permit.
What changes for new permits on January 1, 2027?
Under House Bill 24-1021, everyone 15 through 17 will need a 30-hour driver education course before getting a permit, and applicants 18 through 20 will need either the 30-hour course or a 4-hour driver awareness program. Permits issued before January 1, 2027 are not affected.
I'm 18 or older. Do I have to hold my permit for a year?
No. If you are 18 or older there is no minimum holding period, so you can take the driving test right away. You still must drive with a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat while you have only a permit.
Where do I take the driving (road) test?
Driving skills tests are given mainly by approved third-party driving schools, which you book directly; the DMV doesn't schedule them. You must be at least 16, and each retest after a failure has a $15.40 state fee.
Are these the real DMV test questions?
No. The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles does not publish its exam. Our Colorado module is written from the official handbook and state law, and the core modules cover the rules of the road taught in every state handbook.
Is this practice test free?
Yes. Every lesson, practice round and exam simulation is free, with no sign-up.
More Colorado tests
Colorado road signs test Colorado motorcycle test Colorado CDL test DMV handbooks
Official Colorado sources
- Official Colorado Driver Handbook (DR 2337)
- Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
- Colorado knowledge test information
- Colorado graduated driver licensing rules
Every Colorado fact and question on this page was checked in October 2026 against the official handbook, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles website or Colorado law. When an official source did not publish a detail (for example, the number of test questions), we say so instead of guessing. Rules change, so confirm with the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles before your test. PracticePermit.us is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with any government agency. How we write and check our questions.
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