To be issued a Colorado Driver's License or Identification Card, you must prove the following elements: your full legal name, identity, age, and lawful presence  in the United States. The Identification Requirements Chart shows the documents that you may use to prove each of these elements. In some cases, a single document may prove all four elements. However, it may be necessary for some applicants to provide multiple documents in order to prove all the required elements. All documents presented must be certified originals or certified amended originals or true copies certified by the issuing agency.

If you can not prove each of the required elements with the documents set forth in the chart, then you may request to go through "Exceptions Processing" in order to prove the required elements with additional/alternative documents.  Your local Driver's License Office can provide more information.

Basic Colorado driver's license --

$21.00, adults age 21 and older, valid for five years.
$21.00, minors age 16 to 21, valid until 20 days after their 21st birthday.

 

Colorado Commercial driver's license (CDL) --

$35.00, valid for four years

Any license with a motorcycle endorsement will have a $2.00 surcharge added to the overall fee.

 

Colorado Instruction Permit --

$14.00, valid for 3 years from the date of issue unless there is a change in age group from minor to adult.

Colorado Identification Card --

$10.50, adults age 21 to 59, valid for five years.
Free for adults age 60 and older, valid for five years.
$10.50 for minors* to age 21, must be renewed on the 21st birthday.

 

*The Minor age group now includes all applicants under age 21. Minor identification cards issued on or after 07/01/2001 will expire on the 21st birthday. Minor (under 18) and Provisional (under 21) identification cards issued before 07/01/2001, will expire on the 18th or 21st birthday.

 

 

**County office's may charge an additional convenience fee**

Fees may be paid with cash, personal check or money order for the exact amount in any Driver's License Office.  *Credit cards are ONLY accepted for internet renewal.*

 

 

Please note: Colorado law prohibits a person from holding both a valid driver's license and an identification card. You can not be issued an identification card if you hold a valid driver's license.

 

Click to download the Colorado Driver Handbook

The majority of the Colorado Driver's License Offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Complete Driver's License Offices  locations and services.

All licenses and ID cards are mailed and should arrive within 30 days.  If it has been 30 days and you still have not received your document please contact the office where your document was issued or call 303-205-5948.

No, you will not need to show proof of your Social Security Number but, per Colorado Revised Statute 42-2-107(3)(a) and 42-2-302(1)(a), you will still be required to provide your Social Security Number at the time you apply for a Driver's License, instruction permit or ID card.

Per DMV/DL policy 05-5609, persons stating they have never been issued a Social Security Number will be required to present documentation indicating they have been denied a Social Security Number, they are not eligible for a number, or have never been issued a Social Security Number.

So, if you have never been issued a Social Security Number, you must bring documentation showing that you do not have a number. You will also be required to provide proof of lawful presence. A Driver's License or ID card will not establish lawful presence.

Social Security Office Locations

Driver's License Office Locations

If you renew through the internet, credit cards are accepted as payment. However, driver's license offices can only accept cash, personal check or money orders for the exact amount only. Traveler's checks will be accepted in the amount of $50 or less.

There are three types of permits available to minors:

Driver Education Permit- Available to minors 15 years - 15 years 6 months.

• Expires 3 years from the date of issue.
• Must hold the permit for a minimum of 12 months before applying for a Driver's License.
• Must present a completed Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship (DR2460)
• Must present a completed Affidavit of Completion of a Driver Education Classroom Course or BTW (back of DR2460) showing completion of the classroom portion of a department-approved Driver Education Course within 6 months of applying for the permit. List of Approved Courses and driving schools that provide driving education and testing in Colorado .
• May drive only with the driver ed instructor or the person(s) who signed the DR2460 until the age of 18. This restriction is automatically lifted when the minor reaches 18. May then drive with any Colorado-licensed driver 21  years of age or older.
• If the person(s) who signed the DR2460 does not hold a valid Colorado driver's license, they may appoint an Alternate Permit Supervisor to supervise the minor while driving.  The Alternate Permit Supervisor must hold a valid Colorado Driver's License and be 21 years of age or older.  Drive time with an Alternate Permit Supervisor will count toward the 50-hour total required on the log sheet.  The person(s) who signed the DR2460 may also allow any person 21 years of age or older, who holds a valid license, to supervise the minor while driving but that driving time does not count toward the 50 hour total required on the log sheet.

Yes. Emancipated minors must have an Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship  to receive a Colorado instruction permit.

Instruction permits are normally valid for three years from the date of issue unless the person changes age groups from minor to adult before then. In that case, the expiration date is the person's 21st birthday.

2. Enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Training course and, after successful completion of the course, present your MSF certification card at a Driver's License office. When you present your MSF certification card at a Driver's License office, the written and drive tests are waived. Pay the fee to add the endorsement to your license. Contact the MSF through the Colorado Department of Transportation at 303-757-9466. Note: per Colorado law, minors under 18 are required to purchase and hold a motorcycle instruction permit for 12 months before adding the motorcycle endorsement to their license. Minors under 16 must be under the direct supervision of the MSF motorcycle instructor at all times while driving a motorcycle.

You can add a 3 wheel motorcycle ¿3¿ endorsement to your license by:

1. Pass the written test at a Driver's License office, purchase a 3 wheel motorcycle instruction permit, pass a drive test with an authorized 3rd-party tester and pay the fee to add the endorsement to your license.

Or,

2. Enroll in a Sidecar/Trike Education Program (S/TEP) training course and, after successful completion of the course, present your S/TEP certification card at a Driver's License office. When you present your S/TEP certification card at a Driver's License office, the written and drive tests are waived. Pay the fee to add the endorsement to your license. Note: per Colorado law, minors under 18 are required to purchase and hold a motorcycle instruction permit for 12 months before adding the motorcycle endorsement to their license. Minors under 16 must be under the direct supervision of the S/TEP motorcycle instructor at all times while driving a motorcycle.

NOTE: A general motorcycle ¿M¿ endorsement allows you to operate any type of motorcycle. However, a 3 wheel motorcycle ¿3¿ endorsement allows the operation of 3 wheel motorcycles, only.

Motorcycle 3rd Party Testers

Driver's License Motorcycle Handbook

To change your address, you do not have to come to a Driver's License office or buy a new document. Download and print the address change card (Form DR2285, Change of Address) from the website or pick up the card at a Driver License Office. Fill out the card and drop it in the mail or at a Driver License Office. You can then write your new address on the back of your license or ID card.

To change your name, you must come in to a Driver License Office. You must bring in documentation showing your name change. (Please see acceptable forms of identification from the Identification Requirements) and you will also have to purchase another license or ID card.

Regardless of when you got your license, if you are under 18 you cannot drive a vehicle carrying a passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver's license for at least 6 months. And, you cannot drive a vehicle carrying more than one passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver's license for at least one year.

Exceptions to carrying passengers:

• If your parent or guardian is in the car with you, or
• If there is an adult passenger in the vehicle, 21 years of age or older, who has a valid license and has held a driver's license for at least one year or
• If the passenger under 21 needs emergency medical assistance, or
• If the passengers under 21 are members of your immediate family and they are all wearing seatbelts.

If you were issued your license on 01/01/2005, on 07/01/2005, you would be able to carry only one passenger under 21 but no more than one until 01/01/2006, unless you meet one of the exceptions above.

When carrying passengers, only one passenger may ride in the front seat with you and there can be no more paasengers in the back seat than there are seat belts. You and all of your passengers must wear their seat belts.

There are restrictions on the time of day you can drive. If you are under 18 you cannot drive between the hours of 12 midnight and 5 a.m. unless you have held your driver's license for at least one year except for under the following circumstances:

• Your parent or guardian is in the car with you.
• There is an adult passenger, 21 years of age or older, in the vehicle who has a valid license and has held a Driver's License for at least one year.
• You are driving to school or a school-authorized activity and the school doesn't provide transportation. You need a signed statement from the school official showing the date of the activity.
• You are driving because of employment; you must carry a signed statement from your employer verifying your employment.
• You are driving because of an emergency
• You are an emancipated minor but your parent(s) or guardian(s) have not canceled your license.

Yes, there are restrictions for minors under 18 driving on the job. Please visit the  US Department of Labor  for more information.

Colorado law prohibits a person, driving with any type of Instruction Permit from using a "mobile communication device" (example, a cell phone) while they are driving. This includes instruction permit holders of all ages. Exceptions are if it is an emergency, or if the driver is contacting a public safety entity (police, fire department, etc.), or if the driver has parked the vehicle.