Drivers license for soon to be 16 year old (Colorado Springs: transfer, DMV)

[kjcrum]

Can someone explain to me the set up of your driver's license system for a teen driver? We currently live in Oklahoma and are moving to Colorado Springs in January. My daughter will be 16 in February. In Oklahoma you just have to have drivers ed and a drivers permit at 15 1/2 to get your license at 16. When looking at the Colorado DMV it says they have to Driver's ed permit and a Driver's awareness permit before they get their license. I am wondering if this is something that is going to mess her up getting her license at 16. If so, should we come back to Oklahoma and get her driver's license and then change to a Colorado license? Any help would be appreciated.

[TexaCo Mom]

Not sure where you're getting that they have to have a driver awareness permit. It's not something they're required to have. Colorado Dept. of Revenue states a teen can get their permit as early as age 15 if they've taken driver's education. They must then hold their permit for one year and during that time accrue 50 hours of driving time (10 hours must be night driving). There is a driving log sheet that must be signed and turned in when they go for their driving test at age 16.
Revenue-MV:Teen Drivers

[WhereTheSidewalkEnds]

Here's how it works - we just went through this. In Colorado, as mentioned above, in order to get the driver's license, a teen must hold a permit for one full year. And get in the required driving time. Your daughter will not be able to get her license when she turns 16. If she can get it in Oklahoma and have it transfer - that's a question for the DMV.

I believe the drivers awareness permit is if they didn't take driver's ed - they can get their permit then at 15 1/2 - but still have to hold the permit for a year, and they still have to take a 4 hour driving course. Between 15 and 15 1/2, if they take driver's ed, they can get their permit.

For a child to get their permit on their 15th birthday, then be able to get the license on their 16th birthday, they will have needed to take driver's ed before 15 - which in Colorado you can take it at 14 1/2. My son did this over the summer. Got his permit on his 15th birthday last week.

[kjcrum]

Thanks for the answers. So since she has not kept a drivers log she would not be able to get her license at 16. I got the drivers awareness thing from going to the Colorado DMV requirements for new drivers. I will call them and ask them the best thing to do. I appreciate it and we are really looking forward to moving!