New resident -- confused about getting drivers license & buying a car (Colorado Springs: sales, house)

[phetaroi]

On June 30 I will close on a house and be a new resident of Colorado.

Once I own the house as my residence, can I then apply for the Colorado dirvers license, or do I have to wait 90 days.

It seems as if I own a house and live in a house, I am a resident...but the website is not very clear.

BTW, I am a retiree on a pension. I have a valid Virginia license.

I also need to buy a car. Do I need to have a Colorado license before I buy a car, or owning and living in a house in Colorado...is that enough to buy a car?

Confusing. Thanks for any guidance.

[vegaspilgrim]

No, you don't have to wait 90 days before applying to a license. There is no proof of address required when you show up to the DMV. What the law means, is once you've been here for 90 days or obtain employment in Colorado, then you have to get a CO drivers license.

You can buy a car in any state you desire, at any time. However, the sales tax you pay will depend on the state/city/county you live in. If I were you, I would get your CO drivers license first thing once you close on your house and arrive here (it will be a temporary paper license with a hole punch put through your old ID, and they mail you the permanent plastic ID), then buy a car, that way you'll be paying sales tax & registration fees only to CO, not to VA.

[ptboat67]

The web site says that you need to be here 90 days, but they don't ask. Just bring 21 bucks in cash and make sure that you have your old license and something like a birth certificate. The guy at the counter seemed upset that I didn't use a passport, but I brought what I thought was correct. It was no big deal, but it did take over 3 hours to get done.

[80skeys]

You can get a CO license right away.
You don't need a CO license to buy a car.

[icequeen2008]

If you have a valid drivers license from another state do you just take the written test and surrender your current license? Mmmmm been a while since I took that written test.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by icequeen2008

If you have a valid drivers license from another state do you just take the written test and surrender your current license? Mmmmm been a while since I took that written test.

When I came here in 2005 with a valid license from another state, there was no written test, just the eye test with that device on the counter you look into.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

When I came here in 2005 with a valid license from another state, there was no written test, just the eye test with that device on the counter you look into.

This remained true as of 2007 as well.

[deckdoc]

Originally Posted by ptboat67

The web site says that you need to be here 90 days, but they don't ask. Just bring 21 bucks in cash and make sure that you have your old license and something like a birth certificate. The guy at the counter seemed upset that I didn't use a passport, but I brought what I thought was correct. It was no big deal, but it did take over 3 hours to get done.

tis basically like they say in April n2010~ but go to a COUNTY DMV~ wife got her license in 10 minutes~ car took 10 minutes downstairs~ but I had a commercial drivers license and had to go to a state drivers licensing place (Colorado Springs) and it took 5 hours

[plainsman48]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

On June 30 I will close on a house and be a new resident of Colorado.

Once I own the house as my residence, can I then apply for the Colorado dirvers license, or do I have to wait 90 days.

It seems as if I own a house and live in a house, I am a resident...but the website is not very clear.

BTW, I am a retiree on a pension. I have a valid Virginia license.

I also need to buy a car. Do I need to have a Colorado license before I buy a car, or owning and living in a house in Colorado...is that enough to buy a car?

Confusing. Thanks for any guidance.

You're arriving and we're leaving after 12 years. Get your license AFTER you have your house paperwork signed, just in case it falls thru.

Laws like this are weird from state to state.

[formercalifornian]

I was always under the impression that you were required to obtain a CO license no later than ninety days after establishing permanent residency.