The Colorado permit test is a written knowledge test you can take online with the @Home test or in a Colorado DMV office by appointment, starting at age 15. The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.colorado.gov) does not publish how many questions are on the test or the passing score. Practice sites commonly say 25 questions and 80%, but that is unofficial, so study the whole Colorado Driver Handbook.
Colorado permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), dmv.colorado.gov |
| Minimum age | 15 with a 30-hour driver education course. 15 and a half with a 4-hour driver awareness program or the 30-hour course |
| Test topics | Road signs, driving under the influence, driving rules, safety rules and legal items |
| Questions and pass mark | Not published by the DMV. Third-party sites say 25 questions and 80%, which is unofficial |
| Where you take it | Online with the @Home test, or at a DMV office by appointment. Offices do not give written tests in the last 30 minutes before closing |
| Online option | Yes, on a desktop or laptop with a front-facing camera |
| Retest fee | $11.50, paid online or at your appointment |
| Languages | English and Spanish in DMV offices |
How many questions are on the Colorado permit test?
The Colorado DMV does not list the number of questions or the passing score on its permit pages or in the driver handbook. Many practice sites say 25 questions with 80% to pass, which would let you miss 5. Use that as a rough guide only. The safest plan is to score near 100% on practice tests, so the exact cutoff does not matter.
What's on the Colorado permit test
The handbook says the test covers road signs, driving under the influence, driving rules, safety rules and legal items. These numbers from the Colorado Driver Handbook are worth memorizing:
- Alcohol: you can be charged with DWAI from 0.05, and DUI per se applies above 0.08. Drivers under 21 can lose their license with a BAC over 0.02.
- Following distance: use the three-second rule in normal conditions.
- School buses: stop at least 20 feet before a school bus with flashing red lights.
- Parking: do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Signaling: signal for 100 feet in town. On four-lane highways with a limit over 40 mph, signal for 200 feet.
- Phones: Colorado law bans using a mobile device while driving, except for emergencies or hands-free use, and bans texting.
Colorado has two signal distances: 100 feet in town and 200 feet on faster four-lane highways. Questions often test the second one.
The Colorado difference: practice and test from home
Colorado lets you take the real written test online with the @Home test, and it offers free practice quizzes online and in the myColorado app. Stick to the official handbook and trusted practice tests. Some sites that rank for Colorado permit searches copy old or out-of-state rules.
How to study for the Colorado permit test
- Read the Colorado Driver Handbook in short sessions, one chapter a day.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Write every number on one page: BAC limits, distances, signal rules and practice hours.
- Take the DMV's practice quizzes and DMVZone practice tests, and note every question you miss.
- Review your misses, then take the @Home test or book your office test when you score near 100%.
What to bring and how to book
Pre-register online, then make an appointment at a driver license office through dmv.colorado.gov to finish your permit. The DMV asks you to bring:
- Proof of identity. A school ID alone is not enough.
- Two proofs of address dated within the last year. A minor can use a parent's or guardian's proof if that parent is present and named on it.
- Proof that you completed driver education (or the email with your completion confirmation).
- A parent, legal guardian or adult, 21 or older with a valid Colorado license, to sign the Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship (DR 2460) in person or notarized.
- Your glasses or contacts for the vision exam.
You also get fingerprinted and photographed. You leave with a temporary paper permit, and the card arrives within 30 days. Check the DMV's fees page for the current permit fee before you go.
Can you take the Colorado permit test online?
Yes. The DMV's @Home Driving Knowledge Test can be taken anywhere, at any time, on a desktop or laptop with a front-facing camera. Passing it online lets you skip ahead to scheduling your permit appointment. Check the eligibility rules on the DMV's @Home page before you start.
What happens if you fail the Colorado permit test?
You can retest. The DMV lists a retest fee of $11.50, paid online or at your appointment. It does not publish a waiting period or a limit on attempts for the written test, so ask the DMV if you need a date. Use the time to study the topics you missed.
Colorado permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the Colorado permit test?
The Colorado DMV does not publish the number. Practice sites commonly say 25, but that is unofficial.
How many questions can you miss on the Colorado permit test?
The passing score is not published. If the unofficial 25 questions and 80% are right, you could miss 5.
Is the Colorado permit test hard?
Not if you study the handbook. Most misses come from exact numbers: BAC levels, signal distances and school bus rules.
How much does the Colorado permit test cost?
A retest costs $11.50. Check the DMV fees page for the current permit fee.
