Frequently asked questions
Permits
When can I start drivers education?
The minimum age to start the 30 hour online or classrom course in Colorado is 14 years, 6 months of age.
Can I get my permit before my 15th birthday?
No. The minimum age any permit will be issued in Colorado is 15 years of age. Must complete and pass the 30 hour online or classroom course prior to 15 to obtain permit by 15 years of age.
Additionally, the written permit test must be passed before the permit will be issued.
Do you offer the written permit test?
At this time, we do not offer the written permit test. The DMV has to be visited regardless to have the permit issued and thus the test will be given and the permit issued in one DMV visit. The permit test procedures is the same if administered by a school or by the DMV. We do not have any special privileges or advantages to administering the permit test.
We believe our role in drivers education is to train students exceptionally well to exceed state testing standards. Please be resassured that our students have a very high passage rate for both the permit test and drive test.
Additionally, all of our students can take practice permit tests as many times as needed as well as the review session.
What identification documents need to be brought with me to the DMV to have a permit issued?
Click here for a list of required identification documents. You'll have to show proof of name, identify date of birth, social security and lawful presence to obtain a permit in Colorado.
Applicants without a lawful presence or temporary lawful presence in the U.S. need the following documents listed with the GREEN heading.
Pre-registration - what is it and how to I do it?
The DMV requires all students attending a 30 hour online or classroom course to first complete pre-registration.
Pre-registration is a simiply way for the DMV to communicate to parents what identification documents are required when applying for a minor permit and ultimately a drivers license.
After pre-registering, you'll be given a confirmation number (this is your pre-registration DMV number). This number needs to be provided to Freedom Drivers Ed (either first session of classroom / virtual or put in your online course with no dashes). Your pre-registration number allows for Freedom Drivers Ed to submit student course completions electronically to the DMV on behalf of the student.
Click here to begin pre-registration and select "pre-registration steps". Continue to follow the prompts answering the questions appropriately.
I have my permit, now what?
After you have obtained your permit, you move into the training phase. Congratulations - you can now drive with any licensed driver over the age of 21 who your liable guardian has given permission too.
The training phase is the most important phase to give you a skill set to stay a low risk driver.
You must hold your permit for 1 year from the issue date before testing for your drivers license. You must complete at a minimum of 6 hours behind the wheel training, log 40 day time hours and 10 night time hours.
Click here to download the states drive log. Copy blank logs to reach 40 daytime and 10 night time hours. DO NOT SIGN THE LOG UNTIL AT THE DMV WHEN APPLYING FOR DRIVERS LICENSE.
We want to see you soon after receiving your permit for your first behind the wheel training session. Practice 5-10 hours and then schedule your first session. Do NOT wait until the last 6 months of holding your permit to schedule your training sessions - scheduling becomes difficult and this is a disservice to the student because they aren't building the skills we teach into habit. Log onto your Freedom Drivers Ed student account to schedule a session 1-2 months out.
Behind-the-Wheel Training
When should I start my behind the wheel training sessions?
After receiving your permit from the DMV, Freedom Drivers Ed would like students to be familiar with steering smoothly and accurately as well as brake and acceleration control. These skills are best practiced wtih a guardian in a parking lot with minimal parked vehicles and traffic / pedestrians.
We strongly recommend the following schedule for professional behind the wheel training:
Book first training session: after completing 5-10 practice hours with guardian
Book second training session: after completing 25-30 practice hours with guardian
Book third training session: after completing 40-45 practice hours with guardian
Progression through the 6 hour behind the wheel training curriculum is best achieved if students practice a minimum of 10-15 hours between each session. This allows for proper habit development of taught skills known to lower accident risk.
Students who wait until the end (less than 6 months prior to drive test eligibility date) may be disappointed to find significant scheduling difficulties and increased fees for completing training prior to testing eligibility date. Waiting also is a huge disservice to the student because they do not have enought practice time to build the skills we teach into habit.
What is the purpose of spacing out behind the wheel training by 28 days?
We require spacing out the behind the wheel training at least 28 days for two reasons.
1) It provides time for student to practice the skills taught during their training session and form those skills into habits. It is recommended that 10-15 practice hours be completed between sessions. We are not in the buisness to make a fast buck. We value our education and want to partner with parents / students that also see value in training. Car crashes are the number one killer of teens ages 16-19. Training for a license is no different than training for excellence like any other sport or hobby.
2) It allows us to maintain adequate availability for scheduling all current and new students. If a student needs multiple behind the wheel session in 1 month, those sessions are being taken away from other students and thus we have to add sessions to instructors' already busy schedules and that incurs a cost.
Overriding the 28 day period of time between session can be done by paying the overrride fee of $55 per added sessions within 28 days, for a maximum of $110. Please call us first to inquire about availability.
If needing more than 6 hours behind the wheel, please call our office to discuss your unique situation and determining the best schedule for training.
How many practice hours does the state require?
If under the age of 18, fifty total hours will have to be proved to the DMV when applying for your license. Of those fifty hours, ten of them have to be logged night time hours.
After becomming a student of ours, we will guide you on different acceptable ways to log your practice hours.
Do behind the wheel training sessions have to be completed prior to taking the physical drivers license test?
No. The only requirement the state has for drive test eligibility is holding your permit for 1 year from the issue date on your permit if under the age of 18. The state of Colorado does require proof of training if 16.5 or younger when applying for a license.
However, we would strongly encourage you to go through proper training prior to taking your licensing test as training is meant to help prepare you to become the most low risk, safe driver possible.
The drivers license test is not an indicator on safety level. The states standard test is meant to test basic skills.
What is required to complete a behind the wheel training session with Freedom Drivers Ed?
The required items are:
-a valid permit
*(no photocopies, texts, or images will be accepted). By law, the driver has to be in possession of their physical permit or drivers licnese. A valid permit, means its not expired.
*a paper permit requires a document that proves your identify with a photo (student school ID)
-Restictions listed on permit
*contacts or eye glasses
*hearing aids
-Close toed shoes
*We require close toed shoes to limit risk with a student driver.
*No flip flops or sandals
Drive Test
When am I eligible to take my physical drive test?
Under the age of 18 - one year from the issue date on permit
Over the age of 18 - same day as permit is issued or later. No time requirement to hold permit.
When can I visit the DMV to have my license issued after passing the physical driving test?
We submit your score of the physical drivers license test during your appointment with us and thus the DMV can be visited immediately after. Please follow DMV protocol for appointment or walkins. We cannot speak for the DMV procedures.
What is required to take a drivers license test?
LOCATION: Lone Tree Library - 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree, CO 80124. Meet tester outside front entrance of library. Please arrive 5 minutes early. If later than 10 minutes of scheduled time for test, the service is considered rendered and another scheduled time can be purchased if desired.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR (UNDER 18):
Must hold permit for 1 full year from the issue date on permit
must provide personal vehicle for test prep or test to be administered in
Vehicle provided must have: working lights, brakes, signals, windows, doors, and no cracks in windshield
Must have valid permit in possession at time of test
Must show proof of insurance (minor does not need to be listed on insurance until licensed)
Must show proof of valid registration (need physical registration paper, not just stickers)
If testing on an out of state permit, student must present DMV pre-registration number to tester prior to testing. click here to pre-register. Choose "apply for drivers license"
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADUTL (18 OR OLDER):
Must have valid Colorado permit in possession at time of test
Must provide personal vehicle for test prep or test
Vehicle provided must have: working lights, brakes, signals, windows, doors, and no cracks in windshield
Must have valid permit in possession at time of test
Must show proof of insurance (minor does not need to be listed on insurance until licensed)
Must show proof of valid registration (need physical registration paper, not just stickers)
Must have interlock system installed if required by state
SERVICE IS CONSIDERED RENDERED IF:
Student lacks proof of registration, insurance, permit or pre-registration number
Student is more than 10 minutes late
Student cancels session less than 48 hours from scheduled service
Vehicle provided is not to standard
Any additional scheduled testing services can be purchased at full current rates if desired. We do not refund drive test services as we will always provide dates and times available to render the service.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T PASS THE TEST:
State regulations require you to wait 24 hours before retesting
You can retest with us for an additional charge. Call our office to schedule another test / payment. We do not guarantee next day appointments.
ISSUING A COLORADO DRIVERS LICENSE (UNDER 18):
Make an appointment at the DMV to have the license issued
Valid permit in your possession
Parent supervised drive log (50 total hours, 40 daytime and 10 nighttime). Click here for the log
The parent who signed the liability affidavit when the permit was issued has to be present to sign the drive log at the DMV. Cannot be signed prior.
DMV issuing fee
If your address has changed, 2 forms of proof of address
Social security number
Scheduling Services
Why is there no availabilty showing on the calendar?
There are several reason why you might not be seeing availability.
1) If you have already scheduled the maximum number of sessions you purchased or you have not paid any outstanding balance then you will not be able to self schedule
2) Each session defaults to 28 days between each other. If you have a session scheduled, advance the calendar 28 days after your scheduled session to see more availability.
3) Next months availability has not been uploaded yet and allowed for self scheduling. The first of each month, the subsequent months' availability is available. Log in on the first of each month to see the most availability.
How best to schedule virtual classroom sessions?
1) Log into your students account
2) Determine the date you want your student to start (click on session 1 and schedule - write the date and time down in a planner)
3) Determine the date you want your student to be done with the course (click on permit test review, then schedule and write in planner) - note: the student must be done with all other sessions before taking the permit test review and the student must be 15 or older prior to taking their permit test at the DMV. Depending on student's availability the virtual classroom typically takes students 1.5-3 months to complete
4) Schedule sessions 2-15 by clicking on the session and clicking on the offered date and time the student is available. Sessions 2-15 can be taken out of order
Call, chat or email us with any questions or concerns!
Terms of Service
When do my services expire?
All packages and services purchased have an 18 month contract. Services purchased must be completed within 18 months from the join date.
A contract extension can be purchased up to 20 months of the join date for an extension fee.
All unused services expire without the option of an extention 20 months after join date and thus if more services are needed they can be purchased at current rates.
