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.
If I am an Online PLUS student, how do I take the permit test review and practice test?
All Online PLUS students have the option to take a live, virtual permit test review and practice test by calling our office to schedule or by self scheduling through their student account.
A virtual permit test review and practice test is offered monthly and should be taken after completing the online 30 hour course and all corresponding virtual sessions.
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. Click here to download an app to help keep track of logged time. You still must log the hours on the state's form. 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. Log onto your Freedom Drivers Ed student account and schedule your first training session when you are comfortable with the brake, gas, steering and targeting the vehicle.
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 4 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.
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.
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 that 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.
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.
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.
