Colorado Driver License: Licenses, Minor Drivers, Seat Belts and Impaired Driving

30 questions with the correct answer and an explanation for each. Topic: Licenses, Minor Drivers, Seat Belts and Impaired Driving. Free, no account needed.

1. What is the minimum age to drive a motor vehicle, motor-driven cycle or moped on public roads?

Answer: A — 16

Anyone driving on public roads must be at least 16 with a valid license.

2. A person takes a job in Colorado and settles into the state as a resident. How long do they have to get a Colorado driver license?

90 days
14 days
30 days
60 days

Answer: C — 30 days

Once residency begins, a new resident has 30 days to obtain a Colorado license.

3. An office closes at 5:00 p.m. Can a walk-in take the knowledge test at 4:45 p.m.?

No, tests aren't given within 45 minutes of closing
Yes, tests are given up until closing
No, tests aren't given within 30 minutes of closing
No, tests aren't given within 15 minutes of closing

Answer: C — No, tests aren't given within 30 minutes of closing

Written tests are not given within 30 minutes of an office's closing time, so a 4:45 walk-in with a 5:00 closing would be turned away.

4. A learner is practicing with an instruction permit. Who must occupy the front passenger seat?

A licensed driver 18 or older
A licensed driver 21 or older
Anyone with a valid license, any age
A licensed driver 25 or older

Answer: B — A licensed driver 21 or older

The permit holder must have a person 21 or older with a valid Colorado license riding in the front passenger seat.

5. Someone wants to schedule an actual road drive test. Where is that test most likely to happen?

At any state driver license office
Through a certified commercial driving school
Only at county offices
Through the state patrol

Answer: B — Through a certified commercial driving school

State offices are not currently scheduling drive tests; most tests are given by certified commercial driving schools, with some county offices also offering them.

6. A driver fails their road test. When can they retry?

The same day
After 7 days
After 30 days
The next business day

Answer: D — The next business day

A failed drive test requires waiting until the next business day before retrying.

7. During a drive test, an examiner watches how well an applicant judges the size of a gap in traffic. Which skill category is being assessed?

Motor skill
Reactive skill
Perceptual skill
Attentional skill

Answer: C — Perceptual skill

Judging gaps and spotting hazards is classified as perceptual skill, distinct from motor (handling controls) and attentional (monitoring traffic) skill.

8. A driver is about to change lanes on a four-lane highway. How far before the maneuver should the turn signal go on?

100 feet
300 feet
200 feet
150 feet

Answer: C — 200 feet

On four-lane highways the signal must be on continuously 200 feet before the turn or lane change, versus 100 feet in urban areas.

9. After completing a turn, how quickly should the turn signal be cancelled?

Within 1 second
Within 10 seconds
Within 3 seconds
Within 5 seconds

Answer: C — Within 3 seconds

The scoring standard requires the signal to be cancelled within 3 seconds after the turn or lane change.

10. An applicant asks if a parent can ride along during their road test for support. Who is actually permitted in the vehicle?

The driver, examiner, and an interpreter if requested
Only the driver and the examiner
The driver, examiner, and a parent if the applicant is a minor
The driver, examiner, and one passenger

Answer: B — Only the driver and the examiner

Only the driver and examiner may be in the car during the test; no interpreters, family, friends or pets are allowed.

11. A 16-year-old is applying for an instruction permit. Who is authorized to sign the Affidavit of Liability and Guardianship on their behalf?

A notary public acting alone, with no relation to the minor
Any adult family friend, without restriction
A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult who accepts legal responsibility for the minor's driving
The minor's future driving instructor

Answer: C — A parent, guardian, or other responsible adult who accepts legal responsibility for the minor's driving

The affidavit is signed by a parent, stepparent, grandparent with power of attorney, legal guardian, spouse over 18, or another responsible adult who takes on legal responsibility.

12. How long must a minor hold an instruction permit before applying for a license?

6 months
24 months
18 months
12 months

Answer: D — 12 months

A minor must hold the instruction permit for 12 months before applying for a license.

13. A minor is logging practice driving hours toward a license. How many total hours are required, and how many of those must be at night?

50 hours total, 20 at night
60 hours total, 15 at night
40 hours total, 5 at night
50 hours total, 10 at night

Answer: D — 50 hours total, 10 at night

The minor must submit a signed log of 50 hours of driving, with 10 of those hours at night.

14. A 16-year-old just received their license last month and wants to drive friends around. What passenger restriction applies?

Only siblings may ride along, regardless of age
No restriction at all
Exactly one passenger under 21 is allowed
No passengers under 21 unless a parent or another licensed adult rides along

Answer: D — No passengers under 21 unless a parent or another licensed adult rides along

For the first six months after licensing, no passengers under 21 are allowed unless a parent or another licensed adult is in the vehicle.

15. During the first year of licensure, a minor driver wants to drive at 1 a.m. with no adult in the car. Is this allowed?

Yes, there is no curfew for minors
No, driving is banned from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. without an adult
No, driving is banned from midnight to 5 a.m. without an adult, absent an exception
No, driving is banned from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. without an adult

Answer: C — No, driving is banned from midnight to 5 a.m. without an adult, absent an exception

For the first year, driving between midnight and 5 a.m. is banned for minors unless an instructor, parent or guardian is aboard, or an exception applies.

16. Which unpaid obligation is listed as a ground for suspending, revoking or canceling a Colorado driving privilege?

A low credit score
Unpaid credit card debt
Unpaid parking meter fees
Unpaid child support

Answer: D — Unpaid child support

Unpaid child support is named among the grounds for suspension, revocation or cancellation; consumer debt, credit scores and meter fees are not.

17. A 20-year-old is convicted of possessing alcohol but was not driving at the time. What happens to their driving privilege?

Only a fine applies, never a license effect
License suspension only applies on a second offense
Nothing, since no driving was involved
Their license can be revoked even though no driving was involved

Answer: D — Their license can be revoked even though no driving was involved

Anyone under 21 convicted of buying or possessing alcohol faces revocation even if no driving was involved.

18. Which type of driver is exempt from the seat belt requirement while on duty?

School and passenger bus drivers
Taxi drivers
Rideshare drivers
Commercial truck drivers generally

Answer: A — School and passenger bus drivers

Passenger and school bus drivers are among the specific exceptions listed to the seat belt requirement.

19. A driver is transporting a 10-month-old, 20-pound child and no parent is in the vehicle. How must the child be restrained?

Forward-facing in the front seat with the airbag disabled
Forward-facing, in the rear seat
In a booster seat
Rear-facing, in the rear seat

Answer: D — Rear-facing, in the rear seat

With no parent aboard, the driver must make sure a child under 2 and under 40 pounds rides rear-facing in the rear seat.

20. A 6-year-old weighing 45 pounds rides with a driver who is not their parent, in a car with a usable rear seat. What restraint is required?

A rear-facing car seat
A regular seat belt only, since the child is over 40 pounds
No restraint is required past age 4
A child restraint or booster in the rear seat

Answer: D — A child restraint or booster in the rear seat

With no parent aboard, the driver must make sure a child aged 4 to 8 and at least 40 pounds uses a child restraint or booster in the rear seat if one is available.

21. Is it legal to have an open container of marijuana in the passenger area of a vehicle on a public road?

Yes, as long as it is out of reach of the driver
No, open containers of alcohol and of marijuana are both illegal
No, but only if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle
Yes, only open alcohol containers are restricted

Answer: B — No, open containers of alcohol and of marijuana are both illegal

It is illegal to have an open container of either alcohol or marijuana in the passenger area on a public road.

22. A driver's ability is impaired to only a slight degree, not substantially incapable of safe driving. What is this classified as?

A per se violation
An express consent violation
DUI
DWAI

Answer: D — DWAI

DWAI covers impairment to the slightest degree, while DUI requires substantial incapacity for safe driving.

23. At what BAC does a driver automatically meet the threshold for DUI per se, regardless of other evidence?

0.08 percent
0.05 percent
0.02 percent
0.10 percent

Answer: A — 0.08 percent

A BAC above 0.08 percent is DUI per se.

24. A driver under 21 is stopped and tested. Above what BAC can their license be revoked?

0.04 percent
0.02 percent
0.00 percent
0.05 percent

Answer: B — 0.02 percent

A license can be revoked for a driver under 21 with a BAC over 0.02 percent.

25. A commercial license holder is tested after a stop. Above what BAC can their license be revoked?

0.05 percent
0.04 percent
0.08 percent
0.02 percent

Answer: B — 0.04 percent

For a commercial license, revocation can follow a BAC over 0.04 percent.

26. Which drink contains roughly the same amount of alcohol as 12 ounces of beer?

8 ounces of wine
3 ounces of spirits
5 ounces of wine
1 ounce of spirits

Answer: C — 5 ounces of wine

12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of spirits hold the same amount of alcohol.

27. A driver who has stopped drinking wants to know how their BAC will change if they just wait, with no coffee or food involved. What happens?

BAC falls about 0.05 percent per hour
BAC falls about 0.03 percent per hour
BAC falls about 0.005 percent per hour
BAC falls about 0.015 percent per hour

Answer: D — BAC falls about 0.015 percent per hour

Only time sobers a person up, and BAC falls about 0.015 percent per hour.

28. A blood test detects THC after a crash. At what level does the law allow a permissible inference of DUI from marijuana?

15 nanograms per milliliter
2 nanograms per milliliter
10 nanograms per milliliter
5 nanograms per milliliter

Answer: D — 5 nanograms per milliliter

5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood gives a permissible inference of DUI (there is no equivalent inference for DWAI).

29. An officer suspects impairment and requests a chemical test, but the driver refuses. What happens to that driver's privileges?

Automatic conviction for DUI with no separate penalty
A 1-year revocation plus a 2-year ignition interlock requirement
No penalty unless later convicted in court
A 6-month revocation only

Answer: B — A 1-year revocation plus a 2-year ignition interlock requirement

Refusing the test brings a one-year revocation and a two-year ignition interlock requirement on any vehicle the person drives.

30. A first-time offender age 21 or older is convicted of DUI with a BAC of 0.08 percent. What license consequence applies?

A 1-year revocation
8 points added, no revocation
Permanent revocation
A 9-month revocation

Answer: D — A 9-month revocation

A first DUI at 0.08 percent carries a 9-month revocation, distinct from the 8-point penalty attached to a first DWAI.