International visitors to CU-Boulder generally find that 3. Pass the vision, written, and road performance tests.
ance tests. Vehicle title & registration, license plates
using public transportation to get around the Denver/
Boulder metropolitan area is easy. However, many
international visitors who are here for an extended period
may find it difficult without owning a car. You may find it
convenient to have a Colorado drivers license. Before you
can get an instruction permit or drivers license, you must
learn Colorado traffic laws and pass a vision test, written
exam, and a driving test. If you buy a car to drive while you
are here, you will need to have the car registered and to
obtain automobile insurance. This flier is intended to give
you a basic understanding of what is involved with owning
and driving a car in Colorado.
The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), under the
jurisdiction of the Colorado Department of Revenue, is the
state office that issues Colorado drivers licenses, permits
and state ID cards. Visit their web site for more detailed
information: https://www.colorado.gov/dmv.
The DMV office in Boulder is located at 2850 Iris Avenue,
Unit F, at the northeast end of 28th Street and the Diagonal
Highway in the Diagonal Plaza shopping center (telephone
303-442-3006). You can take the Bolt bus to the 28th
Street and Highway 119 stop.
Colorado Drivers License/Permit/ID Card
An international student or scholar can obtain a Colorado
drivers license, instruction permit or identification card after
arrival in the US. You may drive using your current, valid
drivers license issued by your country of residence for 90
days, after which you must obtain a Colorado drivers
license. For more info about your situation: 303-205-
5600.To apply for a license, instruction permit, or a
Colorado identification card, you will need to:
1. Present the following at a drivers license office:
Original DS-2019, or original I-20 AB, or I-797, or H1B
approval notice and;
Valid passport and;
US Visa and;
Current I-94 and;
2. Supply a Colorado residence address and proof of that
address (rent agreement, official tuition bill, vehicle
registration, bank statement, etc). [Nothing hand written!]
Vision Test: You will be asked to look into a device that
projects images, and identify letters, numbers or pictures in
the frame. If you cant read all of the frames, it does not
mean you failed the vision test. The drivers license
employee who administers the vision test will recommend
that you have an eye examination to see if you need
corrective lenses.
Written Examination: This is a comprehensive exam
that covers the rules and regulations of Colorados driving
and traffic laws. Before you attempt the written test, study
the Drivers Handbook very thoroughly. Download the
handbook (it is in sections) from their website, or pick up a
paper copy at a drivers license office. After passing the
written exam, you will be fingerprinted, photographed and
then issued an instruction permit. Cost is $16.80.
Driving Test: If you are issued an instruction permit,
you will be required to take a driving test. Bring your car
and proof of insurance. It is a good idea to practice driving
in Boulder before you attempt to get your license. A
drivers license staff member will conduct the driving test by
riding with you and will ask you to demonstrate your driving
skills. You will be scored on how well you drive and follow
traffic rules. Driving tests are by appointment only.
Schedule an appointment at:
https://www.colorado.gov/apps/jboss/dor/online/appointme
nt/scheduling/index.xhtml. After passing the driving test,
you will be fingerprinted, photographed and then issued a
drivers license. Cost is $25.00.
If you have a drivers license from another state in the
United States or Canada which has not been expired
for more than one year, you will be required to take the
vision test and provide your drivers license and proof
of address to get your Colorado drivers license.
Automobile Insurance
Colorado law requires car owners to have automobile
insurance. Insurance protects you if you are involved in
an accident. If you are involved in an accident and you do
not have insurance, you will be responsible for related
expenses, sometimes thousands of dollars. Also, driving a
car that is not properly insured is illegal, and you could
spend some time in jail. The cost of car insurance can
range from $500 to $1,000 per year, depending upon how
old your car is, how much it cost when you bought it, how
old you are, and risk factors, etc.
You must apply for a Colorado title (shows that you are the
owner of the vehicle) and registration (shows vehicle
details, such as make, model, engine capacity, color, and
the vehicle identification number, and keeps a record of
information about the current owner, such as name and
address) within 30 days from establishing Colorado
residency. License plates (the metal plate on both the front
and rear bumpers) and the vehicle registration is done at
the Motor Vehicle Division of the Boulder County Clerk and
Recorders Office. The address is 1750 33rd Street, Suite
100 (East of Boulder Police Department). Telephone:
303-413-7710; hours, Monday Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fees for license plates, title and registration are accepted
in cash or check only, no credit cards are accepted. For
more details, see: http://www.co.boulder.co.us/clerk/
To register a newly purchased vehicle with a Colorado title,
you need to submit six things:
1. The Colorado title, properly signed off by the seller.
2. The Odometer Disclosure, required only if the vehicle
is older than 10 years. The odometer shows how many
miles are on the vehicle.
3. The Bill of Sale, listing the purchase price. Sales taxes
are collected at the time of titling and/or registration.
4. An ORIGINAL Security Agreement if your car is
financed through a lending institution.
5. Emission Test that shows your car passes state
emission standards. There is one ENVIROTEST location
in Boulder at 5655 Airport Boulevard; one in Longmont at
4040 Rogers Road, and one in Broomfield at 11609 Teller
Street. Hours of operation and costs vary from time to
time, so look at their web site before you go:
http://www.aircarecolorado.com/ or call the ENVIROTEST
hotline: 303-456-7090.
6. Proof of Insurance: You must provide proof of
insurance before you can register your vehicle. You may
use your insurance card, a copy of your insurance policy,
or a letter from your insurance company (on the company's
letterhead paper), as proof of insurance.
 Buying a Car
You can buy a used car from a private owner, and both
new and used cars from car dealerships (see Auto
Dealers in the internet Yellow Pages). You are
encouraged to negotiate the price when buying a used or
new car. For a comprehensive listing of reviews, ratings,
and cost evaluations of every car, truck or motorcycle ever
manufactured, look at the Kelly Blue Book,
http://www.kbb.com/.
If you have decided to buy a used car, it is worth the
money to have it evaluated by a reputable mechanic who
can tell you if the car has anything wrong with it before
you buy it. Also note that the seller of a used car is
responsible for providing a recent Envirotest at the time of
sale (private sellers often don't know this).
Responsible and Safe Driving
Wear your seatbelt! It is the law in Colorado!
You will find that the rules of the road in the United States
are very different from what you are used to at home. It is
everyones responsibility to know the laws and make good
decisions while driving.
Colorado law enforcement officers strictly enforce drunk-
driving laws. All international visitors should know that it is
a criminal offense to drink and drive. It is also a criminal
offense to ride your bicycle while alcohol-impaired. For
certain "crimes of moral turpitude" such as driving under
the influence (DUI), there can be very serious
consequences for internationals, e.g. inability to get new
visa! Such violations are stored in a national database.
If you are caught by a law enforcement officer for a moving
violation, here are some tips that are not in the book: You
will see red and blue lights flashing in your rear-view mirror
and hear a siren. This is the officers way of asking you to
pull over and stop. Put your right blinker on, pull safely off
to the right side of the road, put your car in park, turn off
your ignition, and put on your flashing hazard lights. Do not
get out of the car! Keep your hands on the steering wheel
(do not unfasten your seat belt) until the officer has come
to your drivers side window. Do not reach for anything
until the officer asks you to, because he/she might feel
threatened by your movements (reaching for a weapon, for
example). He/she will ask you to roll down your window,
and ask to see your drivers license, car registration, and
proof of insurance. Keep your license in your wallet - keep
the registration and proof of insurance in the glove
compartment. When you speak with the officer, always
stay calm and do not become agitated.
The officer will take your license and registration back to
his/her car to do two things: First, verify that the license
plates are yours and that the car belongs to you; and
second, that you are not wanted by the law for a crime. If
you are being pulled over because the officer suspects you
are driving while alcohol-impaired, he/she will have you
perform a road sobriety test. If it is deemed you are drunk,
you will be taken to jail. If you have violated the law to a
minimal degree or if it is your first moving violation, you
may be issued a warning and the officer will let you go. If
your violation is more serious, you may be issued a ticket.
The officer will explain why you were pulled over and the
procedures for paying the fine that comes with being
ticketed. You will be asked to sign the ticket, but this does
not mean that you are admitting guilt. Your signature
simply verifies that you have read it.
A note of caution: In the United States, do not ask an
officer to take money as payment for the ticket. The officer
may think that you are trying to buy your way out of the
ticket. That is called bribery, and trying to bribe a police
officer is against the law.
When the officer gives you permission to do so, you may
start your car, turn off the emergency flashers, and pull
safely away from the side of the road to re-enter traffic.
Driving a car in Colorado
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