Other License Info

Who Needs a License?

Anyone legally operating a motor vehicle on Colorado roads and highways is required by law to possess a driver license. Now, that does not mean it needs to be a Colorado-specific license, but it needs to be officially issued by a country or other U.S. state―and not some document you pasted together in your basement using a yearbook photo.

If you are a resident (lived here for 90 days or have landed a job in the state) and you are taking advantage of the inspiring mountain scenery via car (highest paved roads in North America) you need a Colorado license. Exemptions include students from out of state attending a Colorado university and military personnel stationed on a Colorado base. In those cases, you can hang on to the license you already have.

License by Mail

Although residents keep their fingers crossed that the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will soon start offering more online services, for now, renewing by mail is the one high-tech perk. Find out if you are eligible for this service.

Accidents

The police are just not equipped with the staff to arrive and investigate every minor fender bender that occurs across the state. At times, Colorado roads are so slick and buried in mounds of snow that the police come out and say that accidents without injury or public property damage will need to be reported by the individuals involved, as they will not be coming to the rescue.

The fact is, regardless of weather, all accidents in Colorado need to be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency. It is a matter of Colorado law. Fortunately, the Colorado State Patrol provides convenient online accident reporting.

The Identity Crisis

During the past couple of years, the rise of identity theft (and the ensuing media coverage) has made many in Coloradoans vigilant in taking protection precautions. While losing or having a driver license stolen can strike fear in people, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has gone to great lengths to insure the sovereignty of self from would-be usurpers.

Removing Social Security numbers from the documents was a huge step in shielding residents, but the state went one step further with digital fingerprinting. Together, these measures have been instrumental in fighting identity theft, but a driver license is only one document that thieves can target, and these crooks tend to be highly skilled.

Thus, the Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit provides an in-depth guide on what steps you need to take immediately in the event you are a victim of identity theft.

For more license-related information, see Applying for a New License, Renewing Your License, Replacing a Lost License, Changing Your Address, and Motorcycle License on this site.