Colorado’s New Under-21 Motorcycle Course Law: What Parents Need to Know

Colorado’s New Under-21 Motorcycle Course Law: What Parents Need to Know

Starting January 1, 2027, Colorado will not give a motorcycle instruction permit to anyone under 21 until they have passed a Colorado State Patrol-approved motorcycle safety course. That’s your 15-year-old. It’s also your 20-year-old.

The fix is simple: take the course first. Colorado Motorcycle Academy teaches the two-day Basic Rider Course in Pueblo, Colorado, all year long.

Book the Basic Rider Course – $395

What changed, and when

Colorado House Bill 24-1021 was signed in 2024. Its motorcycle rule starts for applications the DMV receives on or after January 1, 2027. The bill’s own words:

“The department shall not issue an instruction permit to a minor who is under twenty-one years of age to drive a motorcycle unless the applicant has successfully completed an instruction program in motorcycle safety that is approved by the Colorado state patrol.” (the bill prints this in capital letters)
— HB24-1021, Section 2, new C.R.S. 42-2-106(1)(e). Read the bill.

And on timing, the bill says it “applies to applications for instruction permits and driver’s licenses submitted on or after January 1, 2027.”

In plain words: before you can get a motorcycle permit, you have to finish a state-approved course. The DMV’s own guide says the same thing and spells out the before-and-after: before 2027, applicants under 18 had to take a basic rider course, and no specific course was required to get a permit for riders 18 to 20. After January 1, 2027, all applicants under 21 must pass a motorcycle safety training program first. See the DMV’s HB24-1021 page.

Already have a permit before January 1, 2027? The DMV says the new requirements do not apply to you.

Who this affects

  • Riders 15 through 17. The course is required before a permit. Riders under 18 also still have to hold the permit for at least 12 months before adding the motorcycle endorsement, per the DMV motorcycle page.
  • Riders 18 through 20. This is the big change. Until now, adults 18 to 20 could skip the course. Starting 2027, they can’t. The DMV says there’s no minimum permit hold time at 18 or older.
  • Out-of-state transfers. The DMV says the course is required for in-state applicants and for out-of-state transfers.
  • Parents of riders under 18. A separate 2026 law, HB26-1079, says the DMV can’t issue a motorcycle permit to anyone under 18 without written permission from a parent or legal guardian (emancipated minors are exempt). Read HB26-1079. The DMV motorcycle page also lists a liability affidavit (DR 2460M) for minors.
  • 21 and older. No change.

Which course counts: the Basic Rider Course

The law says “approved by the Colorado state patrol.” In Colorado, that means courses certified through the CO MOST program. The Basic Rider Course (BRC) is the standard beginner course, and it’s the one we run for new riders at our Pueblo range. We’re listed as a CO MOST school in Pueblo on the state’s Find a School page.

Our BRC is the MSF two-day beginner class. Riders learn on our training bikes and take both state tests in class (the knowledge test and the riding skills test). Pass both and you get the waiver for the Colorado motorcycle endorsement. You don’t need a permit to sign up.

Book the Basic Rider Course – $395

How to get your motorcycle permit under the new law: step by step

  1. Book the Basic Rider Course. Pick a date on the course page and check out. Book here.
  2. Finish the online eCourse at home. We email the link after you book. It’s your classroom time, so there is no extra classroom day. It’s valid for 30 days, so don’t do it too early. Print the certificate or screenshot it.
  3. Parent fills out the paperwork (riders under 18). Print and sign the waiver and photo-release forms for a minor and bring a copy of your driver’s license. A parent or guardian must be at the class on day one.
  4. Come to class in Pueblo. Two days, typically 7:45 AM to 5:00 PM. We text a gate barcode the day before. Bring photo ID, your eCourse certificate and your gear.
  5. Pass both state tests. If your rider doesn’t, they get a free MSF retake class.
  6. Make your DMV appointment. Take your course completion paperwork with you. Riders under 18 also need the parent or guardian permission, and the DMV’s liability affidavit (DR 2460M) for minors. Not sure what the DMV wants to see for your situation? Call the DMV at 303-205-5600 before you go.

One thing to know: a course completion card is not a permit. The DMV issues the permit. Our job is the course; the DMV’s job is the permit.

Why take it with us

  • We run class even with one student. Classes are never canceled for low enrollment. We only cancel for severe weather or an emergency.
  • The classroom is online and done at home. No extra classroom day. You show up for the riding.
  • Free MSF retake class. If your rider doesn’t pass the state knowledge or skills test, they can come back for another class at no extra cost, subject to our rescheduling and no-show policy.
  • Year-round classes. Don’t wait until December 31 to find out classes are full. We teach all year.
  • Training bikes provided. Small, light, nearly new bikes with a manual clutch. Riders bring their own DOT-approved helmet and riding gear. We have a limited number of loaner helmets and gloves.
  • Family-owned, Pueblo, Colorado. Questions? Call or text 719-201-3274. We might be teaching, so leave a message and we’ll call back.

FAQ for parents

When does the new law start?
It applies to permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2027. If your teen already holds a motorcycle permit before that date, the DMV says the new requirement does not apply to them.
My kid is 19. Does this apply to them?
Yes. The law covers everyone under 21, not just minors under 18. Starting January 1, 2027, a 15-to-20-year-old must complete a Colorado State Patrol-approved motorcycle safety course before the DMV will issue a motorcycle instruction permit.
Which course counts?
The law says a program “approved by the Colorado state patrol.” In Colorado, those are the courses run through the CO MOST program. Our two-day Basic Rider Course in Pueblo is the course we offer for new riders under 21.
Do we need a permit before taking the class?
No. Our Basic Rider Course page says no motorcycle permit is required to take the class. Under the new law, the course comes first and the permit comes after.
What do I have to do as the parent?
If your rider is under 18, a parent or guardian must be present on day one, with ID, phone and email. You also fill out the waiver and photo-release forms for a minor and bring a copy of your driver’s license. For the DMV, a 2026 law (HB26-1079) also requires written permission from a parent or legal guardian before a permit is issued to anyone under 18.
How much does it cost, and what if my kid doesn’t pass?
The class is $395 on our course page today. If your rider doesn’t pass the state knowledge or skills test, they can come back for a free MSF retake class, subject to our rescheduling and no-show policy.
What do we need to bring? Do you provide helmets?
We provide the training motorcycles: small, nearly new bikes with a manual clutch. Riders must bring a DOT-approved helmet (no half helmets), eye protection, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt or jacket, gloves and over-the-ankle boots. We have a limited number of loaner helmets and gloves, but don’t count on one.

Book your rider’s class

Don’t wait for the new year to get stuck at the DMV counter. Get the course done, then get the permit.

Book the Basic Rider Course – $395

This page is general information, not legal advice. Sources: HB24-1021 (signed bill), Colorado DMV: HB24-1021, Colorado DMV: motorcycle, HB26-1079, CDOT news release, Oct. 7, 2026. Price and class dates are as shown on the course page.