ABOUT OUR BEHIND-THE-WHEEL DRIVING LESSONS

Our Teen (Ages 15-18) Behind-The-Wheel (BTW) Driving Lessons are conducted in our state-approved cars with an off-duty or retired police officer, a first responder or a police trained certified drive instructor.  These vehicles are equipped with a secondary brake and mirrors so that our driving instructor can take control of the vehicle if necessary. Minors under 16 years and 6 months of age must complete BTW Driving Lessons before being issued a Colorado driver's license. 

We recommend teen students take their BTW driving lessons within the first 3-6 months of receiving their permit. This allows your teen to apply all of the knowledge they gained during the 30-hour course on the road and enables our instructors to teach your teen the best driving habits from the start. Lessons can be tailored to the student's needs (such as specific routes and skills); just speak with your student's driving instructor or call the office so we can send a note to the instructor. 

Minors under 18 must present a completed Drive Time Log Sheet with 50 hours logged (10 hours have to be at night) signed by the parent/guardian to the DMV when applying for a Colorado driver's license. If you are using the Road Ready app, you will need to export, print, and sign the log before turning it in to the DMV.

We have a variety of pickup locations for the BTW driving lessons. Most sites are at or near local high schools. Please click the links below for more information on these locations. BTW driving lesson schedules are released on the 30th of the current month for one month ahead. 

Boulder Area - BHS or BALT or FHS
Broomfield Area - BRHS or HFHS or LHS
Erie Area - EHS or P2P
Lafayette Area - YMCA OR CHS or LMS or P2P
Longmont Area - EHS or CHS or P2P
Louisville Area - LMS or CHS 
Niwot Area - EHS
Superior Area - MHS
Thornton Area - HHS
Westminster Area - MRHS

Required Items For Behind-The-Wheel Driving Lessons

•  Student Drive Contract - printed, completed, and given to the instructor on the first drive. This contract will come linked to the BTW reminder email that goes out one week before each scheduled period. You can also find the contract on our Resources page.
•  Student's Permit - required to have on them at all times while driving a vehicle.
•  Proof of Vehicle Insurance - a digital copy or picture of the parent/guardian's current insurance card is fine. Students under 18 are covered under their parent/guardian's insurance policy for the duration of their permit term. If you are over 18, you must hold non-owner insurance to drive one of our cars. 

Please Note: Out-of-country permits or international license holders will be required to take and pass the written test at the DMV, meet driver license identification requirements, and be issued a Colorado permit before they take BTW driving lessons or the Drive Test.

Behind-The-Wheel Cancellation Policy

If a student shows up more than 15 minutes late or without the items required (this includes any eyewear they require for driving), we will have to cancel the drive. A cancellation fee of $95.00 will be assessed. If you need to change the date of this drive, please do so at least 48 hours in advance to avoid the $95.00 cancellation/rescheduling fee. A copy of our complete cancellation policy and terms of service are in the Student Driver Contract. We cannot waive this fee.

ABOUT THE DRIVE TEST 

The Colorado State DMV no longer provides the Drive Test. The Drive Test with TopCops is available individually or in various package options. Students will drive their own vehicle for the Drive Test. The vehicle they are testing in must have current insurance and registration. This test is for a regular non-commercial vehicle license. Please click the button below to read more about the Drive Test and the items required.

Learn More About the Drive Test

ABOUT OUR DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE FOR TEENS

TopCops Defensive Driving Course is for newly licensed drivers and those unsure about their driving abilities in heavy traffic, bad weather, snow, and icy conditions. During this advanced driver training, we teach you how to anticipate and react to potential hazards before they become a problem, ensuring you're equipped with the right skills to navigate challenging situations that come your way. 

Our dedicated instructors are active and retired police officers who bring real-world experience into every lesson. They offer valuable training in a caring and educational manner. Students will practice defensive driving maneuvers in their own vehicles under the support and experienced guidance of our police officer instructors. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate signifying your newly acquired skills and gain confidence and knowledge that could potentially save lives on the road.

 This course is taught in the Louisville area at an empty lot, which will be modified by the instructor to perform the defensive maneuvers.

Qualifies for Court-Mandated Traffic School 

Our Defensive Driving Course qualifies for Colorado court-mandated traffic school. Before enrolling, please contact the court first to confirm eligibility requirements and permission to take TopCops Driving School's Defensive Driving Instruction for your Colorado traffic violation.

Defensive Driving Course Cancellation Policy

The Defensive Drive Course has a 48-hour cancellation policy. If a student shows up more than 15 minutes late or without the items required, we will have to cancel the drive, and the cancellation fee of $100.00 will be assessed. If you need to change the date of this drive, please do so at least 48 hours in advance to avoid the $100.00 cancellation/reschedule fee. This course requires set up and break down. This fee cannot be waived.