Colorado § 42-2-102 - Persons exempt from license.
Full text of Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-2-102 — Persons exempt from license., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 42-2-102. Persons exempt from license.
(1) The following persons need not obtain a Colorado driver's license:
(a) Any person who operates a federally owned military motor vehicle while serving in the armed forces of the United States;
(b) Any person who temporarily drives or operates any road machine, farm tractor, or other implement of husbandry on a highway;
(c) Any nonresident who is at least sixteen years of age and who has in his or her immediate possession a valid driver's license issued to such nonresident by his or her state or country of residence. A nonresident who is at least sixteen years of age and whose state or country of residence does not require the licensing of drivers may operate a motor vehicle as a driver for not more than ninety days in any calendar year, if said nonresident is the owner of the vehicle driven and if the motor vehicle so operated is duly registered in such nonresident's state or country of residence and such nonresident has in his or her immediate possession a registration card evidencing such ownership and registration in his or her own state or country.
(d) A nonresident on active duty in the armed forces of the United States if that person has in his or her possession a valid driver's license issued by such nonresident's state of domicile or, if returning from duty outside the United States, has a valid driver's license in his or her possession issued by the armed forces of the United States in foreign countries, but such armed forces license shall be valid only for a period of forty-five days after the licensee has returned to the United States;
(e) The spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who is accompanying such member on military or naval assignment to this state, who has a valid driver's license issued by another state, and whose right to drive has not been suspended or revoked in this state;
(f) Any nonresident who is temporarily residing in Colorado for the principal purpose of furthering such nonresident's education, is at least sixteen years of age, has a valid driver's license from his or her state of residence, and is considered a nonresident for tuition purposes by the educational institution at which such nonresident is furthering his or her education.
(2) Any person who has in his or her possession a valid driver's license issued by such person's previous state of residence shall be exempt, for thirty days after becoming a resident of the state of Colorado, from obtaining a license, as provided in section 42-2-101.
Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2115, § 1, effective January 1, 1995.
ANNOTATION
Effect of subsection (1)(d) under § 42-2-107 (1). Section 42-2-107 (1) only requires that the licensee be accompanied at the hearing by the person who signed the application of the minor, unless that person submits a verified statement. However, where licensees have never been required to apply for licenses in the state of Colorado, by virtue of subsection (1)(d), and since no person was required to sign their applications, no one is required to attend the hearing other than the licensees themselves. Lopez v. Motor Vehicle Div., 189 Colo. 133, 538 P.2d 446 (1975).
Applied in Colo. Dept. of Rev. v. Smith, 640 P.2d 1143 (Colo. 1982).
Source: official Colorado text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado § 42-2-102
What does Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-2-102 cover?
Section 42-2-102 ("Persons exempt from license.") is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Colorado. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Colorado § 42-2-102?
A common citation format is "Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-2-102" (Colorado). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Colorado law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Colorado official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Colorado attorney.
How does Colorado § 42-2-102 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Colorado can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.