The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles has slammed the brakes on Academy School of Driving in Colorado Springs, and roughly 460 drivers who tested there may soon see their licenses canceled, state officials say. Regulators say an internal probe turned up alleged fraud that stretched from the classroom to the road test, so the school’s testing operations are now frozen while the state moves toward a formal disciplinary hearing.
What the DMV found
In a press release via Colorado DMV, Senior Director Electra Bustle said the division moved to halt Academy School of Driving’s operations to “protect public safety and the integrity of our driver licensing system.”
Investigators with the DMV’s Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit and Driver Testing and Education team say they uncovered patterns of alleged cheating on state exams. Written-test answers were allegedly marked for applicants, and behind-the-wheel evaluations were allegedly cut far short of the state-mandated 15 minutes. As reported by The Denver Post, investigators say the misconduct may have begun as early as March 2025 and that external coordinators were observed altering written exams.
How customers were targeted
The Colorado Springs Gazette reports the DMV found Academy School of Driving charged applicants illegal fees that typically ran from $550 to $600, well above what customers thought they were paying for a straightforward license test. According to the Gazette, the school also manipulated the state’s appointment system, allegedly plugging in fictitious placeholder names to hoard scarce testing slots, then swapping in paying customers when it was time to show up.
The Gazette also reports the agency will cancel about 460 licenses tied to tests taken at the school and will discipline employees involved in the scheme as the investigation continues. In DMV speak, that is not a minor paperwork issue; it is a full-blown fraud case.
Who is affected and next steps
The DMV told The Denver Post that anyone who was mid-course at Academy School of Driving will have to finish lessons and testing at another certified school. The agency says it has posted guidance for affected drivers online, including what to expect if their license is canceled and how to get back into compliance…