Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Colorado DUI Laws to learn more.
24/7 Help:
(303) 222-0330
Before you call us:
Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
- civil matters
- CCWs or gun right restoration
- labor
- family law
- immigration
- landlord/tenant
- harassment
- restraining orders
And we do not handle any cases outside of California.
Call Us NowHow long do points stay on your license in Colorado?
Posted on
DMV points from traffic violations stay on your Colorado driver’s license forever. They do not disappear after a set period of time.
However, DMV points more than 24 months old have no negative effect on your license. This is because the Colorado DMV does not look back further than 24 months (2 years) when determining whether to suspend your driving privileges based on DMV points.1
How long do points stay on my driving record?
Colorado driving records go back for seven years, and they show all the DMV points that you accrued during those seven years from traffic infractions and traffic misdemeanors.
Your car insurance company may pull your driving record in order to determine whether to raise your premiums. And if you are applying for a job that requires driving, the employer will likely take your driving record into account when deciding whether to hire you.
Learn more in our article, How can I check the points on my license in Colorado?
Can I remove DMV points from my license?
Yes. Completing a court-approved traffic school may remove up to three points from your Colorado driver’s license. And paying traffic tickets on time can also reduce the number of DMV points added to your license.
Learn more in our article, How do I remove points from my Colorado driver’s license?
DMV points older than 24 months cannot impact your driving privileges in Colorado.
How many DMV points can I get before my license gets suspended?
Adults 21 and older can continue driving in Colorado with up to 11 points in a one-year period and up to 17 points in a two-year period.
Drivers who are 18, 19, or 20 years old can continue driving with up to:
- 8 points in a 1-year period;
- 11 points in a 2-year period; and
- 13 points in the three years that the driver is 18 to 20 years old.
Minor drivers under 18 can continue driving with up to five points in a one-year period and six points while younger than 18 years old.
Finally, chauffeurs (such as cab drivers) can continue driving with up to:
- 15 points in a 1-year period;
- 23 points in a 2-year period; and
- 27 points in a 4-year period.
Once you accrue too many points, the Colorado DMV will suspend your license for at a period of six months to one year. But you may be able to get a probationary driver’s license (PDL) to drive to and from work or school.2
See our related articles, How many DMV points can I get before losing my driver’s license in Colorado? and How many points on a Colorado license trigger a license suspension?
Cited for a traffic ticket in Colorado? Contact our Denver criminal defense attorneys. We may be able to get your traffic charge reduced or dismissed with no DMV points and no driving school.
Colorado Department of Revenue Links:
- Point Suspensions
- Driver Services – Frequently Asked Questions
- Hearings Division
- Hearing Forms (including Hearing Requests)
- Loss of Driving Privileges Hearing
- Alcohol and Drug Related Offenses
- Auto Insurance
- Interlock Devices
Legal References
- Colorado Revised Statutes 42-2-127 CRS; 1 CCR 211-3.
- Same. See also Edwards v. Motor Vehicle Div., (1974) 33 Colo. App. 382, 520 P.2d 598 (1974). Ewing v. Motor Vehicle Div., 624 P.2d 353 (Colo. App. 1980).
About the Author
Michael Becker
Michael Becker has over a quarter-century's worth of experience as an attorney and more than 100 trials under his belt. He is a sought-after legal commentator and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Nevada, California, and Florida.