DMV point system in Colorado – How exactly does it work?

With the Colorado point system, your driver’s license can be suspended for six months to one year if you accumulate

1. 12 or more points within a 12-month period, or
2. 18 or more points within a 24-month period.

Points older than 24 months old do not count toward a license suspension unless you are a chauffeur. You may contest your suspension at a Colorado DMV point hearing.¹

The DMV point system reinforces the notion that driving is a privilege granted by the state, not a right you are automatically entitled to.

1. How many points on a Colorado license trigger a suspension?

The number of driver’s license points at which the Colorado DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) will suspend your driving privileges depends on your age and whether you are a professional driver.

This chart shows when a suspension is triggered:

Driver	Points triggering a Colorado license suspension
Adults 21 and older	12 points in a 12-month period, or 18 points in a 24-month period.
Drivers ages 18 to 20	9 points in 12 month period of time, 12 points in 24 consecutive months, or 14 points or more between the ages of 18 and 21 years old.
Teenage drivers under 18	6 points in 12 months, or 7 points before turning 18.
Chauffeurs, including cab drivers (You have the burden to prove that the violation occurred during the course of your employment)	16 points in 12 months, 24 points in 24 months, or 28 points in 48 months.2

See our related articles:

• How long do points stay on your license in Colorado?
• How many points on a Colorado license trigger a license suspension?

2. How many points do traffic violations carry?

The following are examples of some traffic crimes/infractions and the number of points they carry:

Colorado driving offense	Demerit Points
DUI (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol)	12
DUI per se (driving with a BAC of .08% or higher)	12
Evading / eluding an officer	12
Leaving the scene of an accident	12
Speed contests	12
Speeding 40 mph or more over limit	12
DWAI (driving while ability impaired)	8
Failure to stop for a school bus	8
Reckless driving	6
Speeding 20 mph to 39 mph over limit	6
Careless driving	4
Driving on wrong side of road	4
Failure to observe traffic sign or signal	4
Failure to show or maintain proof of insurance	4
Failure to yield to emergency vehicle	4
Improper passing	4
Speeding 10 mph to 19 mph over limit	4
UDD (underage drinking and driving)	4
Driving in wrong direction on one-way street	3
Driving through safety zone	3
Failure to yield right of way	3
Improper turn	3
Failure to dim – or turn on – lights	2
Improper backing	2
Improper signal / failure to signal	2
Not wearing a seat belt	2
Operating an unsafe vehicle	2
Speeding 5 mph to 9 mph over limit	1

The more serious the traffic violation, the more points it carries.³

3. What is a DMV point hearing?

DMV point hearings are administrative trials at the Colorado DMV where you can contest your driver’s license suspension. Everyone who faces a license suspension for accruing too many DMV points is entitled to a hearing. The DMV will mail you a notice of the date and time of your hearing.

DMV point hearings, less formal than criminal trials, occur in person or over the phone. You can appear by yourself or with your attorney. As with trials, you can present evidence and witnesses and cross-examine state witnesses, such as the police officer.

What the Hearing Master Does

The hearing master presiding over the DMV hearing decides whether enough evidence exists to suspend your license. They will take into account:

• The nature of the traffic violation(s)
• Your age
• Your driving history
• Any “mitigating evidence” that shows you in a less blameworthy light
• Any “aggravating evidence” that shows you in a more blameworthy light

Ultimately, the hearing master has the discretion to impose a suspension of six months to one year. If you do not attend your DMV hearing, you get your license automatically suspended for one year.⁴

If your license suspension will cause you “undue hardship,” you can ask the hearing master for a probationary driver’s license (PDL or “red license”) that lets you commute to work, school, doctor’s appointments or to carry out essential family functions (like picking up your children).

4. How do I reinstate my Colorado license?

The requirements for reinstatement of your license vary depending on what the point suspension or revocation was for. In most cases, a reinstatement requires:

• An application for reinstatement (Form DR 2870),
• A reinstatement fee of $95 (plus a fee of $25 in DUI/DWAI/UDD cases) payable to the Department of Revenue, and
• Proof of insurance.

In addition, if you refused a DUI chemical test or your license was revoked or suspended due to alcohol and/or drug use, you may be required to provide some or all of the following:

• A Colorado DR 2598 certification form
• SR-22 from your insurance company,
• An affidavit of enrollment in an alcohol and drug education and treatment program (Form DR 2643), and/or
• A Restricted License Ignition Interlock Agreement Affidavit (Form DR 2058).

Additional Requirements

You may also be subject to an eligibility hearing if your license was suspended due to:

• Vehicular homicide, or
• Criminally negligent homicide or vehicular assault while driving.

If your license was revoked (as opposed to suspended), you will be required to take new vision, written and driving tests.⁵

Finally, you may have to meet certain conditions before being eligible for a license reinstatement, such as:

• Paying fees
• Taking a driving safety court
• Completing community service
• Being up to date on child support payments
• Completing a jail sentence

See our related article on how to reinstate a suspended driver’s license in Colorado.

5. How do I check my Colorado driving record?

Online

The quickest way to check your driver’s license status is to go online at the Colorado DMV to buy your MVR (motor vehicle report). After choosing “self-request”, click “next” and provide your:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Driver license number (if available) and issue date
• Last for numbers of your SSN

After clicking “next” again, choose option 7 to order your MVR. You will need to provide your email and a credit card.

• Non-certified driving records cost $9, and
• Certified driving records cost $10.

After clicking “I certify” and “next” once again, pay with your credit card. If you bought a non-certified driving record, it will be emailed or mailed to you.

By Mail

To order your MVR through the mail, complete the MVR written request (Form DR 2489). It will ask for your:

• Your full name
• Date of birth
• Driver license number (if available), issue date, and expiration date
• Last for numbers of your SSN
• Full and legible signature
• Reason for the request
• Photocopy of driver’s photo ID with signature
• Check or money order for $9 (for non-certified copy) or $10 (for a certified copy).

Then mail it to:

Colorado Department of Revenue
Division of Motor Vehicles
Driver Control, Room 164
PO Box 173345

In Person

You can also purchase a non-certified or certified copy of your Colorado motor vehicle record at any full-service driver’s license office. The DMV accepts:

• Cash
• Check
• Money order
• Credit cards
• Debit cards

See our related article, How to check points on my Colorado license.

6. What if my driving record has errors?

To report traffic violation errors on your driving record, you can call the Colorado DMV at (303) 205-5600 or TDD (303) 205-5940.⁶

7. How long do driving history reports go back?

Your Colorado driving history reports go back for seven years. However, it shows DUIs for the last 10 years. Plus the report will show any “red licenses,” which is shorthand for having had your license suspended, restricted, or revoked.

Note that your insurance company relies on your driving history to determine your premium rates. The more points you have, the higher premiums you face.

Also note that prospective employers consider your driving record if the job you are applying for involves driving (such as making deliveries or transporting people).

Learn more in our article, How long does it take to get points off your license in Colorado?

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