Colorado DUI – How long is my driver’s license suspended?

In Colorado, a first DUI triggers a nine-month driver’s license suspension. For a second DUI offense, the suspension period is one year. For a third or subsequent DUI, the suspension period is two years.¹

Note that a first-time DWAI – which is a lesser offense than DUI – does not trigger a driver’s license revocation. However, repeated DWAI cases carry the same license revocation periods as regular DUIs.²

Meanwhile, under-21 drivers arrested for underage drinking and driving (UDD) face shorter license revocation periods in Colorado:

• 3 months for a first UDD,
• 6 months for a second UDD, or
• 1 year for a third or subsequent UDD.³

Note that UDD charges apply only when your BAC is 0.02% to 0.05%. If it is higher, you face regular DUI or DWAI charges.

Finally, refusing to take the chemical breath or blood test following a drunk driving arrest in Colorado carries longer revocation periods – even if your criminal case is dropped:

• 1 year for a first refusal,
• 2 years for a second refusal, or
• 3 years for a third or subsequent refusal.⁴

Early License Reinstatements

If your Colorado driver’s license has been revoked due to drunk- or drugged driving, you can apply for an interlock-restricted license. This allows you drive during your revocation period with a breathalyzer (“ignition interlock device” or “IID”) affixed to your steering wheel.

You can apply for an interlock-restricted license immediately when your license revocation begins in Colorado, but there are two exceptions:

1. You need to wait two months to apply if you refused to take the chemical breath or blood test; and
2. You need to wait one year to apply if you were under 21 at the time of the DUI arrest or chemical test refusal.

As a condition of getting an interlock-restricted license, you need to secure SR22 insurance (“proof of financial responsibility”).⁵

To see if you are eligible for an interlock-restricted license and for instructions on how to apply, call the Colorado DMV’s Driver Services at 303-205-5613.

Early Removal of Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs)

As discussed above, a first-time DUI in Colorado normally triggers a nine-month driver’s license revocation. Though if you get an IID, the DMV can restore your unrestricted driver’s license after only four months (five months early) if both:

• your BAC (blood alcohol content) during your DUI was below 0.15%, and
• you have been fully compliant and have no failing IID tests.

In most other DUI cases and test refusal cases, you need to drive with an interlock for two full years.⁶

Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs)

In Colorado, a first-time DUI while driving a commercial vehicle triggers a one-year CDL revocation. The same is true if you refused a chemical test.

If you were transporting hazardous materials at the time, the revocation period for a first-time commercial DUI is three years.

Any subsequent violation will cause your CDL to be stripped for life. Though it may be possible to get another CDL after ten years if you complete an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program.⁷

Note that underage drinking and driving (UDD) in a commercial vehicle carries shorter revocation periods:

• 3 months for a first UDD,
• 6 months for a second UDD, or
• 1 year for a third or subsequent UDD.⁸

DMV Hearings

Here at Colorado Legal Defense Group, we have contested literally thousands of DUI-based license revocations at DMV hearings. DMV hearings are small, administrative trials at the Colorado Department of Revenue where we can present evidence and witnesses in support of your case.

However, for you to get a DMV hearing, we must request one within seven days of:

• the police confiscating your driver’s license following your DUI arrest (which happens if you elected to take the breath test or refused to take any test); or
• the DMV notifying you by mail that they are revoking your driver’s license (which happens if you elected to take the blood test).

Therefore, be sure to contact us as soon as possible after your arrest so we can request your DMV hearing in time and start crafting an effective defense. We have gotten countless driver’s license revocations reversed by arguing:

• The officer lacked reasonable suspicion to conduct the traffic stop;
• You had a medical condition that caused inaccurate breath testing results;
• Your blood sample became contaminated;
• The breathalyzer was broken or not calibrated; and/or
• The techs handing the breathalyzers or blood samples let their certifications lapse.

Note that each Colorado DUI arrest triggers two separate cases:

1. The DMV case and
2. The DUI criminal case.

The only way to avoid a license revocation is to win both cases: Winning one but not the other will still result in your license being revoked. As your criminal defense attorneys, we would handle both cases.⁹

Additional Reading

Also see our related articles about DUI license suspensions:

• What if I’m caught driving with a suspended license in Colorado?
• How long is the license suspension for a chemical test refusal in Colorado?
• How much does an interlock cost in Colorado?
• Colorado DMV Reinstatement – A Guide to How to Do It
• 7 steps to get early removal of an interlock device in Colorado
• Will I lose my “commercial driver’s license” for a Colorado DUI?
• How to request a DMV hearing after a Colorado DUI arrest – 5 steps
• Can I appeal if I lose my DMV hearing in Colorado?
• License revocations for underage DUI defendants in Colorado
• Driving on a Suspended license in Colorado
• Points on your Colorado DMV driving record
• DUI per se
• DUID (driving under the influence of drugs)
• DUI of marijuana
• Colorado DUI laws

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will my license be suspended for a first-time DUI in Colorado?

A first-time DUI in Colorado results in a nine-month driver’s license suspension. However, you may be able to get an interlock-restricted license immediately, which allows you to drive with a breathalyzer device installed in your car.

What happens to my license if I refuse the breath or blood test?

Refusing a chemical test results in longer license suspensions than a regular DUI: One year for a first refusal, two years for a second, and three years for third or subsequent refusals. These penalties apply even if your criminal DUI case is dropped.

Can I get my full driving privileges back early with an ignition interlock device?

Yes, for a first-time DUI with a BAC below 0.15%, you can get your unrestricted license back after just four months if you have been fully compliant with the interlock device and have no failed tests. Most other cases require two full years with the device.

Do I need to request a DMV hearing, and how much time do I have?

You must request a DMV hearing within seven days of your arrest or when the DMV notifies you of license revocation. This hearing is separate from your criminal case, and you need to win both to avoid license suspension.

Additional Resources

Find helpful information from the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles website:

• Reinstatements – Overview of how to reinstate your license.
• Appointment Scheduling – Make an appointment with your local DMV office online.
• Driver’s License Office Locations – Addresses, telephone numbers and hours.
• Application for Reinstatement – Instructions, form, and fee information.
• Identification Checklist – What to bring to the DMV.

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Legal References