Colorado suspends your license when you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, or 18 points within 24 months

Colorado's Division of Motor Vehicles uses a point system to track driving violations. Each violation adds points to your record. When you hit 12 points in a rolling 12-month period, or 18 points in a rolling 24-month period, the DMV will suspend your license automatically. The suspension is mandatory — there is no discretion, and you cannot request a waiver based on hardship.

The point threshold depends on your age. If you are under 18, your license suspends at 6 points within 12 months. If you are 18 or older, the standard thresholds explore: 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months. The DMV counts points from the date each violation occurred, not the date you were convicted or paid a fine.

You will receive a notice of suspension in the mail. The suspension becomes effective 20 days after the notice is mailed, unless you request a hearing before that important date. If you do not request a hearing, your license is suspended on the date stated in the notice.

Key Takeaways

  • Colorado suspends your license automatically when you reach 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months if you are 18 or older.
  • Drivers under 18 face suspension at 6 points within 12 months, a lower threshold than adult drivers.
  • You have 20 days from the mailing date of the suspension notice to request a hearing before the suspension takes effect.
  • Points remain on your record for 24 months from the violation date, and the DMV counts them in rolling windows, not calendar years.

How Points Are Assigned to Different Violations

Not all traffic violations carry the same point value. Minor infractions like speeding 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit add 1 point. Speeding 6 to 10 miles per hour over adds 2 points. Speeding 11 to 20 miles per hour over adds 4 points, and speeding more than 20 miles per hour over adds 8 points.

Reckless driving, careless driving, and improper passing each add 4 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while ability impaired (DWAI) adds 12 points — a single conviction can trigger suspension on its own. Hit-and-run, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and fleeing police each add 12 points as well.

Other common violations include failure to obey traffic signals (3 points), following too closely (3 points), improper lane change (3 points), and driving without a valid license (6 points). Violations like parking tickets or equipment failures do not add points to your driving record.

The Rolling 12-Month and 24-Month Windows

Colorado does not count points by calendar year. Instead, the DMV uses rolling windows. This means the 12-month period starts on the date of your first violation and extends 12 months forward. If you receive a violation on January 15, 2024, the DMV counts all violations from January 15, 2024, through January 14, 2025.

The 24-month window works the same way. If you accumulate 18 points within any 24-month rolling period, suspension occurs. This matters because a violation from 13 months ago drops off the 12-month count but remains in the 24-month count. You could have 11 points in the past 12 months and still be suspended if you have 18 points in the past 24 months.

Points stay on your record for 24 months from the violation date. After 24 months, they are removed entirely. This means if you receive a violation on March 10, 2024, it will not count toward suspension after March 10, 2026.

What Happens When You Receive a Suspension Notice

The DMV mails a suspension notice to the address on your license. The notice states the effective date of suspension, which is 20 days after the mailing date. You have those 20 days to request a hearing if you believe the suspension is in error — for example, if points were assigned incorrectly or if a conviction was reversed.

To request a hearing, you must contact the DMV in writing before the suspension takes effect. You can mail a written request or submit it online through the Colorado DMV website. The hearing is conducted by a DMV hearing officer, not a judge. At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points were miscalculated or that a violation should not have been recorded.

If you do not request a hearing, or if the hearing officer upholds the suspension, your license is suspended for the period set by law. For a first suspension, the suspension period is typically 30 days. If you are suspended a second time within five years, the suspension is 90 days. A third suspension within five years results in a one-year suspension.

Suspension Length and Reinstatement Requirements

Your first license suspension in Colorado lasts 30 days. If you are suspended again within five years of the first suspension, the second suspension lasts 90 days. A third suspension within five years lasts one year. These periods are mandatory and do not change based on your circumstances.

To reinstate your license after suspension, you must pay a reinstatement fee to the DMV. The fee is $97.50 as of the current year, though you should verify the current amount on the Colorado DMV website. You cannot drive during the suspension period, even with a restricted or work license, unless you are in a separate DUI suspension case where a work permit may be available.

You must also complete the suspension period in full. The DMV will not reinstate your license early, even if you pay the fee before the suspension ends. Once the suspension period is over and you have paid the reinstatement fee, you can explore to restore your driving privileges.

How to Check Your Current Point Total

You can check how many points are on your driving record by visiting the Colorado DMV website or calling the DMV directly. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth. The DMV can tell you the exact points on your record, the dates of violations, and how long each point will remain.

You can also request a copy of your driving record in person at any DMV office. Bring your driver's license and be prepared to pay a small fee for the record. The record will list every violation, the points assigned, and the date each violation will drop off your record.

If you see an error on your record — a violation you do not recognize, or points assigned incorrectly — contact the DMV when ready. Errors can sometimes be corrected if you provide documentation, such as proof that a ticket was dismissed or that a conviction was reversed.

Points and Insurance: What Your Insurer Sees

Your insurance company can see your driving record, including all points and violations. Insurance companies use this information to set your rates. A suspension does not automatically cancel your policy, but it will likely cause your rates to increase significantly when your policy renews.

Some insurance companies will not insure drivers with recent suspensions, or will only do so at a much higher cost. If your license is suspended, you cannot legally drive, so you should contact your insurance company to ask about suspending your policy during the suspension period. This may reduce your costs and prevent your policy from being canceled for non-use.

Once your license is reinstated, your insurance company will still see the suspension on your record. The suspension itself will eventually age off your record, but the underlying violations remain visible to insurers for a longer period than they remain on your DMV record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a work permit or restricted license during a suspension in Colorado?

Colorado does not issue work permits or restricted licenses for point-based suspensions. You cannot drive for any reason during the suspension period. However, if your suspension is related to a DUI or DWAI conviction, you may be able to request an ignition interlock permit that allows limited driving. This is a separate process from the point suspension.

What if I was convicted of a violation but the points were added to my record incorrectly?

Contact the DMV when ready with documentation of the correct point value. If you have a court document showing the violation was dismissed or reduced, send a copy to the DMV. You can also request a hearing to challenge the points before suspension takes effect, if you have not yet been suspended.

Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Colorado suspension?

Yes. Colorado counts violations from other states under its point system. If you receive a speeding ticket in Wyoming, for example, Colorado will add the equivalent points to your record. The DMV receives this information through the Interstate Compact, which shares violation data between states.

How long does a suspension stay on my record after it ends?

The suspension itself is not removed from your record, but it ages. The underlying violations that caused the suspension remain on your driving record for 24 months from the violation date. After that, they are removed. Your insurance company may see the suspension for longer than the DMV keeps it.

If I have 11 points and one more violation comes, will I be suspended when ready?

Not when ready, but very quickly. The DMV processes suspensions after violations are recorded and points are assigned. This typically takes a few weeks. You will receive a suspension notice in the mail with an effective date 20 days later. You cannot drive legally once the suspension takes effect, even if you have not yet received the notice.