How to find your current point balance
Colorado tracks points on your license through the Department of Revenue's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can check your point total three ways: online through the DMV website, by phone, or in person at a local DMV office.
The fastest method is the online portal. Go to the Colorado DMV website, select "Driver License Services," and log in with your driver's license number and date of birth. The system shows your current point balance when ready. If you do not have online access or prefer to speak with someone, call the DMV at 303-205-5613 during business hours, and a representative can tell you your points over the phone. You will need your driver's license number ready.
At 21, you are subject to the same point system as any adult driver in Colorado. Points stay on your record for different lengths of time depending on the violation — minor infractions typically fall off after three years, while more serious violations may remain for seven years or longer.
Key Takeaways
- You can check your Colorado points balance online through the DMV website, by phone at 303-205-5613, or in person at any DMV office.
- Colorado suspends your license automatically when you reach 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 24 months, or 24 points within 36 months.
- Minor traffic violations like speeding add 1 to 4 points; reckless driving or DUI add 8 to 12 points.
- Points fall off your record after three to seven years depending on the violation type, but the suspension itself may last longer.
- If you are suspended, you must complete a driver improvement course and wait the required period before you can request reinstatement.
What violations add points to your Colorado license
Colorado assigns points based on the severity of the violation. Speeding adds 1 to 4 points depending on how far over the limit you were driving. Running a red light or stop sign adds 4 points. Reckless driving adds 8 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving with a suspended license adds 12 points — the maximum for a single violation.
Careless driving, following too closely, and improper lane changes each add 4 points. Leaving the scene of an accident adds 6 points. Driving with an expired license adds 4 points. At 21, you are also subject to Colorado's underage drinking and driving law: if you are caught driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in your system (not just over the legal limit), you face a separate charge and additional points.
Not every traffic ticket results in points. Parking violations, equipment violations (like a broken taillight), and some administrative violations do not add points to your driving record, though you still must pay the fine.
When Colorado suspends your license based on points
Colorado uses a tiered suspension system. Your license is suspended automatically when you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 24 months, or 24 points within 36 months. The state does not send a warning before suspension — once you hit the threshold, the DMV mails a suspension notice to your address on file.
The suspension period depends on how many times you have been suspended before. Your first suspension lasts at least one month. A second suspension within five years lasts at least three months. A third or subsequent suspension within five years lasts at least six months. During suspension, you cannot legally drive at all — not for work, school, or emergencies.
If you receive a suspension notice, read it carefully. It includes the exact date your suspension begins, how long it lasts, and what you must do to request reinstatement. You cannot drive until the suspension period ends and you complete the required steps.
How to request reinstatement after suspension
Before you can drive again after a suspension, you must complete a driver improvement course approved by the Colorado DMV. This is a classroom or online course that typically takes four to eight hours. You pay a fee to the course provider — costs vary but generally range from $50 to $150. The course teaches traffic safety and the consequences of violations; it is not a test you can fail, but you must attend the entire session.
After you complete the course, you must wait until your suspension period ends. You cannot request reinstatement before that date. Once the waiting period is over, submit a reinstatement request to the DMV along with proof that you completed the driver improvement course. You will also pay a reinstatement fee to the DMV — this is separate from the course fee.
The DMV processes reinstatement requests within a few business days. Once approved, your license is active again. If you accumulate points again and reach another suspension threshold, the process repeats, but the suspension period is longer the second and third time.
How points fall off your record over time
Colorado does not erase points when ready after you pay a ticket. Instead, points remain on your record for a set period based on the violation type. Most minor violations (1 to 4 points) fall off after three years from the date of the violation. More serious violations like reckless driving or DUI fall off after seven years.
The three-year or seven-year clock starts on the date the violation occurred, not the date you paid the ticket or went to court. If you received a speeding ticket on January 15, 2022, those points fall off on January 15, 2025, regardless of when you paid the fine. You do not need to do anything — the points straightforward disappear from your record automatically.
However, a suspension itself may stay on your record longer than the individual points that caused it. Even after the points fall off, the fact that you were suspended remains part of your driving history. This matters if you are explore for certain jobs or insurance, as employers and insurers can see suspension history separately from current points.
What happens if you get a ticket while suspended
Driving while your license is suspended is a separate criminal charge in Colorado, distinct from the original violation that caused the suspension. If you are pulled over during a suspension, you face additional fines, possible jail time, and a longer suspension period. A first offense for driving with a suspended license can result in up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $300. A second offense within five years increases to up to six months in jail and fines up to $500.
Even if you did not know your license was suspended — for example, if you missed the DMV's notice in the mail — you are still liable for the charge. The burden is on you to check your status before driving. This is why checking your points balance regularly is important, especially if you have received recent tickets.
How to avoid accumulating points
The most direct way to avoid points is to follow traffic laws: obey speed limits, come to complete stops, maintain safe following distance, and never drive under the influence. At 21, you are also subject to Colorado's zero-tolerance law for underage drinking and driving, which means any detectable alcohol in your system while driving is illegal.
If you do receive a ticket, you have options. You can pay the fine and accept the points, or you can contest the ticket in traffic court. If you believe the officer made an error or the stop was improper, you can request a hearing. You may also be able to negotiate a plea to a lesser charge that carries fewer points or no points at all. Some violations can be reduced to non-moving violations, which do not add points.
Colorado also offers a traffic safety course that can reduce points after a violation. This is different from the driver improvement course required for reinstatement. If you complete an approved traffic safety course within a certain timeframe after receiving a ticket, the DMV may reduce the points by up to three points for that violation. You pay the course provider directly, and the reduction is not automatic — you must request it from the DMV with proof of completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check someone else's points on their Colorado license?
No. The DMV only releases point information to the license holder or their authorized representative. You cannot check another person's points without their permission, even if you are a family member. If you need someone else's driving record for insurance or legal purposes, they must request it themselves or provide written authorization.
Do points from other states transfer to my Colorado license?
Yes. Colorado participates in the Driver License Compact, an agreement between states to share traffic violation information. If you received a ticket in another state, those points may transfer to your Colorado record and count toward suspension thresholds. Check with the Colorado DMV if you have out-of-state violations.
What if I pay a ticket but disagree with the points assigned?
You can contest the ticket in traffic court before you pay it. Request a hearing and present your case to a judge. If the judge finds the violation was improper or reduces the charge, the points may be reduced or eliminated. Once you pay the ticket without contesting it, the points are assigned and you cannot dispute them later.
Does completing a driver improvement course remove points from my record?
No. The driver improvement course is required for reinstatement after suspension, but it does not erase existing points. A traffic safety course taken voluntarily may reduce points by up to three for a single violation, but you must complete it within the timeframe allowed and request the reduction from the DMV.
How long does a suspension stay on my driving record?
A suspension remains on your record indefinitely as a historical fact, even after the suspension period ends and you are reinstated. However, it does not count toward future suspension thresholds once the suspension is lifted. Insurance companies and employers can see that you were suspended, which may affect rates or hiring decisions.