How to find your current points on your Colorado license
Colorado tracks points on your driver's license through the Department of Revenue's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). You can check your current points balance in three ways: online through the Colorado DMV website, by phone, or in person at a local DMV office.
The fastest method is online. Visit the Colorado DMV website, select "Driver License Services," and use the "Driver License Status" tool. You'll need your driver's license number and date of birth. The system shows your current points total when ready and lists any violations that added points to your record.
If you prefer to call, contact the Colorado DMV at 303-205-5613. Have your license number ready. By phone, staff can tell you your points total but cannot provide as much detail about individual violations as the online system does. In-person visits to any Colorado DMV office also work, though wait times vary by location and time of day.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado's online DMV portal shows your exact points total and the violations that caused them, updated in real time.
- Points stay on your record for different lengths of time depending on the violation: minor infractions drop off after two years, serious violations after five years.
- Reaching 12 points within 12 months triggers a mandatory suspension, but you can request a hearing to contest it.
- Points are assigned by the court when you are convicted of a traffic violation, not by the DMV, so you cannot remove them yourself.
What different point values mean in Colorado
Colorado assigns points based on the severity of the violation. Minor infractions like speeding 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit add 1 point. Speeding 6 to 10 miles per hour over the limit adds 2 points. Speeding 11 to 20 miles per hour over the limit adds 4 points. Speeding more than 20 miles per hour over the limit adds 8 points.
Other common violations carry different point values. Reckless driving adds 8 points. Careless driving adds 4 points. Failure to obey a traffic control device adds 3 points. Following too closely adds 4 points. Improper lane change adds 4 points. Driving without a valid license adds 6 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) adds 12 points automatically, which alone triggers suspension.
The point value reflects how much risk the violation poses to public safety. Higher-speed violations and impaired driving carry more points because they cause more accidents and injuries. A single violation does not usually end your driving privileges, but multiple violations within a short time do.
When points cause your license to be suspended
Colorado suspends your license when you accumulate 12 or more points within a 12-month period. This is automatic — the DMV does not send a warning at 11 points. Once you hit 12, the DMV mails you a notice of suspension, and your license becomes invalid 20 days after the notice is dated.
The suspension length depends on how many times you have been suspended before. A first suspension lasts 8 months. A second suspension within five years lasts 12 months. A third or subsequent suspension within five years lasts 24 months. These periods are fixed; you cannot shorten them by paying a fee or taking a course.
You have the right to request a hearing to contest the suspension within 20 days of receiving the notice. At the hearing, you can argue that the points were assigned in error or present other circumstances the DMV should consider. However, the hearing officer can only overturn the suspension if they find a legal error — disagreeing with the traffic court's decision to assign points is not enough.
How long points stay on your Colorado record
Points do not stay on your record forever. Colorado removes points on a schedule based on the violation type. Minor violations — those worth 1 to 4 points — drop off your record after two years from the date of conviction. Serious violations — those worth 6 or more points — stay on your record for five years from the date of conviction.
The clock starts from the conviction date, not the date you paid the fine or completed traffic school. If you were convicted on March 15, 2022, for a 4-point violation, those points disappear on March 15, 2024. If you were convicted on the same date for an 8-point violation, those points disappear on March 15, 2027.
Points removed by time do not require any action from you. The DMV automatically purges them from your record. However, if you accumulate new points before old ones drop off, the new points reset the clock only for themselves, not for the older violations. This is why multiple violations within a short window create risk — they pile up before any of them age off.
The difference between points and insurance rates
Your insurance company sees your driving record but does not use the DMV's point system directly. Instead, insurers use the actual violations — speeding, at-fault accidents, DUI — to calculate rates. A violation that adds 4 points to your license might raise your insurance premium by 10 to 30 percent, depending on your insurer and the specific violation.
Insurance companies keep violations on your record for three to five years, which is often longer than Colorado's point system. A speeding ticket that drops off your DMV record after two years might still appear on your insurance record for three years, keeping your rates higher even after the points are gone.
Removing points from your DMV record does not automatically lower your insurance rates. You must contact your insurer and ask them to re-rate your policy once the violation ages off their system. Some insurers do this automatically; others require you to request it. Check your policy or call your agent to understand their timeline.
What you cannot do to remove points
You cannot remove points by taking a defensive driving course in Colorado. Some states allow drivers to erase a violation from their record by completing an approved course, but Colorado does not. Defensive driving courses may lower your insurance rates — some insurers offer a discount for completion — but they do not affect your DMV point total.
You also cannot remove points by paying a higher fine, requesting a continuance, or negotiating with the prosecutor. Points are assigned by the court as part of the conviction, not by the DMV. Only the court that convicted you can modify or remove points, and only if you file a motion to reopen the case and present new evidence or legal grounds.
The only ways points leave your record are: the violation ages off after the required time period, you win an appeal of the conviction, or the court grants a motion to vacate the conviction. All three are rare. For most drivers, the only practical path is to avoid new violations and wait for old ones to expire.
Requesting a hearing after suspension
If your license is suspended due to points, you can request a hearing within 20 days of receiving the suspension notice. The notice will include instructions for requesting a hearing and the address to send your request. You can request a hearing by mail, online through the Colorado DMV website, or in person at a DMV office.
At the hearing, a DMV hearing officer reviews whether the points were correctly assigned and whether you received proper notice of the violations. You can present evidence, call witnesses, and argue your case. However, the hearing officer cannot overturn a conviction or reduce points — they can only determine whether the suspension itself was legally proper.
If the hearing officer upholds the suspension, you can appeal to district court within 30 days. This is a formal legal process and usually requires an attorney. Most drivers do not pursue appeals because the suspension period is fixed regardless — you cannot shorten it by winning an appeal, only prevent it if you can prove the points were assigned in error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do points from other states transfer to my Colorado license?
Yes. Colorado is part of the Driver License Compact, an agreement between most U.S. states to share traffic violation records. If you were convicted of a traffic violation in another state, that violation transfers to your Colorado record and adds points according to Colorado's point scale. The violation appears on your Colorado DMV record even though you were convicted elsewhere.
Can I check someone else's points on their license?
No. Colorado's DMV portal requires your own driver's license number and date of birth. You cannot look up another person's points without their permission and information. If you need someone else's driving record for insurance or legal purposes, you must request it through official channels or ask them to provide it to you.
What happens if I get points while my license is already suspended?
Points continue to accumulate even during a suspension. If you are convicted of a traffic violation while suspended, those points are added to your record. When your suspension ends, you may when ready become may be able to access for another suspension if your total points exceed 12. This can extend your time off the road significantly.
Does a traffic school course remove points in Colorado?
No. Colorado does not allow traffic school to erase violations or remove points from your DMV record. Some insurance companies offer a small discount if you complete an approved defensive driving course, but the discount is between you and your insurer — it does not change your DMV points or suspension status.
How do I know if my license is about to be suspended?
Check your points online through the Colorado DMV website. If you are at 11 points or higher, you are one violation away from suspension. The DMV does not send warnings before reaching 12 points. Once you hit 12, you receive a mailed notice, and your license becomes invalid 20 days after the notice date.