Finding your current points on your Colorado license
You can check your Colorado driver's license points through the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website, by phone, or in person. The fastest method is the online system: 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 total and any violations on your record.
If you prefer not to use the online portal, call the Colorado DMV at 303-205-5613. Have your driver's license number ready. A representative can tell you your exact point balance over the phone, though they cannot discuss specific violations in detail through this method.
You can also visit a Colorado DMV office in person and ask for a copy of your driving record. This gives you a full written history of violations and points, which is useful if you need documentation for insurance or legal purposes. Bring your driver's license and be prepared to pay a small fee for the record.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado tracks points on your license based on traffic violations, and your current total is visible through the DMV website, by phone, or at a local office.
- Most violations add between 4 and 12 points to your record, and points remain on your license for different lengths of time depending on the violation type.
- Reaching 12 points within 12 months triggers a mandatory license suspension, and reaching 18 points within 24 months results in revocation.
- You can reduce points through traffic school, which removes up to 4 points if you complete an approved course within 90 days of conviction.
How Colorado's point system works
Colorado assigns points to your license based on the severity of traffic violations you commit. A minor infraction like speeding 1 to 5 miles over the limit adds 4 points. More serious violations—reckless driving, driving under the influence, or at-fault accidents—add 8 to 12 points. Each violation stays on your record for a set period: most violations remain for three years, while DUI convictions stay for five years or longer.
The state tracks your points over rolling time periods. If you accumulate 12 points within any 12-month period, your license is automatically suspended. If you reach 18 points within any 24-month period, your license is revoked, which is a more serious consequence than suspension and requires you to reapply for a license.
Points do not disappear on a set date—they fall off based on when the violation occurred. A violation from January 2022 will drop off your record in January 2025 (three years later), assuming it was not a DUI or other serious offense with a longer retention period.
Common violations and their point values
| Violation Type | Points Added | How Long It Stays |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding 1–5 mph over limit | 4 points | 3 years |
| Speeding 6–25 mph over limit | 8 points | 3 years |
| Speeding 26+ mph over limit | 12 points | 3 years |
| Reckless driving | 8 points | 3 years |
| At-fault accident | 4 points | 3 years |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 12 points | 5 years |
| Driving with suspended license | 12 points | 3 years |
What happens when you reach suspension or revocation thresholds
When you hit 12 points in a 12-month period, the Colorado DMV sends you a notice of suspension. Your license suspension typically lasts one month, and you cannot drive during that time. After the suspension ends, your license is reinstated automatically, but the points remain on your record.
If you accumulate 18 points within 24 months, your license is revoked instead of suspended. Revocation is permanent removal of your driving privilege and requires you to reapply for a license through the DMV. You must wait a minimum period (usually one year) before you can reapply, and you may need to pass a written test and vision test again.
A suspension or revocation also affects your insurance rates significantly. Your insurer will likely raise your premiums or drop your coverage entirely once they learn of the suspension or revocation.
Reducing points through traffic school
Colorado allows you to remove up to 4 points from your license by completing an approved traffic school course. You are may be able to access if you have not taken traffic school in the past three years and if your violation was not a DUI, reckless driving, or driving with a suspended license.
You must enroll in traffic school within 90 days of your conviction date. The course is typically offered online and takes four to eight hours to complete. Once you finish, the course provider sends a certificate of completion to the Colorado DMV, and the 4 points are removed from your record within two to four weeks.
Traffic school costs between $30 and $100 depending on the provider. While it removes points, it does not erase the violation from your record—it only reduces the point penalty. Your insurance company may still see the violation, though the removal of points can help prevent a license suspension.
How points affect your insurance and driving record
Insurance companies in Colorado can see your driving record and the points on your license. Each point typically increases your insurance premium, and the increase grows steeper as your point total rises. A single 4-point violation might raise your rate by 10 to 15 percent, while an 8-point or 12-point violation can increase it by 25 to 50 percent or more.
Points stay visible to insurers for the same duration they stay on your DMV record—usually three years for most violations, five years for DUI. Even after points drop off your DMV record, some insurers may still consider the violation when calculating rates, though they cannot cite the points themselves.
Your driving record is also used by employers, landlords, and courts. If you are explore for a job that requires driving or a position with background checks, points on your record may be visible and could affect the outcome.
Requesting a hearing if you disagree with points
If you believe points were added to your license in error, you can request a hearing with the Colorado DMV. You must submit your request within 20 days of receiving the notice of suspension or revocation. The hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge who reviews the evidence and decides whether the points should stand.
To request a hearing, contact the Colorado DMV's Driver License Section at 303-205-5613 or submit a written request to the address listed on your suspension or revocation notice. Bring documentation of your case—for example, if you were not the driver at the time of the violation, bring proof of who was driving.
A hearing does not may provide the points will be removed, but it gives you the opportunity to present your side. If the judge agrees with you, the points are reversed and your license status is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for points to drop off my record?
Most violations drop off after three years from the conviction date. DUI convictions and some serious violations stay for five years or longer. Points do not disappear automatically on a specific date—they fall off based on when the violation occurred, not when you check your record.
Can I get points removed without going to traffic school?
No. Traffic school is the only way to remove points from your Colorado license. Points otherwise remain on your record for their full retention period. Paying a fine does not reduce points, and points do not decrease over time—they only drop off after the full period has passed.
What is the difference between suspension and revocation?
Suspension is temporary—your license is removed for a set period (usually one month), then automatically reinstated. Revocation is permanent removal of your driving privilege, and you must reapply for a new license after waiting a minimum period, usually one year.
Will my insurance company know about my points?
Yes. Insurance companies have access to your driving record and can see violations and points. They use this information to calculate your rates. Points typically increase premiums by 10 to 50 percent depending on severity, and the increase can last three to five years.
Can I check someone else's points on their Colorado license?
No. Only the license holder can check their own points through the DMV website or by calling the DMV. You cannot view another person's driving record unless you have legal authority, such as being a parent of a minor or having power of attorney.