Colorado suspends your license when you reach 12 points in a 12-month period
Colorado's Department of Revenue tracks driving violations as points. Each violation adds a certain number of points to your record. When your total reaches 12 points within any 12-month period, the state automatically suspends your license. The suspension lasts at least one month, though the actual length depends on how many times you have been suspended before.
Points stay on your record for 24 months from the date of the violation, not from when you paid the ticket or went to court. This means a violation from two years ago no longer counts toward your total, but one from 23 months ago still does. Understanding which violations cost how many points helps you see how close you are to suspension.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado suspends your license automatically when you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, regardless of the types of violations.
- Different violations carry different point values: speeding 1–11 mph over the limit is 1 point, while reckless driving is 8 points.
- Points remain on your driving record for 24 months from the violation date, then drop off automatically.
- Your first suspension lasts one month; a second suspension within five years lasts three months; a third or later suspension lasts six months.
- You can request a hearing with the Department of Revenue to challenge the suspension if you believe the points were assessed incorrectly.
Point values for common Colorado violations
The number of points you receive depends on the specific violation. Minor speeding infractions cost fewer points than serious moving violations. Here are the violations you are most likely to encounter:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–5 mph over limit | 1 point |
| Speeding 6–10 mph over limit | 1 point |
| Speeding 11–15 mph over limit | 2 points |
| Speeding 16–20 mph over limit | 3 points |
| Speeding 21+ mph over limit | 4 points |
| Reckless driving | 8 points |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 12 points |
| Careless driving | 4 points |
| Failure to obey traffic signal | 4 points |
| Improper lane change | 4 points |
| Following too closely | 4 points |
A single DUI violation adds 12 points, which means one DUI alone triggers an automatic suspension. If you receive a violation for speeding 21 mph over the limit (4 points) and then get cited for reckless driving (8 points) within the same 12-month window, you hit 12 points and your license suspends.
How the 12-month rolling window works
Colorado does not use a calendar year. Instead, the state looks back 12 months from today. If you received a speeding ticket on March 15, 2024, that violation counts toward your total until March 15, 2025. On March 16, 2025, it drops off automatically and no longer affects your point total.
This rolling window means you can sometimes avoid suspension by waiting. If you have 11 points and one of those violations is about to age out of the 12-month window, you might stay under 12 points once that older violation expires. However, if you receive another citation before that happens, you will likely cross the threshold.
The Department of Revenue sends you a notice when you accumulate points. You should receive written notification when you reach certain thresholds, though the exact timing varies. Do not assume you are safe just because you have not heard from the state yet — the suspension takes effect based on the point total, not on when you receive notice.
Suspension length based on your history
Your first license suspension lasts one month. If you receive another suspension within five years of your first one, the second suspension lasts three months. A third suspension within five years lasts six months. Each suspension resets the five-year clock, so timing matters.
The suspension period begins on the date shown in the Department of Revenue's notice, not on the date you receive it. You cannot drive during the suspension period, even with a restricted license, unless you are specifically granted one through a separate request process. Driving with a suspended license is a criminal offense in Colorado and carries its own penalties.
How to check your current point total
You can view your driving record through the Colorado Department of Revenue's website or by visiting a local driver's license office in person. To check online, you will need your driver's license number and date of birth. The record shows each violation, the date it occurred, the points assigned, and when it will drop off your record.
Checking your record regularly helps you understand where you stand. If you see violations you believe are incorrect — for example, a ticket you thought you fought in court — you can request a correction. The Department of Revenue can remove points if the violation was dismissed, reduced, or if you completed a traffic safety course that resulted in point reduction.
Requesting a hearing to challenge your suspension
If you believe the Department of Revenue made an error in calculating your points or assessing your suspension, you can request a hearing. You have 20 days from the date on your suspension notice to file a written request. Send it to the address listed on your notice or submit it through the department's website.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that points were assessed incorrectly, that a violation was dismissed in court, or that you completed a traffic safety course that should have reduced your points. An administrative law judge will review your case. If the judge agrees with you, the suspension can be cancelled or delayed.
Requesting a hearing does not automatically stop your suspension from taking effect. The suspension remains in place while your hearing is pending unless the judge grants a stay. Contact the Department of Revenue to understand the current status of your case and whether you can drive during the hearing process.
Traffic safety courses and point reduction
Colorado allows you to reduce points by completing a traffic safety course, but only under certain conditions. You can take a course once every 12 months, and it removes up to 4 points from your record. However, you cannot use a course to reduce points if you have already used one within the past 12 months, and some violations (like DUI or reckless driving) cannot be reduced through a course.
Completing a course does not erase the violation from your record — it only reduces the points associated with it. The course typically costs between $20 and $50 and can be taken online or in person. You must complete it and submit proof to the Department of Revenue before the points are removed from your total.
If you are close to 12 points, taking a course might keep you under the suspension threshold. However, if you have already reached 12 points, a course will not cancel a suspension that has already been issued. The course is most useful as a preventive step before you hit the limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a restricted license while my license is suspended?
Colorado allows restricted licenses in some cases, but not automatically. You must request one from the Department of Revenue and show hardship — typically that you need to drive for work or medical reasons. A restricted license is not may provide and depends on the reason for your suspension and your driving history.
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Colorado suspension?
Yes. Colorado counts violations from other states if you were driving a Colorado-registered vehicle or if you hold a Colorado license. The points are converted to Colorado's system based on the severity of the violation. Check your driving record to see if out-of-state violations appear.
What happens if I get a ticket while my license is already suspended?
Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal charge, distinct from the original violation. This charge can result in jail time, fines, and an extended suspension. If you are caught driving during a suspension, contact an attorney when ready.
How long does it take for points to drop off my record?
Points drop off automatically 24 months after the violation date. You do not need to request removal — it happens on its own. Your driving record will show the violation but it will no longer count toward your point total once the 24-month period ends.
Can I dispute a ticket to avoid points?
Yes. If you fight a ticket in court and win, the violation is dismissed and no points are added. If you lose in court, the points are added based on the violation you were convicted of. Some people negotiate with prosecutors to reduce the charge to a lesser violation with fewer points.