Colorado suspends your license when you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 24 months, or 24 points within 36 months

Colorado's Department of Revenue tracks driving violations on a rolling basis. The state assigns points to traffic violations — typically ranging from 1 to 12 points per violation — and counts them backward from today. Once your total crosses the threshold for your time window, the state mails a notice of suspension. You do not lose your license when ready; suspension takes effect 20 days after the notice is dated, giving you time to request a hearing if you believe the points are wrong.

The three-tier system means you can accumulate points at different rates depending on how long you've been driving cleanly. A driver with 11 points in the past 12 months is one violation away from suspension. That same driver, if they stay clean for another month, drops back to a 10-point window because the oldest violation ages out of the 12-month lookback. This rolling calculation is why timing matters: a violation from 13 months ago no longer counts toward your total.

Suspension length depends on how many points pushed you over the limit. First suspension is typically 1 month. Second suspension within 5 years is 3 months. Third or more suspensions within 5 years is 6 months. If you accumulate points while already suspended, the state may extend the suspension or impose a new one when the first ends.

Key Takeaways

  • Colorado counts points on a rolling 12-, 24-, and 36-month basis, so violations age out as time passes and older violations stop counting.
  • You receive written notice 20 days before suspension takes effect, which gives you time to request a hearing to challenge the points.
  • First suspension is 1 month; second suspension within 5 years is 3 months; third or more is 6 months.
  • Traffic violations carry different point values — speeding is typically 4 points, reckless driving is 8 points, and DUI is 12 points — so one serious violation can trigger suspension alone.
  • Points drop off your record on the anniversary of the violation, not on a calendar date, so the exact timing of when you fall below the threshold depends on when each violation occurred.

What violations cost in points

Colorado assigns points based on the severity of the violation and the circumstances. Speeding 1–24 mph over the limit is 4 points. Speeding 25+ mph over the limit is 8 points. Reckless driving is 8 points. Careless driving is 4 points. Failure to obey traffic control devices is 4 points. Improper passing is 4 points. Following too closely is 4 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while ability impaired (DWAI) is 12 points — the maximum — and triggers suspension on its own if you have any other points in the past 12 months.

Some violations carry no points but still result in suspension. Habitual traffic offender status — which Colorado assigns after three or more suspensions within 10 years — can lead to license revocation rather than suspension. Driving with a suspended or revoked license is itself a violation that carries points and extends your suspension period.

The state publishes the full point schedule in the Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 42, Article 2. If you received a ticket and are unsure of the point value, you can call the Colorado Department of Revenue Driver Services Section at 303-205-5613 or check your ticket; the citation should list the statute violated, and you can cross-reference that to the point value.

How the rolling 12-, 24-, and 36-month windows work

Colorado does not count all points equally. The state looks at three separate time windows simultaneously. If you have 12 or more points in the past 12 months, you are suspended. If you have 18 or more points in the past 24 months, you are suspended. If you have 24 or more points in the past 36 months, you are suspended. You only need to cross one threshold to trigger suspension, but the state uses all three to determine whether you stay suspended.

The rolling nature means violations age out automatically. A violation from exactly 12 months and 1 day ago no longer counts toward your 12-month total. This is why a driver can have 11 points, receive another violation, and then drop back below 12 points a month later without any action on their part — the oldest violation straightforward aged out of the window. However, that same violation still counts toward the 24-month and 36-month totals until it reaches those anniversaries.

If you are suspended under the 12-month rule but your 24-month total is below 18 points, you may be able to request a hearing to argue that the suspension should not take effect. The state's position is that you meet the suspension threshold, but an administrative law judge can consider circumstances. This is rare and requires legal representation to argue effectively.

The notice and suspension timeline

When you cross a suspension threshold, the Colorado Department of Revenue mails a Notice of Suspension. The notice includes the date suspension will take effect — always 20 days after the notice is dated. This 20-day window is your opportunity to request a hearing before suspension begins. You must request the hearing in writing and mail it to the address on the notice; email and phone requests do not count.

If you do not request a hearing, suspension takes effect on the date stated in the notice. Your physical license remains valid until that date, but you are not legally permitted to drive. Driving during the suspension period is a separate violation that carries points and can result in criminal charges.

If you request a hearing, the Department of Revenue schedules it within 30 to 60 days. An administrative law judge reviews the points on your record and determines whether they were correctly assessed. The judge can uphold the suspension, reduce the point total if violations were incorrectly recorded, or in rare cases overturn the suspension if the points were wrongly assigned. The judge's decision is final unless you file an appeal in district court within 30 days.

Requesting a hearing and challenging the suspension

To request a hearing, write a letter to the Colorado Department of Revenue at the address listed on your Notice of Suspension. Include your name, driver's license number, and a statement that you request a hearing. Mail it so it arrives before the suspension date listed in the notice. The Department of Revenue will send you a hearing date and instructions for appearing in person or by phone.

At the hearing, you can argue that violations were incorrectly recorded, that points were miscalculated, or that the violation itself was wrongly issued. You can bring documents, such as a copy of your driving record from the Department of Revenue, proof that a ticket was dismissed, or evidence that a violation was corrected. You cannot argue that the point system itself is unfair — the judge only reviews whether your specific points are correct.

If you believe a violation on your record is wrong — for example, you paid a ticket but it still shows as unpaid, or you completed traffic school and the points should have been reduced — contact the court that issued the ticket or the police department that wrote it. Ask them to send a certified correction to the Colorado Department of Revenue. Corrections can take 30 to 60 days to appear on your record, so request them as soon as you discover the error.

Suspension length and what happens after

Your first suspension lasts 1 month from the effective date. After 1 month, your license is automatically reinstated if you have not accumulated additional points during the suspension period. You do not need to reapply or pay a reinstatement fee for a first suspension.

A second suspension within 5 years of the first lasts 3 months. A third or subsequent suspension within 5 years lasts 6 months. If you accumulate points while suspended, the state may extend your current suspension or impose a new suspension to begin when the current one ends. For example, if you receive a ticket while suspended and that ticket pushes you over the threshold again, your suspension may be extended by 1 month (for a second suspension) or 3 months (for a third), depending on your history.

After three suspensions within 10 years, Colorado may declare you a habitual traffic offender. Habitual offender status results in license revocation, not suspension. Revocation is permanent unless you petition the Department of Revenue to reinstate your license after a waiting period, typically 1 to 3 years. Reinstatement requires proof that you have completed a substance abuse evaluation (if applicable), paid all fines and fees, and maintained insurance.

How to check your current point total

You can request a copy of your driving record from the Colorado Department of Revenue online, by mail, or in person. Visit the Department of Revenue website and select "Driving Records" to order online. You can also mail a request to the Colorado Department of Revenue, Driver Services Section, 1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80214. Include your name, date of birth, and driver's license number. The record costs a small fee and arrives within 5 to 10 business days.

Your driving record shows every violation on file, the date it occurred, the point value, and whether points have been assessed or removed. If you see a violation you do not recognize or believe is incorrect, contact the court or police department that issued the ticket when ready. Do not wait until you receive a suspension notice to discover an error.

You can also call the Colorado Department of Revenue Driver Services Section at 303-205-5613 during business hours. Staff can tell you your current point total and explain which violations are on your record, but they cannot remove points or correct errors — you must contact the issuing court or police department for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive to work during a suspension?

No. Colorado does not issue work-only or restricted licenses during suspension. You cannot drive for any reason during the suspension period. Driving while suspended is a separate violation that carries points and can result in criminal charges, including jail time for repeat offenses.

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

Yes, if you hold a Colorado license. Colorado counts violations from other states under its Interstate Compact agreement. However, the point value assigned may differ from what the other state assigned. Contact the Colorado Department of Revenue to confirm how an out-of-state violation was recorded on your Colorado record.

What if I complete a defensive driving course?

Completing a defensive driving course does not remove points from your record in Colorado. However, some insurance companies offer discounts for completing an approved course. A course may help you argue at a hearing that you are taking steps to improve your driving, but it does not change the point total or prevent suspension.

How long do points stay on my record?

Points remain on your driving record for 3 years from the date of the violation. After 3 years, the violation ages out of all three suspension windows and no longer counts toward your total. However, the violation itself remains on your record permanently for insurance and employment purposes.

Can I get a suspension reversed if I was not the one driving?

You can request a hearing and argue that you were not driving the vehicle. However, you will need evidence — such as a police report, witness statement, or proof you were elsewhere. The burden is on you to prove this at the hearing. If you believe someone else used your license fraudulently, report it to the police and provide that report to the Department of Revenue.