Colorado suspends your license when you reach 12 points in a 12-month period
Colorado's point system tracks moving violations on your driving record. When your points total reaches 12 within any 12-month window, the Colorado Department of Revenue automatically suspends your license. This is not a warning or a fine — your license becomes invalid and you cannot legally drive.
The 12-point threshold applies to most drivers. However, drivers under 18 face a lower threshold: their licenses suspend at 6 points in 12 months. Commercial drivers have their own separate point system and suspension rules.
Points stay on your record for 24 months from the violation date, but only violations within the most recent 12 months count toward suspension. This means an old violation can drop off the calculation even though it remains visible on your record.
Key Takeaways
- Your license suspends automatically when you accumulate 12 points within 12 months; you do not receive a separate notice before suspension takes effect.
- Drivers under 18 face suspension at 6 points in 12 months, and drivers with commercial licenses follow different point thresholds.
- Points expire after 24 months, but only violations from the past 12 months count toward the suspension threshold.
- You can request a hearing with the Department of Revenue within 20 days of suspension to challenge the suspension or request a probationary license.
How points are assigned for different violations
Colorado assigns points based on the severity of the violation. A minor infraction like speeding 1 to 5 miles per hour over the limit costs 1 point. Speeding 26 miles per hour or more over the limit costs 8 points. Reckless driving costs 8 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) costs 12 points by itself — one violation can trigger suspension when ready.
Careless driving costs 4 points. Improper passing costs 4 points. Failure to yield costs 4 points. Hit-and-run costs 12 points. Driving with a suspended or revoked license costs 12 points. You can view the complete point schedule on the Colorado Department of Revenue website, which lists every violation type and its point value.
Not every traffic ticket adds points. Parking violations, equipment violations (like a broken taillight), and some administrative violations do not add points to your driving record. Only moving violations — infractions committed while the vehicle is in motion — count toward suspension.
What happens when you reach 12 points
The Department of Revenue does not send you a warning when you approach 12 points. Once your record reaches 12 points, the department mails you a suspension notice. Your license becomes suspended on the date shown in that notice, typically 20 to 30 days after the notice is mailed. You have 20 days from the mailing date to request a hearing if you want to challenge the suspension.
Driving after suspension is a separate criminal offense in Colorado. If you are stopped while your license is suspended, you face additional charges, fines, and possible jail time. Your vehicle can also be impounded.
You cannot straightforward pay a fine to avoid suspension once you reach 12 points. The suspension is mandatory and automatic. Your only options are to request a hearing or wait out the suspension period and then explore for reinstatement.
How to request a hearing before suspension takes effect
When you receive the suspension notice, it will include instructions for requesting a hearing. You must submit your request in writing within 20 days of the mailing date on the notice. Mail your request to the address listed on the notice, or submit it online through the Colorado Department of Revenue's website if that option is available.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points were assessed incorrectly — for example, if a ticket was dismissed in court but the points were not removed from your record, or if a violation was misclassified. You cannot argue that you should be exempt from the point system or that 12 points is too strict. The hearing officer can only review whether the points were correctly calculated.
If the hearing officer upholds the suspension, you can request a probationary license, which allows limited driving for essential purposes like work or medical appointments. A probationary license is not may provide, but it is worth requesting if suspension would cause severe hardship.
How long your license stays suspended
A first suspension typically lasts one year from the suspension date. After one year, you become may be able to access to explore for reinstatement. You must pay a reinstatement fee (currently $100 in Colorado, though this amount can change) and provide proof of financial responsibility, usually in the form of an SR-22 insurance certificate.
If you accumulate 12 points again within five years of your first suspension, your second suspension lasts two years. A third suspension within five years lasts three years. The suspension period increases with each violation within the five-year window.
You cannot shorten a suspension by taking a defensive driving course or paying additional fines. The only way to reduce suspension time is to have points removed from your record — which happens only if a conviction is overturned in court or if a ticket is dismissed.
How to remove points from your record
Points are removed automatically after 24 months from the violation date. However, you do not have to wait two years. If you contest a ticket in court and the case is dismissed or you are found not guilty, the points are removed when ready. If you plead guilty or no contest, the points remain.
Some violations can be reduced to non-moving violations through plea negotiations with the prosecutor. A non-moving violation does not add points. This requires going to court or working with an attorney, and the prosecutor is not required to agree to a reduction.
You cannot remove points by paying a fine or taking a driving course. Colorado does not offer point reduction programs in exchange for defensive driving. Your only active option is to challenge the violation in court.
Checking your current point total
You can view your driving record and current point total through the Colorado Department of Revenue website. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth. The record shows every violation from the past 24 months and the points assigned to each one.
Your record updates when violations are entered into the system, which typically happens within 30 days of the ticket date. If you recently received a ticket, it may not appear on your online record yet. You can also request a certified copy of your driving record by mail if you need official documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my license back before the suspension period ends?
No, you cannot shorten a suspension. You must wait the full suspension period before you become may be able to access for reinstatement. You can request a probationary license during the suspension if you can show that suspension causes severe hardship, but this is discretionary and not may provide.
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward Colorado suspension?
Yes. Colorado counts violations from other states if you were driving a vehicle registered in Colorado or if you hold a Colorado license. The points assigned may differ from what the other state would assign, but Colorado applies its own point values to all violations.
What if I was not the driver when the ticket was issued?
You can contest the ticket in court by stating that you were not driving. You will need to provide evidence — a witness, documentation of your location, or other proof. If the court agrees, the ticket is dismissed and no points are added.
Does a defensive driving course reduce my points?
No. Colorado does not allow point reduction through defensive driving courses. A course may lower your insurance rates, but it does not remove points from your driving record or prevent suspension.
What happens to my points if I move out of Colorado?
Your Colorado driving record and points remain on file with Colorado even if you move and obtain a license in another state. If you return to Colorado or explore for a Colorado license again, the points are still there.