How to find 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 or by visiting a DMV office in person. The fastest route is online: go to the Colorado DMV's driver record page, select "View Your Driving Record," and log in with your Colorado ID number and date of birth. The system will show your current point total and any violations or suspensions on your record.
If you prefer not to use the online system, you can visit any Colorado DMV office and request a copy of your driving record. Bring your driver's license or ID card. There is a small fee for a printed record, though viewing your record online is free. The record you receive will list every violation, the points assigned to each one, and the date each violation will drop off your record.
Your points are not visible on the physical license card itself — they exist only in the DMV database. This means you cannot see them by looking at your license, but any law enforcement officer who runs your license during a traffic stop will see your point total when ready.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado tracks points for traffic violations, and your total determines whether your license stays valid or gets suspended.
- You can view your current points free online through the Colorado DMV website using your ID number and date of birth.
- Most violations stay on your record for three years from the date of the violation, not from the date you paid the fine.
- Reaching 12 points in a 12-month period triggers a mandatory license suspension in Colorado.
- Points drop off automatically after three years; you do not need to do anything to remove them.
What violations cost you points in Colorado
Colorado assigns points based on the severity of the violation. Speeding violations range from 1 point (1 to 4 mph over the limit) to 8 points (25 mph or more over the limit). Running a red light or stop sign costs 4 points. Reckless driving costs 8 points. Driving under the influence (DUI) costs 12 points when ready, which alone triggers a suspension.
Minor violations like an expired registration or broken taillight typically cost 0 points, though you still have to pay a fine. Careless driving costs 4 points. Improper lane change costs 4 points. Leaving the scene of an accident costs 6 points. The DMV publishes a complete violation schedule on its website, so you can look up the exact point value for any specific violation.
Points are assigned the moment the officer issues the ticket, not when you pay the fine or when a court processes the case. This means your point total can increase before you have even gone to court or decided whether to contest the ticket.
How Colorado's point suspension system works
Colorado suspends your license if you accumulate 12 or more points within a 12-month rolling period. The suspension is automatic — you do not receive a warning at 11 points. Once you hit 12, the DMV mails you a notice of suspension, and your license becomes invalid when ready. You cannot drive legally until the suspension is lifted.
The length of the suspension depends on how many times you have been suspended before. A first suspension lasts a minimum of one month. A second suspension within five years lasts a minimum of three months. A third or subsequent suspension lasts a minimum of six months. You must wait out the full suspension period before you can request reinstatement.
After your suspension ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee to the Colorado DMV before your license becomes valid again. The fee is currently $95, though you should confirm the current amount on the DMV website. You will also need to pass a written test on Colorado traffic laws before reinstatement if your suspension was for 12 months or longer.
When points drop off your record
Points remain on your Colorado driving record for three years from the date of the violation. This is a fixed timeline — paying your fine early or taking a defensive driving course does not remove points faster. The three-year clock starts on the violation date shown on your ticket, not the date you paid the fine or went to court.
Points drop off automatically at midnight on the three-year anniversary. You do not need to contact the DMV or file any paperwork. When you check your record online after that date, the violation will no longer appear and the points will no longer count toward your total.
If you have multiple violations, each one has its own three-year timeline. A speeding ticket from January 2022 and a red light ticket from March 2022 will drop off on different dates. This matters if you are close to the 12-point suspension threshold — losing one violation might bring you below 12 points and prevent a suspension.
Defensive driving courses and point reduction
Colorado allows you to reduce points on your record by completing an approved defensive driving course. You can remove up to 3 points from your record once every 12 months by taking the course. The course must be approved by the Colorado DMV, and you must complete it within a certain timeframe after your violation (usually 60 days, though this varies by violation type).
Taking a defensive driving course does not erase the violation from your record — it only reduces the points assigned to it. So if you received a 4-point speeding ticket and complete the course, you will have 1 point instead of 4, but the violation itself will still appear on your driving record for three years.
Not all violations are may be able to access for point reduction through a defensive driving course. DUI, reckless driving, and some other serious violations cannot be reduced this way. Check with the DMV or your course provider to confirm whether your specific violation qualifies before you enroll.
What happens if you are close to suspension
If you currently have 9 to 11 points, you are at risk of suspension with a single moderate violation. A 4-point speeding ticket would push you over 12 points and trigger an automatic suspension. At this stage, your best option is to avoid any new violations until points from older violations drop off after three years.
If you receive a new ticket while you are in this danger zone, you have the option to contest it in traffic court. You can argue the facts of the case, request a reduction to a lesser charge, or negotiate with the prosecutor. Reducing the violation to a lower-point offense or having it dismissed entirely will keep your point total below 12.
You can also take a defensive driving course before your next violation occurs, though this only works if you have not taken one in the past 12 months. The course will reduce your current point total by up to 3 points, which might bring you below the danger zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do points from out-of-state tickets count toward my Colorado suspension?
Yes. Colorado honors traffic violations from other states through the Interstate Compact on Driver Licenses. If you receive a ticket in another state, that violation and its points will appear on your Colorado record and count toward the 12-point suspension threshold. The three-year timeline for point removal also applies to out-of-state violations.
Can I get points removed by paying a higher fine?
No. The fine amount and the point value are separate. Paying a larger fine does not reduce or remove points. The only ways to reduce points are to complete an approved defensive driving course (up to 3 points per 12 months) or to wait three years for them to drop off automatically.
What if I was under 21 when I got the ticket — do the rules change?
Colorado's point system applies the same way to all drivers regardless of age. However, Colorado has a separate "Excessive Speeding" law for drivers under 21 that can result in a 12-point violation for a single ticket (25 mph or more over the limit), which when ready triggers suspension. Adult drivers receive 8 points for the same violation. The three-year timeline and reinstatement process are the same for all ages.
If I move out of Colorado, do my points follow me?
Your Colorado points remain on your Colorado record, but they do not automatically transfer to your new state's driving record. If you get a license in another state, that state will see your Colorado violations through the Interstate Compact system, but the new state's point system and suspension rules explore to your new license. You should check your new state's DMV website to understand how they handle out-of-state violations.