Colorado DMV Point System

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Colorado tracks moving violations on the driving record using a numerical point system. Each conviction adds a defined number of points; once the total in a rolling window crosses a threshold, the Division of Motor Vehicles initiates an administrative suspension. The thresholds are stricter for younger drivers, and the penalty structure rewards a clean record more than most state systems do.

Suspension thresholds

Adults 21 and older: 12 points in any 12-month period, or 18 points in any 24-month period.
Drivers 18 to 20: 9 points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 14 points across the entire license period.
Minor Driver License holders (16-17): 6 points in 12 months or 7 points across the entire license period (whichever happens first).
Permit holders under 18: 5 points in 12 months or 6 points total during the permit period.
Commercial drivers (CDL): 16 points in 12 months, 24 points in 24 months, or 28 points in 48 months.

Common point values

Speeding 5-9 mph over the limit: 1 point.
Speeding 10-19 mph over: 4 points.
Speeding 20-39 mph over: 6 points.
Speeding 40+ mph over: 12 points (immediate suspension).
Failure to yield right-of-way: 3 points.
Following too closely: 4 points.
Improper lane change: 3 points.
Running a red light or stop sign: 4 points.
Failure to stop for a school bus: 6 points.
Failure to provide insurance: 4 points (plus separate suspension).
Reckless driving: 8 points.
Careless driving: 4 points.
Careless driving causing death: 12 points.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI): 12 points.
Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI): 8 points.
Leaving the scene of an accident with injury: 12 points.
Eluding police: 12 points.

How and when points apply

Points attach to the driving record on the date the court reports the conviction to the DMV — usually 14-30 days after the plea or finding. Deferred judgments do not add points if the deferral is completed successfully. Plea bargains that reduce a moving violation to a non-point offense (such as defective vehicle) typically remove points entirely; this is why a traffic ticket attorney is sometimes worth the cost on a higher-point citation.

Point expiration

Points stop counting toward suspension thresholds after their lookback window expires:

The 12-month window for adults rolls forward continuously — a violation 13 months ago no longer counts toward the 12-point trigger but still appears on the record.
The 24-month window works the same way for the 18-point trigger.
The conviction itself remains visible on the abstract for 7 years (10 years for major violations, lifetime for DUI/DWAI).

Insurance carriers and employers see the conviction whether or not the points have expired — point expiration affects the DMV's suspension calculation, not the driving record itself.

What happens at threshold

When the point total crosses a threshold, the DMV mails a Notice of Hearing to the address on file. The hearing is not automatic; the driver must request one within 20 days of the notice or accept the suspension as proposed. At hearing, a hearing officer reviews:

Whether each conviction was correctly counted.
Whether the driver's livelihood depends on driving (probationary license consideration).
Whether mitigating circumstances justify probation in lieu of full suspension.

Suspension lengths after a points hearing range from 6 months to 1 year for adults, 3-6 months for under-21 drivers, and 30 days to 6 months for Minor Driver License holders.

Probationary licenses

A first-time threshold violation often qualifies the driver for a probationary license at the hearing. The probationary license restricts driving to defined purposes — work, school, medical care, court-ordered programs — and runs for 6-12 months. Any new violation during the probation period can trigger immediate full suspension.

Out-of-state convictions

Colorado is a member of the Driver License Compact, which means convictions from other member states are reported back to Colorado and assigned the equivalent point value. A speeding ticket received during a vacation in California or Texas still adds points to your Colorado record. The Non-Resident Violator Compact covers ticket-payment enforcement for visiting drivers who don't pay; failure to pay a ticket in another compact state can suspend a Colorado license.

Reducing points

Colorado does not offer a defensive-driving point reduction option. Points expire on the rolling lookback schedule; they cannot be removed early through education, even though 4-hour Defensive Driving and 8-hour Safety Foundation courses are offered. Some courts permit deferred judgment for first-time offenders, which avoids point assignment if the driver completes the deferral period without further violations.

To check current point totals on your own license, order a 3-year driving record through myDMV.