Colorado Driving Records

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

A Colorado motor vehicle record (MVR) lists driver license history, traffic convictions, accidents, license actions, and any restrictions or endorsements. The Division of Motor Vehicles offers the record in three primary lookback windows — three years, seven years, and a complete abstract — and the cost and content depend on which version you order.

When you need a Colorado driving record

Employer pre-hire screening for any role that involves driving.
CDL renewal or DOT medical certification updates.
Insurance underwriting at policy bind or renewal.
Confirming a license suspension or court action has been cleared.
Disputing a traffic conviction or DMV entry that you believe was incorrectly applied.
Court use during a traffic citation defense.

The three driving record types

3-Year Driving Record: shows traffic convictions and accidents from the last three years. Used by most employers and insurers. Cost: $9.
7-Year Driving Record: covers seven years and is the standard lookback insurance carriers use for high-risk underwriting. Cost: $9.
Complete Driving Record: shows the entire driver history retained by the state — typically 10+ years for non-DUI events and lifetime for DUI/DWAI convictions. Cost: $9.

Certified copies bearing a state seal are available for an additional $2.20. Court orders and subpoenas typically require a certified copy.

How to order online

The fastest channel is mydmv.colorado.gov. Log in with your driver license number, date of birth, and SSN's last four digits, then select the record type. The PDF is available for download immediately after payment and is also emailed as a backup. Records ordered online are valid for 60 days for most insurance and employment uses.

How to order by mail or in person

Form DR-2300 is the paper application. The signed form, a copy of the requestor's photo ID, and a check for the appropriate fee can be mailed to the Driver Record Section in Lakewood. In-person requests at any driver license office are processed at the counter for the same fees. Most counter requests are filled while the customer waits.

Employer and third-party access

Colorado follows the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). Driving records are not freely available to the public — requestors fall into one of 14 permissible uses including the driver themselves, employers in the trucking industry, insurance carriers, attorneys representing the driver, and government agencies. Employers must have written consent from the driver to obtain the record. The DR-2300 form requires the requestor to certify the permissible use.

Reading the abstract

A Colorado driving record contains:

Personal information (name, address on file, license number, date of birth).
License class, type (REAL ID, Standard, ID), endorsements, and restrictions.
License action history — issuances, renewals, suspensions, revocations, reinstatements.
Traffic convictions and the resulting point assignments.
Reportable accidents and at-fault determinations (when reported by an officer).
DUI and DWAI convictions (lifetime retention for license-action purposes).
Failure to appear (FTA) entries and any holds tied to unpaid tickets.

How long entries stay on your record

Standard moving violations: 7 years on the abstract for most uses; the points expire from the active count after 12-24 months under the point system.
Major violations (reckless driving, eluding police, vehicular assault): 10 years.
DUI and DWAI: visible 10 years for license-action purposes, indefinitely for court records.
License suspensions and reinstatements: 10 years.

Colorado does not allow expungement of a DUI or DWAI conviction. Some lower-tier convictions can be sealed by court petition, but the DMV record remains regardless of any criminal-record sealing.

Disputing an error

If your driving record shows a violation that was dismissed or one that was charged to the wrong driver, you can dispute it. The process:

Order a current 7-year or complete record so you have a copy of the disputed entry.
Obtain a certified copy of the court disposition showing dismissal, deferred judgment, or wrong-person identification.
Submit a written request to the Driver Record Section with both documents.
Allow 30-60 days for the correction to post.

For more severe DMV actions tied to the disputed entry, the administrative hearing process is the right venue rather than the records dispute desk.

Insurance carriers and your record

Colorado insurers typically pull a driving record at policy bind, at renewal, and after any reported claim. A 3-year record drives most rate calculations; serious violations look back further. See the Colorado car insurance page for how SR-22 and FR-19 filings interact with the driving record.