Driving Tests

Colorado Teen Driver Points: Suspension Limits and the 0.02 Rule

informational·how to guide·Published May 24, 2026

How many points before a teen loses a Colorado license?

Colorado can suspend a minor driver under 18 who has more than 5 points in any 12 consecutive months, or more than 6 points for violations before age 18. A minor driver age 18 to 20 can be suspended at 9 points or more in 12 months. A driver under 21 with a BAC over 0.02 but under 0.08 loses the license for three months on a first violation.

Where these Colorado rules come from

This guide uses the point system in C.R.S. 42-2-127 and the alcohol revocation rules in C.R.S. 42-2-125 and 42-2-126, all from the 2024 edition of the Colorado Revised Statutes (the laws of 2025 and 2026 are not in that edition). It also uses C.R.S. 42-4-116, the Colorado Driver Handbook and the Colorado DMV fees page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Colorado DMV (dmv.colorado.gov) before you drive.

Point limits that allow a suspension, by driver

Point limits that allow a suspension, by driver
Driver	Limit in C.R.S. 42-2-127 (2024 text)
Minor driver under 18	More than 5 points in any 12 consecutive months, or more than 6 points for violations before age 18
Minor driver age 18 to 20	9 points or more in 12 consecutive months, 12 points or more in 24 consecutive months, or 14 points or more for violations after age 18
Other drivers	12 points or more in 12 consecutive months, or 18 points or more in 24 consecutive months

Why a driver under 18 reaches the limit faster, and who is told

The limit for a driver under 18 is much lower than the 12 points that apply to other drivers. A conviction for one 6-point violation, such as failure to stop for a school bus or speeding 20 to 39 mph over, is more than 5 points on its own. When a minor under 18 gets a summons for a traffic violation, the court must tell the parent or legal guardian right away. If the minor has no parent or guardian, the court tells the person who signed the license application.

How many points common violations add

How many points common violations add
Violation	Points
Reckless driving	8
Careless driving	4
Speeding 5 to 9 mph over	1
Speeding 10 to 19 mph over	4
Speeding 20 to 39 mph over	6
Failure to stop for a school bus	6
Following too closely	4
Failure to observe a traffic sign or signal	4
Failure to signal or improper signal	2
Driver under 18 not wearing a seat belt (42-2-105.5 (3))	2
First phone-law violation (42-4-239) with no conviction for the same violation in 24 months	2
Passenger or midnight-to-5-a.m. violation (42-4-116)	2
DUI or DUI per se	12
DWAI	8
UDD (underage drinking and driving)	4

When points count and how to lower them

The law counts points by the date of the violation, but it assesses them only after a conviction. A conviction includes accepting and paying a penalty assessment, and a judgment for a traffic infraction. If you pay the fine and surcharge of a penalty assessment on time, the points go down: by two for a violation worth three or more points, and by one for a 2-point violation.

How a point suspension happens

1
A warning
When a driver reaches half the points that suspension needs, the department may send a warning letter or order a preliminary hearing.
2
Notice of a hearing
The department tells the driver that a hearing will be held not less than 20 days after the date of the notice.
3
The hearing
The hearing is at the department district office closest to your home, or all or part of it by telephone or other electronic means. The department makes no suspension or denial before the hearing, unless the driver fails to appear.
4
A missed hearing
If the driver does not appear, and no delay or continuance was requested and granted, the department must suspend the license right away.
5
After a suspension
The department may give a probationary license, and it may order a complete driving reexamination. The driver can appeal the decision to the district court.

Driving before you are licensed can delay your license

The department can deny a license for not more than 12 months if an applicant illegally drove a motor vehicle in Colorado before the license or instruction permit was issued, or broke the terms of an instruction permit, within 36 months before the application. Practice one permit term with the free question on where the supervising parent sits.

The 0.02 alcohol rule for drivers under 21

Colorado law calls it "excess BAC underage": a person under 21 drove with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in excess of 0.02 but less than 0.08, at the time of driving or within two hours after. The department revokes the license for three months for a first violation, six months for a second, and one year for a third or later violation. A first-offense driver whose BAC was not more than 0.05 can ask for a revocation of at least 30 days, plus a suspension that brings the total to three months. If the hearing officer approves the request, a probationary license is possible.

Other alcohol penalties for drivers under 21

Refusing a chemical test: the department revokes the license for one year for a first violation.
A minor driver convicted of DUI, DUI per se or DWAI committed under age 21 faces a mandatory revocation under C.R.S. 42-2-125.
A minor driver convicted of UDD committed under age 21 also faces a mandatory revocation. For a conviction for an alcohol content of at least 0.02 but not more than 0.05, the revocation is three months for a first offense, six months for a second and one year for a third or later offense. The free question on the BAC range for UDD tests this range.

Passenger or curfew tickets, and the reinstatement fee

A passenger or midnight-to-5-a.m. violation under 42-4-116 is a traffic infraction. On conviction, the penalty can be community service (8 to 24 hours for a first offense), a fine of up to $50 for a first offense, up to $100 for a second and $150 for a later one, and 2 points. An officer can cite it only after a stop for another violation. The passenger limits and midnight curfew guide explains the rules themselves. As of 2026, the DMV reinstatement fee is $95, plus a $25 DUI/DWAI restoration fee when you reinstate after a DUI offense.

Key takeaways

A minor driver under 18 can be suspended with more than 5 points in any 12 consecutive months, or more than 6 points for violations before age 18.
A minor driver age 18 to 20 can be suspended at 9 points or more in 12 months, or 12 or more in 24 months. Other drivers: 12 or more in 12 months, or 18 or more in 24 months.
Points come after a conviction, and the department holds a hearing before it suspends. Paying a penalty assessment on time lowers the points.
Under 21, a BAC over 0.02 can lead to revocation: three months for a first violation, six for a second, one year for a third or later.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free Colorado Class R practice test.

Colorado teen driver points: common questions

Do my points reset when I get my license or renew it?

No. Under C.R.S. 42-2-127, points that a minor earns under an instruction permit apply to the minor driver's license that the minor gets or applies for later. A new or renewed license, or its anniversary date, does not change the count. The points still count by violation date in the 12-month and 24-month periods.

Will one 10 to 19 mph speeding ticket get a driver under 18 suspended?

Not on its own. That conviction is 4 points, and the limit for a driver under 18 is more than 5 points in 12 consecutive months. If it is a penalty assessment and you pay the fine and surcharge on time, the 4 points become 2. A second 4-point conviction in the same 12 months, with no reduction, makes 8 points, which is over the limit.

Can I get my point suspension hearing moved to a later date?

Only for good cause, such as absence from the state or county where you live, or personal illness. The department decides what other reasons are enough. If it delays the hearing, the new date is no later than 60 days after the original hearing date. A driver who misses the hearing can ask for a later hearing, but that request does not postpone the suspension.

Can a teen lose a Colorado license for alcohol without driving?

Yes. The Colorado Driver Handbook says that a person under 21 who is convicted of buying or possessing alcohol can have the driving privilege revoked, even if driving is not a factor. It lists this conviction among the ways that a driving privilege can be suspended, revoked or canceled.

What happens if the parent who signed for my license changes their mind?

The person who signed the Affidavit of Liability takes legal responsibility for your actions as a driver. If that person no longer wants this responsibility, the person can withdraw the signature. Your instruction permit or license is then canceled. Minors in foster care are exempt from the affidavit when certain conditions are met.