A person working for the motor vehicle division deletes a friend’s speeding ticket from a database.

• Obtaining Driving Records / Letters of Clearance
• Reinstating After Suspension, Revocation, Cancellation, Denial
• Out-Of-State Services for Colorado Drivers
• Out-Of-State Tickets for Colorado Drivers
• Outstanding Judgment Warrant (OJW)
• Alcohol Hearing Evidence
• Alcohol Classes
• SR-22 Insurance
• Re-Examination of Driving Skills
• Probationary Drivers License ("Red License")
• Interlock

Obtaining Driving Records/Letters of Clearance

Getting Driving Records: My Own / My Own For Someone Else

Driving records provided by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles reflect activity that has been retained for the last seven years. Records are for seven years and cannot be limited to show any time period less than seven years. Our records are maintained in accordance with State and Federal law, which includes the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the requirements of the Federal Trade Commission.

You can get a copy of your driving record in two different ways. You can either go into a driver license office (please check the Driver License office list to determine offices that do motor vehicle records Colorado-Driver License Offices ) and obtain a regular non-certified copy of the record or you submit form DR 2559 Permission for Release of Individual Records. A complete legible signature is required on the request. Please specify certified or non-certified copy of the driving record. Driver Services at 1881 Pierce in Lakewood is the only office that can provide a certified driving record.

Please send applicable Driving Record fee. We will accept a personal check or money order made out to the Department of Revenue. It could take 10 to 14 business days after the request is received before the request for a motor vehicle record is mailed out to the requestor.

Due to the Privacy Law, an individual cannot receive a copy of someone else's driving record without that person's written permission. If you are an employer or there is a court case pending, you can read over our Driver Record Search Requestor Release form DR 2489 to see if you meet any of the listed criteria to request the record. Criteria include: a government agency; an agency charged with driver/motor vehicle safety or theft; a business that will use the information to verify the accuracy of information submitted by individuals for the purposes of preventing fraud; pursuing legal remedies against or recovering a debt or security interest; an insurer or insurance support agency in connection with claims, investigations, anti-fraud activities, rating or underwriting and more pursuant to 24-72-204 (7) C.R.S.

If you meet the criteria, you can print the form, fill it out and send it in with the applicable Driving Record fee.

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles maintains driving records that reflect activity posted to the record for the past seven years. (They cannot be limited to show periods of less than seven years.) The division also maintains driver histories which go back beyond seven years. These records are maintained in accordance with state and federal laws including the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the requirements of the Federal Trade Commission.

You may purchase non-certified copies of your driving record at a full service Driver License Offices. Copies of driver histories and certified copies of driving records and driver histories are available only at the Division of Motor Vehicles, 1881 Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80214 or by mail.

Tor request a Letter of Clearance, submit the DR2559 Permission for Release of Driver Records to Self or Another person to include the following:

• DR 2559 filled out with all appropriate signatures in all appropriate sections 
• A typed letter with an explanation of the circumstances for which they need a Letter of Clearance. (Indicate whether they have ever been to/a resident of Colorado, etc.) 
• Last 4 digits of their Social Security Number 
• Full name
• Date of birth
• Driver License Number (if available)
• Complete and legible original signature of driver Photocopy of driver photo ID bearing signature (both sides)
• Return address and contact phone number/email
• Appropriate fee

Mail to:

Department of Revenue
Driver Control Section
P.O. Box 173345
Denver, CO 80217-3345

Privacy laws prevent us from providing you with a driving record other than your own without that person's permission. If you are requesting a record as an employer or because of a pending court case, you may be permitted to receive the record based upon the criteria of the Driver Record Search Requestor Release. This form may be printed from our website and submitted with the appropriate fee.

Additional forms which may be helpful include:

• DR 2478 Driver Record Statement of Fact Form
• DR 2559 Permission for Release of Driver Records to Self or Another Person

Reinstating After Suspension, Revocation, Cancellation, Denial 

Identify your eligibility date (communicated at the hearing or via mail) and specific reinstatement requirements. If you are unable to locate this information, call Customer Service at 303-205-5613. The following suspensions and revocations can be reinstated at certain Full Service Driver License offices (requirements are listed below suspensions):

Unpaid Tickets (within CO and out of state).

• Paid receipt from the court
• $95.00 reinstatement fee
• New license and fee required

Child Support

• Compliance received by DMV from child support agency
• $95.00 reinstatement fee

Point Suspensions

• Period of suspension complete
• Evidence of current liability insurance with your name on the policy
• $95.00 reinstatement fee

For mail in applications, complete the Application for Reinstatement (Form DR 2870). Mail the completed application, check or money order for $95 and specific requirements (for example: evidence of insurance, SR22, etc.) to the address noted on the application. You must clearly write your name and date of birth on the coupon when paying by money order. Whenever possible, mail this information approximately thirty-sixty days before your eligibility date. This allows us to complete your request in a timely manner. Allow up to twenty business days (after mailing) for us to complete your application before contacting our office. Once we verify that all the necessary information has been received and we have completed processing the application, we will mail a Letter of Clearance to the address you listed on the application.

For more information about reinstatements, points and other violations, see the Reinstatements page

Revocation: A mandatory restraint action on a valid driver license or driving privilege. A revoked license is invalid and cannot be re-issued. After reinstatement of your driving privilege you must re-test (both written and drive) to be issued a new license.

Suspension: A temporary withdrawal of the driving privilege. A suspension is a restraint action but does not void the driver license. A valid license may be re-issued upon reinstatement. A license that has expired, must be renewed upon reinstatement. Point suspensions require a written test at renewal.

Denial: A restraint action when no valid license exists at the time of restraint. Cancellation/Denial: Actions to void a Colorado license and deny the driving privilege. Reinstatement is required and passing of a written and a road test is mandatory.

Cancellation: This action will void a valid Colorado license. A cancellation, by itself, is not a restraint action and does NOT require reinstatement if complied with in a timely manner. Another license/permit may be issued, unless the reason for cancellation is still outstanding.

Out-Of-State Services for Colorado Drivers:

An out-of-state duplicate is a license issued to a person who is currently out-of-state and their license has been lost or stolen. To be eligible for an out-of-state duplicate you must have a valid Colorado driver license, clear national driving record, have no unpaid tickets and pay the required fee. In order to get an out-of-state duplicate you will need to fill out the Reissue Out-of-State Extension form DR 2989.

A friend or relative in Colorado may take your completed form to 1881 Pierce Street in Lakewood, CO and request your out-of-state duplicate. You may also send your completed request to: Division of Motor Vehicles Room 136 Denver, CO 80261-0016 The duplicate license will be sent to the address that you provide on the form. You will need to include a check or money order made payable to the Colorado Department of Revenue.

An out-of-state extension is a sticker that is issued to extend the expiration date of a license if a person is out-of-state when their license expires.

Extensions are not available for drivers holding a commercial driver license (CDL).

Anyone whose license is valid or expired for less than one year may request an extension if they are not in Colorado to renew their license. There may not be any unpaid tickets on the record for an extension to be issued. A military extension is free. Please submit the applicable Civilian Extension fee. Add $2.00 if you currently have a motorcycle endorsement.

The department will need a written request for an extension, signed by you with an out-of-state mailing address. For military personnel, you must provide a letter from your commanding officer stating that you are active-duty military and currently stationed outside the State of Colorado. Requests for a military extension may be faxed to 303-205-5990. For civilians applying for an extension, you will need to provide your full name, date of birth, and out-of-state address, and the applicable Civilian Extension fee. Make check or money order payable to the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Out-Of-State Tickets for Colorado Drivers:

What is an NRVC?

NRVC stands for Non-Resident Violator Compact which means the state of Colorado and most of the states in the United States belong to a compact. If you receive a ticket in a state that is not your state of residency and you fail to pay the fine, the state where you received the ticket will notify your home state. Your home state will suspend your driver license until the ticket has been paid.

To clear an NRVC suspension you will need to pay the fine for the ticket to the court. Once the fine is paid, and you have received a receipt back from the court, you will need to forward the receipt to this office with a completed Application for Reinstatement (Form DR 2870),and pay a $95.00 reinstatement fee. 

Reinstatement Mailing address

Outstanding Judgment Warrant (OJW):

What is an OJW and how do I clear one?

OJW stands for Outstanding Judgment Warrant. If an OJW is incurred a fee is still owed to the court on a ticket (citation). If an OJW is put on your record it must be resolved or your license may be cancelled and denied. To clear an OJW you are required to obtain a courtesy clearance, or a copy of the original ticket, stating the fine has been paid, the date and signature of the court clerk. All information must match on both the OJW and the clearance. Court listings If your license is cancelled or denied because of the OJW you must go through the reinstatement process.

Alcohol Hearing Evidence:

What is the process?

All evidence packets submitted to the Department by law enforcement agencies in support of per se/express consent cases are scanned and stored electronically. Once a hearing request is granted, a courtesy copy of the documents is mailed to the party that requested the hearing. There is no charge for this copy. At the hearing, the Hearing Officer reviews the scanned electronic duplicate of these same documents. The paper originals are no longer provided to the Hearings Division.

Two separate processes are involved. When a hearing is requested, Driver Control sends a copy of the documents received (the evidence packet) to the party that submitted the request. In addition, Driver Control notifies the Hearings Division that a hearing has been granted and needs to be scheduled. The scheduling doesn't occur for several weeks. Once Hearings sets the date, a notice indicating the date, time and location (or telephone number) for the hearing will be mailed to the same address. However, this is a separate letter, and will most likely arrive a few weeks after the evidence packet.

There should be no difference. When they are received by the Department, the "original" documents are scanned. The copy (evidence packet) issued to the party that requests the Hearing is a print of the scanned documents. When the hearing is held, the Hearing Officer will be viewing the scanned documents electronically. As a result, no difference should exist between the documents received by the Department, the copy issued to the party requesting the hearing, or the electronic documents used by the Hearing Officer to conduct the hearing.

If you wish to compare the originals on file with the Department to the copies sent to you as a result of a hearing request, you can fax or mail the Original Document Review Form to Driver Control. The Department will contact you within five business days of receipt of the request to schedule the review. Once scheduled, a confirmation of the date and time will be sent by fax, e-mail, or regular mail. The scanned originals can be reviewed only at the DMV office located at 1881 Pierce Street in Lakewood.

The original documents reside with Driver Control, and are not provided to the Hearings Division. If you make your request during the hearing, the Hearing Officer will provide you with a copy of the Original Document Review Form. You can also request a copy via fax by calling 303-205-5792. You will need to contact Driver Control as indicated on the form. The hearing will continue as scheduled, but you will have the opportunity to notify the Hearing Officer if any discrepancies are noted in the comparison. The thirty-day time for appeal of the Hearing Officer's decision is not tolled, so you will want to request the review as quickly as possible.

By statute, Driver Control is the Custodian of Records for the Department of Revenue. As discussed above, the original documents filed by law enforcement agencies in support of per se/express consent cases will be scanned and thereafter stored electronically. The originals will be maintained by Driver Control for ninety days, in part to allow for comparison with copies by Respondents and/or their attorneys. To guarantee the integrity of the originals, a representative of Driver Control will be present when the reviews occur.

Download the DR 2664 Per Se / Express Consent Document Request form. Follow the instructions on the form. At this time no additional fee is being charged, however, it is possible that in the future the Department may be required to charge the statutorily permitted Driving Record fee.

Yes, although, because the documents contain privacy protected information, the Department will need to receive authorization in writing from either you or your attorney before this can occur. Such authorization must indicate the name and date of birth of the third party, and must be signed and dated by you or your attorney. Authorizations from attorneys must be on letterhead. An authorization can be faxed to 303-205-5960 or dropped off at 1881 Pierce Street in Lakewood. You must provide the written authorization to the Department no fewer than two business days before the review is to be completed.

The Hearings Division can be reached by calling 303-205-5606.

Alcohol Classes:

Why does the state require me to take alcohol classes when the court doesn't?

There are circumstances where the court may not order you to take alcohol classes but the state will as a requirement for reinstatement. Colorado statutes require these classes for certain types of revocations. For more information on alcohol classes, download the DR 2840 Level I and Level II Courses Brochure.

SR-22 Insurance:

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a rider to an insurance policy in which the insurance company guarantees that you will keep insurance in effect for a certain period of time. In order to get your license back after having certain suspensions or revocations or to keep from getting your license suspended you may have to file the SR-22. When you purchase liability insurance, the insurance agent can provide the SR-22 form. When the insurance policy with the SR-22 rider is purchased, the form is filed with the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. The form is not an insurance policy. The form is a guarantee by the insurance company that you will keep the insurance in effect for a certain period. If you don't keep the SR-22 current, the insurance company will notify the Motor Vehicle Division. Once the Motor Vehicle Division has been notified that the SR-22 is no longer in effect, but is still required, Motor Vehicle will suspend your license for that reason alone. If you decide to change insurance companies, you need to get a new SR-22 filed before the old one goes out of effect.

Re-examination of Driving Skills:

Why do I have to take a re-exam when my license hasn't expired yet?

There are several reasons that the State may require you to come in and take a re-examination. When you have two accidents on your record within three years of each other, we will ask you to take a re-examination. You may also be asked to take a re-examination if a family member or doctor feels, for medical reasons, you should take a re-examination. A law enforcement officer may also file an incident report requesting that you take a re-examination.

The department can request a driver to take a re-examination based on written information received from a doctor, a law enforcement agency, a court, or an immediate family member.

The request cannot be kept confidential. The driver has the right to know why he/she is being required to take a re-examination. The driver can upon proof of identification and a Driving Record fee be provided a copy of the written information used by our office to request the re-examination.

If the driver has medical issues the family member should contact the driver, doctor and have the doctor provide a written request for the re-examination.

Re-examinations cannot be extended unless requested by a doctor. The doctor must provide, on letterhead, the reason for the extension and the length of the extension. If the extension time period is to be longer than two weeks from the original time request then the restraint will go into effect. When the driver is able to take and pass the re-examination on the first attempt, the action will be rescinded.

The driver is notified by mail that he/she has twenty days from the date of the correspondence to take a re-examination. The letter informs the driver to contact the nearest full service driver license office.

Probationary Drivers Licenses ("Red License")

What is a probationary driver license (red license)?

A probationary driver license is a license to drive, for limited purposes, usually driving to and from the place of employment or to perform duties in the course of employment, during the term of a license suspension. A driving privilege for Commercial Vehicles is not granted.

A probationary license is usually granted for persons with a points suspension or a child support suspension. All tickets must be paid prior to the issuance of any probationary license. At the time of your hearing you will need to speak to your hearing officer about the issuance of a probationary driver license. If you are under suspension and have not had a hearing you will need to contact the hearing section at 303-205-5606 and request a hearing. If you have a Child Support suspension you may be granted a probationary license. This license will be valid for ninety days and will be for work related purposes. You must bring with you a letter of employment, evidence of insurance, surrender you regular license and pay the fee of $6.00. You may not be under any other current restraint action.

If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer, and you are outside of your restrictions, the officer will confiscate the license for violating the terms of the license. By law a probationary license can also be taken away from someone if they get any ticket while on the probationary license. Once the license is confiscated, or you receive a ticket, the probationary driver license will be cancelled and you will not be able to drive for the duration of your suspension.

Interlock:

What will an Ignition Interlock cost per year?

Fees vary by vendor but a general estimate of the annual cost is $1,000 per year.

You need to take either your license or State issued identification card, a copy of the correspondence received by the Department or a copy of your motor vehicle record. This will allow the Interlock provider to match the information as it appears on the Motor Vehicle system.

See list for a list of the most common revocations requiring an Ignition Interlock. For additional information, call Customer Service at 303 205-5613.

Yes, you must have the Ignition Interlock installed on every vehicle you own, co-own or have access to operate.

After you have confirmed your eligibility to reinstate and that an Ignition Interlock is part of your reinstatement requirements, contact an approved vendor for pricing and locations. Once you have selected a vendor, have the Interlock installed and obtain the following: Restricted License Ignition Interlock Agreement Affidavit DR 2058 Installation Certificate and Lease Agreement (issued by the Interlock provider) Application for Reinstatement (Form DR 2870),Payment of $95 (check or money order made payable to Department of Revenue) SR22 from your insurance company Required Alcohol and Drug Education document Certificate (form DR 2598) or Discharge Referral Summary (DRS) for a Level II Education and Treatment program showing completion of courses or an Affidavit of Enrollment (form DR 2643) Note: The Certificate or DRS requirement is determined by the associated BAC or the number of alcohol violations on your record (Multiple offenders or BAC of 0.15, and above requires Level II DRS or Affidavit of Enrollment). Important: All alcohol reinstatements are processed by mail only. When possible, you should mail the complete set of documents together to ensure that your reinstatement is processed in a timely manner. Allow up to twenty business days for your reinstatement to be completed. A letter will be mailed to the address on your application confirming that your reinstatement is complete and that you can contact a Driver License office to schedule your written and drive test in your Ignition Interlock equipped vehicle.

Contact your nearest full service Driver License Office to schedule your written and road test.

Contact your nearest full service Driver License Office to purchase an Unrestricted License. You can contact your Interlock provider and request removal of the device after receiving your Unrestricted License.

Once this condition is met, the Department will send confirmation by mail with instructions on receiving your Unrestricted License.