Why Colorado DUI Plus Points Compounds Your Premium
You received a DUI conviction in Colorado and accumulated points from other violations — speeding, failure to yield, or another moving violation — in the same eligibility window. Every carrier you quote gives you a number so high you assume the system made an error. It did not. Colorado assigns 12 points for a DUI under C.R.S. § 42-2-127, and those points stack on top of any prior point balance. Carriers see both the conviction and the point total as separate underwriting factors: the DUI triggers SR-22 filing requirements and high-risk classification, while the point accumulation signals pattern behavior most standard carriers will not insure.
The structural reality: standard-tier carriers exit at the DUI conviction. The remaining pool — non-standard and high-risk specialists — prices conviction and points independently. Your base premium reflects the DUI. The point surcharge layers on top. Clean-record SR-22 filers in Colorado pay approximately $110–$160/mo for state minimum liability. DUI plus 15+ total points pushes that range to $180–$280/mo for the same coverage limits, because you are paying two risk premiums in one policy.
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Get Your Free QuoteColorado DUI Point Assignment
12 points
Colorado assigns 12 points for a first DUI conviction under C.R.S. § 42-2-127. Adult drivers face administrative license suspension at 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months — meaning a DUI conviction alone triggers point-based suspension review even without prior violations.
C.R.S. § 42-2-127, Colorado DMV point schedule
Which Carriers Write SR-22 for DUI Plus Points in Colorado
Five carriers consistently write SR-22 policies for drivers with DUI convictions and elevated point totals in Colorado: Progressive, Geico, The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West. All five operate in the non-standard tier and quote DUI plus points profiles without automatic declination. State Farm writes SR-22 in Colorado but typically exits at point totals above 15 combined with a DUI — you may receive a quote, but expect premium north of $300/mo or referral to a non-standard subsidiary.
Progressive and Geico offer online quoting tools that accept DUI disclosures and point history at application. Both carriers return quotes for this profile approximately 80% of the time, though Geico's quote engine declines applicants with DUI plus 18+ points in some Colorado counties. The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West specialize in high-risk profiles and rarely decline on point count alone — expect higher base premiums but consistent quote availability. National General writes SR-22 in Colorado and accepts DUI plus points, but their quote engine requires broker intermediation for profiles with multiple convictions stacked within 36 months.
If you hold a CDL or operate commercial vehicles, your options narrow further. Progressive and Geico both exclude CDL holders with DUI convictions from personal auto policies, even when the DUI occurred in a personal vehicle. The General writes personal SR-22 policies for CDL holders post-DUI, but you will need a separate commercial policy for any vehicle over 10,001 lbs GVWR or placarded hazmat operation.
Carriers price your DUI conviction and your point total as two independent risk factors. The quote you receive reflects both penalties stacked — not averaged.
How to Lower Your Premium While Carrying SR-22
Drop comprehensive and collision coverage if you own your vehicle outright. Colorado does not require physical damage coverage for SR-22 compliance — only liability at state minimums ($25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage). Collision and comprehensive premiums on high-risk policies run $80–$140/mo combined; removing them cuts your bill nearly in half. If you finance or lease, your lender requires comp and collision — this option applies only to owned vehicles with no lienholder.
Pay the six-month term in full if you can access the lump sum. Carriers apply installment fees of $5–$12/mo for monthly billing, and high-risk policies carry higher installment fees than standard policies. A $180/mo policy billed monthly costs approximately $1,150 over six months after fees; the same policy paid in full at term start costs $1,080. The $70 savings per term compounds if you remain in high-risk classification for the full three-year SR-22 filing period Colorado requires for DUI convictions.
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When Points Drop and Premium Adjusts
Colorado removes points from your driving record three years after the conviction date for most moving violations, per C.R.S. § 42-2-127. DUI points remain on your record for the same three-year period but your SR-22 filing obligation runs parallel — also three years from conviction. Carriers re-rate your policy at each renewal, typically every six months. When points drop off your record at the three-year mark, your renewal premium should decrease if no new violations appear. Expect a $30–$60/mo reduction when your point total crosses back under 12 points, and another $40–$80/mo reduction when the DUI conviction reaches the three-year anniversary and the SR-22 requirement lifts.
Track your conviction dates carefully. Carriers pull your motor vehicle report (MVR) at each renewal. If your record shows zero points and no SR-22 requirement at renewal, you qualify for standard-tier re-underwriting — but only if you request it. Call your carrier 30 days before your renewal date once you cross the three-year mark and ask for a full re-quote without SR-22 filing. Many high-risk policies auto-renew in the same classification unless you force the re-underwriting manually.
Colorado License Reinstatement Fee
$95
After completing your suspension period and SR-22 filing obligation, Colorado DMV charges a $95 reinstatement fee to restore full driving privileges. This fee applies to DUI-related suspensions and is separate from any ignition interlock device removal fees or probation costs.
Colorado DMV reinstatement fee schedule
SR-22 Filing Mistakes That Extend Your Requirement
Your SR-22 filing obligation in Colorado lasts three years from your DUI conviction date, but only if the filing remains continuous and active for that entire period. Any lapse — even one day — resets the three-year clock to zero. Carriers report SR-22 cancellations to Colorado DMV electronically within 24 hours of policy lapse. DMV suspends your license again immediately upon receiving the cancellation notice, and reinstatement requires a new SR-22 filing, payment of the $95 reinstatement fee, and restart of the full three-year filing period.
Missing a single payment triggers this chain. High-risk carriers offer shorter grace periods than standard carriers — typically 10 days past due date versus 20–30 days for preferred-tier policies. Set up autopay from a checking account with a buffer balance, not a credit card that might decline if you hit your limit. If you know you will miss a payment, call your carrier before the due date and request a payment extension or installment plan. Most non-standard carriers offer hardship extensions once per policy term; the extension preserves your SR-22 filing continuity even if your coverage lapses temporarily.
What To Do Right Now
Request quotes from Progressive, Geico, The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West within the next 48 hours. All five accept online applications disclosing DUI plus points, and quotes return in under 10 minutes for most Colorado ZIP codes. Enter your conviction date, exact point total, and required SR-22 filing when the application asks — omitting this information produces an inaccurate quote that will be corrected upward after the carrier pulls your MVR, wasting your time and delaying coverage. Compare the monthly premiums at state minimum liability limits first; if any quote comes in under $200/mo, accept it and bind coverage immediately to start your SR-22 filing clock. You can shop again at your first renewal in six months if a better rate appears, but your three-year SR-22 period does not start until the carrier files the form with Colorado DMV — and they cannot file until your policy is active and paid.