The fee applies when the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles suspends your license under the Compulsory Insurance Law (C.R.S. 42-4-1409) or for specific point-accumulation and administrative violations. It does not apply to every suspension type — DUI-related revocations, unpaid fines, and some other triggers follow different reinstatement paths with different fees or no fee at all.
It covers the DMV's cost to process your reinstatement application, verify compliance with the suspension's underlying requirements, and restore your driving record to active status. The fee is due at the time you request reinstatement, and the DMV will not begin processing until payment clears. Processing takes 20 business days from the date the DMV receives your complete application and payment.
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The fee applies to suspensions under the Compulsory Insurance Law and certain point-based or administrative suspensions. DUI-related revocations, unpaid fines, and other triggers may require different fees or follow separate reinstatement procedures.
Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles
These suspensions fall under the DMV's administrative authority, and the fee is part of the formal reinstatement process.
The fee does not apply to DUI-related revocations, suspensions for unpaid fines or child support, or certain other categories. Those triggers require separate reinstatement procedures, often with different fees or additional requirements such as alcohol education, ignition interlock installation, or proof of payment. If you are unsure which category your suspension falls into, contact the DMV Driver Control section at 303-205-5606 before submitting payment. Paying the wrong fee or following the wrong reinstatement path delays your case by weeks.
Colorado operates a multi-tier suspension system. Some violations stack — if you have multiple suspensions on your record, you may need to satisfy each one's requirements separately before the DMV will reinstate.
How to Submit the Reinstatement Fee
Mail payment to the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, Driver Control, 1881 Pierce Street, Lakewood, CO 80214. The DMV begins the 20-business-day processing clock when your payment arrives and clears, not when you mail it. Add 5–7 business days for mail transit.
In-person payment at a Driver License office allows you to confirm your suspension type, submit required documentation, and pay the fee in one visit. Bring proof of insurance (an SR-22 certificate if your suspension was insurance-related), your driver license or state ID, and payment. The clerk will verify your eligibility for reinstatement on the spot. Processing still takes 20 business days, but you eliminate the risk of mailing the wrong documentation or paying the wrong fee.
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The 20-Business-Day Processing Window
Colorado processes reinstatement applications in 20 business days from the date the DMV receives your complete application and payment. Business days exclude weekends and state holidays. If you submit incomplete documentation, the DMV will notify you by mail, and the 20-day clock resets when you provide the missing items.
During the processing window, your license remains suspended. You cannot drive legally, even if you have paid the fee and submitted all required documents. The DMV will mail a reinstatement notice to the address on file when processing is complete. If you need to drive before reinstatement, Colorado offers a Probationary Driver License (Red License) for point-based suspensions — but not for DUI, unpaid fines, or uninsured-driver suspensions. Contact the DMV hearing section at 303-205-5606 to request a probationary license hearing.
If 20 business days pass and you have not received a reinstatement notice, call Driver Control at 303-205-5606. The most common delay is missing documentation — the DMV cannot process reinstatement without proof of insurance for insurance-related suspensions, or proof of ticket payment for point-based suspensions. Confirm your case status before assuming the reinstatement is complete.
Colorado Reinstatement Processing
20 business days
The DMV begins the 20-business-day clock when it receives your complete application and payment. Incomplete submissions reset the timeline. Weekends and state holidays do not count toward the 20 days.
Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles
Insurance Requirements for Reinstatement
If your suspension was insurance-related — driving without liability coverage, an uninsured at-fault accident, or a lapse in required coverage — you must file an SR-22 certificate with the DMV before reinstatement. The SR-22 is a proof-of-insurance form your carrier files electronically with the state. Colorado requires SR-22 filing for 3 years after reinstatement. The filing period begins on the reinstatement date, not the suspension date.
You cannot reinstate without active liability insurance that meets Colorado's minimum requirements: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 property damage. The SR-22 verifies to the DMV that you carry this coverage. If your policy lapses or cancels during the 3-year SR-22 period, your carrier notifies the DMV, and your license suspends again immediately.
Next Steps After Paying the Fee
The DMV will mail a reinstatement notice to your address on file when processing is complete. Keep that notice — it is proof your license is valid if you are stopped before your new license card arrives.
If you need SR-22 insurance to complete reinstatement, compare carriers writing SR-22 policies in Colorado and confirm the carrier files electronically with the state. Not every carrier writes SR-22 coverage, and some require you to request the filing separately after purchasing the policy. Missing the SR-22 filing step is the second most common reinstatement delay after incomplete documentation. Confirm the SR-22 is on file with the DMV before assuming your reinstatement is complete.