How Many Points Is Reckless Driving in Colorado?

A reckless driving conviction in Colorado adds 8 points to your driving record under the state's point schedule. That's the highest single-violation penalty the state issues, tied only with vehicular assault and driving under restraint. Colorado suspends your license when you accumulate 12 or more points within 12 months, or when you reach point thresholds in longer windows: 18 points in 24 months, or 24 points in 42 months. If you already carry 4 or more points from prior tickets, a reckless driving citation will push you past 12 and trigger an automatic suspension. The 8-point assignment applies whether the charge originates as a standalone reckless driving citation or as a plea reduction from a more serious charge. Colorado does not reduce the point value when reckless driving appears as an amended charge, which surprises drivers who assume a reduced charge means reduced DMV consequences.

Carriers in Colorado typically increase premiums by 40-80% after a reckless driving conviction, and that surcharge persists for three years from the conviction date. The surcharge window is not tied to the DMV point timeline — points drop off your Colorado driving record after two years, but most carriers maintain the premium increase for a full three years. Carriers apply the surcharge as soon as they receive notification of the conviction, which typically occurs at your next renewal or when the Motor Vehicle Report updates. You will see the rate increase before the state posts points to your driving record. If you were already carrying points from a prior speeding ticket or at-fault accident, expect the combined surcharge to push your monthly premium 60-120% above your pre-violation rate. Standard and preferred carriers — State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, Allstate — often non-renew policies after a reckless driving conviction, especially if the driver already has one or more violations on record. Non-standard carriers like Dairyland, Bristol West, and The General specialize in multi-point drivers and will quote coverage, but expect monthly premiums in the $180-$320 range for state minimum liability if you're shopping after a reckless driving conviction.

Colorado's Level II Driver Awareness course can remove up to 4 points from your record, but only for eligible traffic violations. Reckless driving is explicitly excluded from the point-reduction program under Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-2-127. You can complete the course once every 12 months, and it removes points that have already been posted to your record — it does not prevent points from being assigned in the first place. Eligible violations include speeding tickets, failure to yield, and improper lane changes. The course removes the points from your DMV record within 30-45 days of completion, but it does not erase the underlying conviction, which means carriers will still see the violation on your Motor Vehicle Report and apply surcharges accordingly. Some drivers complete the course after a reckless driving conviction to remove points from earlier tickets, which can prevent suspension if the combined total would otherwise exceed the 12-point threshold. That's a valid use of the course, but the 8 reckless driving points remain on your record for two years regardless of course completion.

Colorado defines reckless driving under CRS § 42-4-1401 as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. It's a criminal charge, not a simple traffic infraction, and carries penalties beyond points and insurance surcharges: up to 90 days in jail, fines up to $300, and a permanent criminal record. Because it's a misdemeanor, a reckless driving conviction appears on background checks, which can affect employment, housing applications, and professional licensing. The criminal record persists after the DMV points fall off and after the insurance surcharge expires. Expungement is possible in Colorado under certain conditions, but it requires a separate petition to the court — the conviction does not automatically seal. Carriers treat reckless driving as a major violation, similar to DUI or hit-and-run, because the criminal classification signals higher risk. That's why preferred carriers often decline to renew after a reckless driving conviction even if the driver has no other violations on record.

Colorado designates drivers as habitual traffic offenders if they accumulate three or more major violations within seven years, or a combination of violations that meet the statutory threshold under CRS § 42-2-202. A second reckless driving conviction within five years qualifies. Habitual traffic offender status results in a five-year license revocation. You cannot drive legally during that period except under very limited work-related hardship provisions, and you must carry SR-22 filing for the entire five-year period after reinstatement. The SR-22 requirement adds $15-$25 per month in filing fees on top of your already-elevated premium. Carriers in Colorado's non-standard market — Dairyland, The General, Acceptance — will write policies for drivers with habitual offender status, but expect monthly premiums in the $250-$400 range for state minimum liability. Shopping multiple non-standard carriers is the only way to find the lowest available rate in that risk tier.

Request a Motor Vehicle Report from the Colorado DMV immediately after conviction to confirm the point posting and check for any administrative errors. Carriers pull your MVR at renewal, and correcting errors before that renewal date can prevent surcharges based on inaccurate data. Shop at least three carriers as soon as your current policy renews or non-renews. Surcharge formulas vary widely — Progressive may increase your rate by 50%, while GEICO might non-renew entirely, and Dairyland might quote you at a lower monthly cost than your pre-violation rate with your prior carrier. Non-standard carriers expect violations and build pricing around them, which often results in better rates for multi-point drivers than trying to stay with a preferred carrier. If you have earlier violations eligible for point reduction, complete Colorado's Level II Driver Awareness course to remove up to 4 points and reduce your suspension risk. The course does not remove reckless driving points, but it can clear points from a prior speeding ticket or failure-to-yield citation, which lowers your total point count and signals improvement to carriers at your next renewal. Set a calendar reminder for three years from your conviction date. That's when most carriers drop the reckless driving surcharge, even if you stay with the same insurer. Request a re-rate at that renewal — carriers do not automatically remove surcharges when the lookback period expires, and many drivers continue paying the elevated premium simply because they didn't ask for a review.