Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Colorado
If you drive without insurance in Colorado, you could face serious legal and financial consequences. Colorado requires all drivers to carry minimum coverage. What happens if you drive without insurance depends on the circumstances. Failing to maintain minimum insurance can lead to fines, disruptions to driving privileges, extensive expenses, and even criminal consequences.
At The Law Offices of Susan Deschler, we understand how overwhelming it can be to face criminal or traffic charges in Colorado. Led by seasoned defense attorney Susan Deschler, our firm focuses on protecting your rights and minimizing the impact of criminal accusations, including those involving driving without insurance. We provide experienced, client-focused legal representation designed to help you confidently move forward.
Do You Have to Have Car Insurance in Colorado?
So, do you have to have car insurance in Colorado? Yes. State law requires every driver—anyone who operates a motor vehicle on public Colorado roads, regardless of whether the car is registered in Colorado—to carry liability insurance. Minimum required coverage includes:
- $15,000 for property damage per accident;
- $25,000 for death or bodily injury of 1 person; and
- $50,000 for death or bodily injury of 2 or more people.
You must be able to show proof of insurance when requested by law enforcement.
What Happens If You Drive Without Insurance?
Driving without insurance is considered a serious traffic offense in Colorado. If you are pulled over and cannot provide valid proof of insurance or are involved in an accident and cannot prove you are uninsured, you could face criminal penalties and administrative consequences affecting your driving privileges.
What Is the Charge for Driving Without Insurance?
Given it is a traffic offense, what is the charge for driving without insurance? Colorado splits traffic offenses into traffic infractions (class A and class B) and misdemeanor traffic offenses (class 1 and class 2). Generally:
- Infractions are less serious than offenses,
- Class B infractions are less serious than class A infractions, and
- Class 2 offenses are less serious than class 1 offenses.
Driving without insurance, a violation of Colorado’s compulsory insurance requirement, is a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense. This offense is at the higher level of traffic offenses, with potential criminal and administrative consequences.
Administrative Consequences
In addition to court-imposed consequences, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) tracks and manages driving records using a points system. The DMV adds points to your record following your conviction of a traffic violation.
The Colorado DMV may suspend or revoke your license if you accumulate too many points. How many points you need to accumulate before you lose your license varies by age:
- Adult drivers (21 and older)—18 points within 24 months or 12 points within 12 months;
- Young adult drivers (18 to 20 years old)—9 points in 12 months, 12 points in 24 months, or 14 points total between the ages of 18 and 21; and
- Drivers under 18 years old—6 points in 12 months or 7 points total before turning 18.
When a driver reaches or exceeds the point threshold, the DMV may initiate a hearing process to determine whether to suspend their license. These administrative actions are separate from any criminal penalties imposed by a court, which means you could face a license suspension even if you resolve the criminal side of your case.
Penalties for First-Time Offenses
If you are convicted or plead guilty to driving without insurance, penalties include:
- A minimum $500 fine;
- Four points to your driving record; and
- License suspension until you obtain insurance, provide proof of insurance, and pay a reinstatement fee.
The court may also require you to obtain a special certificate proving you have a three-year high-risk insurance policy.
Multiple Offense Penalties
A conviction of driving without insurance within five years of a previous conviction of the same offense may subject you to:
- A minimum $1,000 fine;
- Four points on your license;
- License suspension for a minimum of four months; and
- Up to 40 hours of mandatory community service.
Committing a third or subsequent offense can lead to higher fines, increased community service, possible jail time, an increased likelihood that the court will require you to get high-risk insurance, and a more difficult and expensive reinstatement process.
Additional Consequences
Additional consequences of driving without insurance convictions include:
- Increased insurance premiums once coverage is reinstated,
- Difficulty registering a vehicle without proof of insurance, and
- Potential impact on employment.
Crucially, you may be personally liable for any harm that occurred while you were driving without insurance. Being personally liable means that someone you caused harm to may attempt to recover damages for injuries or property damage directly from you, which can lead to serious financial difficulties.
Factors That Affect Penalties
Many factors can influence the harshness of penalties you face for driving without insurance in Colorado. Factors that may lead to harsher penalties (“aggravating factors”) include:
- Repeat offenses or prior traffic violations,
- Involvement in an accident,
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license,
- Providing false proof of insurance,
- Operating a commercial vehicle without insurance, and
- Having outstanding fines or warrants related to previous offenses.
In some cases, the court may also consider circumstances that reduce the severity of your sentence (“mitigating factors”). Such factors may include financial hardship or recent changes in coverage.
Getting Charges Dismissed or Reduced
In some cases, you may be able to have a charge for driving without insurance dismissed if you can prove that you were insured at the time of the incident, even if you did not have the documentation with you during the traffic stop.
Even if you were not insured at the time, taking corrective steps can still help you reduce the consequences of the charge. If you obtain valid insurance after receiving the citation and present proof of your new coverage to the court, the government may reduce the mandatory fine associated with the charge.
How We Can Help
If the state has charged you with driving without insurance, The Law Offices of Susan Deschler can help you understand your options and work to protect your rights. We can:
- Investigate whether the stop or citation was procedurally and constitutionally allowed;
- Present evidence that you had insurance at the time of the incident;
- Negotiate with prosecutors to try to convince them to reduce or drop charges;
- Argue for alternative sentencing, such as community service;
- Help you reinstate your license and comply with DMV requirements; and
- Ensure you meet court deadlines.
You do not have to navigate the legal system alone. At The Law Offices of Susan Deschler, we focus on helping individuals facing criminal and traffic charges throughout Colorado. Our firm provides personalized representation designed to minimize penalties and protect your future. We take the time to understand your unique situation and build a strategy that gives you the best chance at success. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Resources:
- Proof of financial responsibility required – suspension of license, C.R.S. § 42-4-1410 (2025), link.
