How to Get a Colorado Hardship License (Restricted License Guide)

November 6, 2025
4 Min Read

If your Colorado driver’s license is suspended or revoked, you might not have to stop driving completely. While many people search for a “hardship license,” it’s critical to know that Colorado does not use that term for adults.

Instead, Colorado offers a “Restricted License,” often called an “Ignition Interlock (IID) License.”

This is not a license based on “hardship” (like needing to get to work), but rather a license you can earn back early by agreeing to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID). This guide will walk you through the exact process.

The Most Important Rule: Check Your Reinstatement Requirements

Before you can do anything, you must get your official “to-do list” from the state.

  1. Log in to your myDMV account on the official Colorado DMV website.
  2. On your dashboard, check your license status. If you are suspended, it will show you a “Reinstatement Requirements” or “Compliance” list.

This list is your personal checklist. To get your restricted license, you must clear every item on this list.

Step-by-Step Guide to Get Your IID-Restricted License

The “Hardship” License for DUI/DWAI (The IID Path). This is the most common scenario. For almost all alcohol-related offenses (DUI/DWAI), Colorado allows you to reinstate your license immediately (or after a short wait) if you agree to join the Ignition Interlock program.

You do not have to wait for your full 9-month or 1-year revocation period to end.

Step 1: Get an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Installed

  • You must contact a state-approved IID vendor and have them professionally install the device in your vehicle.
  • The vendor will give you a DR 2058 (Installation Certificate). This is a critical document.

Step 2: Get SR-22 Insurance

  • You must contact an insurance company and purchase SR-22 insurance. This is a special certificate your insurer files electronically with the DMV. It is non-negotiable for alcohol-related offenses.

Step 3: Complete the Reinstatement Application

Step 4: Gather Your Documents and Pay Fees

  • You will need your DR 2058 (IID Installation Certificate), your SR-22 (which should be on file), and your DR 2870 (Application).
  • You must be ready to pay the $95 Reinstatement Fee plus any other required fees.

Step 5: Get Your Restricted License (In-Person)

  • An IID-Restricted License cannot be issued online or by mail.
  • You must schedule a DMV appointment for a “Driver’s License Reinstatement.”
  • At your appointment, a DMV agent will review your paperwork, process your payment, and issue you a new physical license card that states, “Ignition Interlock Required.”

What About a Point Suspension? (The “Red License”)

This is a different type of restricted license. It is not an IID license.

  • What it is: If this is your first time being suspended for accumulating too many points, you may be eligible for a Probationary License (PDL), often called a “Red License.” This license allows you to drive only for work, school, and medical reasons.
  • How to Get It: You must request an official DMV Hearing within 20 days of receiving your suspension notice in the mail.
  • Warning: If you miss this 20-day window, you lose your right to a hearing and must serve the full suspension (typically 6-12 months) with no driving at all.

FAQs

Can I get a hardship license for an unpaid ticket?

No. An unpaid ticket suspension (a “Failure to Comply”) is not a “hardship” case. There is no special license for this. To fix this, you must pay the original court fine and then pay the $95 reinstatement fee to the DMV. Your license will then be fully restored.

What about a “No Insurance” suspension?

Yes. If your license was suspended for driving without insurance, you can also get an IID-Restricted License. You must follow the exact same steps as the DUI path (Get an IID installed, get SR-22 insurance, pay your fees, and apply in person).

I’m a minor. Can I get a hardship license for school or work?

Yes. This is the only situation where Colorado has a true, non-IID “hardship” license. A minor (under 18) can apply for a Minor Restricted License (Form DR 2022) if they can prove a hardship related to school, work, or family medical needs. This is a separate process from a DUI or point suspension.

How is this different from the full license reinstatement?

This “hardship” license is an early or restricted reinstatement. It lets you drive during your suspension, but only with an IID. A full reinstatement is what you do afteryour total suspension/revocation time is over and you have completed all your IID time. At that point, you can get a regular license with no restrictions.

Conclusion

To get a “hardship license” in Colorado, you are almost always applying for an Ignition Interlock (IID) Restricted License. This allows you to reinstate your driving privileges early from a DUI or “No Insurance” suspension.

Your first and most important step is to check your myDMV account to see your official reinstatement checklist. Then, contact a state-approved vendor to get your IID installed and call your insurance for an SR-22. This is the fastest and onlyway to get back on the road legally.

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