Approved Routes and Destinations on a Colorado Restricted License

Your restricted license approval comes from one of two sources: a court probation order following DUI or DWAI conviction, or a DMV hearing decision following an administrative suspension. Both include a written list of permitted destinations with addresses. Court-issued probation orders typically specify your employer's name and address, your DUI education provider's address, your ignition interlock service center, and any medical providers you named in your hardship petition. The order may include time restrictions — such as "direct route to and from employment, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM only." DMV administrative orders use similar language but often grant slightly narrower destination lists because you are not yet convicted. Colorado does not publish a standard approval template. Each probation officer or hearing officer writes restrictions based on your documented need, prior violation history, and compliance risk assessment. This creates wide variation in what gets approved even for identical suspension types.

Nearly all Colorado restricted licenses approve direct travel to employment, court-ordered DUI education or therapy, ignition interlock maintenance, and probation check-ins. Medical appointments with documented providers appear on most orders if you request them during your hearing. Childcare pickup and drop-off require documented enrollment and often a letter from the childcare provider showing your child's enrollment and your pickup responsibility. Grocery shopping is approved in some cases but typically only with a weekly time window — such as "one grocery trip per week, Saturdays only, to King Soopers at [specific address]." Religious services are approved inconsistently; some hearing officers grant it with documented regular attendance while others deny it as non-essential. College classes, job interviews, and attorney meetings require advance modification of your order. You cannot add these retroactively if stopped. Most probation officers grant modifications for documented employment changes or new medical providers within 48 hours if you submit the request in writing with supporting documentation.

A single unapproved trip violates your probation and typically triggers immediate revocation of your restricted license. Colorado law enforcement can access your approved destination list during any traffic stop. If your current location does not match an approved route, the officer reports the violation to your probation officer or the DMV. Revocation means your restricted license is cancelled and your full suspension period resumes from the date of the violation. If you were 18 months into a 24-month suspension, the violation restarts the clock at 24 months. Most courts also add 30 to 90 days for the probation violation itself. Colorado does not offer warnings for route violations. A documented unapproved stop — even a 5-minute detour to a gas station not on your approval list — is treated the same as driving without a valid license. Some counties file additional criminal charges for violating a court order, which adds fines and possible jail time to the suspension extension.

Submit modification requests to your probation officer in writing with documentation. Job changes require a letter from your new employer on company letterhead showing your hire date, work address, and scheduled hours. Medical appointments require a letter from the provider showing the appointment date, address, and reason for ongoing treatment. Most Colorado probation officers process modification requests within 48 to 72 hours for employment changes because losing your job typically violates probation conditions. Non-employment requests — such as adding a new grocery store or childcare provider — can take 7 to 10 business days. File your modification request before making the trip. Driving to a new employer on your first day before the modification is approved violates your probation even if the modification is eventually granted. Plan for processing time when changing jobs or moving. Some drivers arrange temporary rides until the new address appears on their amended order.

Colorado requires SR-22 filing for all restricted licenses issued after DUI, DWAI, or multiple moving violations within 12 months. The SR-22 must remain active for the entire restricted license period plus any remaining suspension time after the restricted license ends. Most drivers file SR-22 for 3 to 5 years total depending on violation severity. Ignition interlock is mandatory for all DUI and DWAI restricted licenses in Colorado. You must install the device before your restricted license is issued and maintain it for the full probation period. Monthly IID costs run $70 to $120 including installation, monthly monitoring, and calibration appointments. Ignition interlock service appointments are automatically approved destinations on every Colorado restricted license. Failing to maintain your SR-22 or ignition interlock for even one day cancels your restricted license immediately. Colorado DMV receives electronic notification from your SR-22 carrier and IID provider. Most drivers receive no warning — the restricted license simply becomes invalid the day coverage lapses.

Most restricted license drivers in Colorado use non-standard carriers that specialize in high-risk SR-22 filing. Bristol West, Dairyland, GAINSCO, The General, Direct Auto, and Acceptance write policies for drivers with active DUI suspensions and restricted licenses. Monthly premiums typically run $140 to $280 depending on violation history, age, and county. Standard carriers — State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate — rarely write new policies for drivers with active DUI suspensions. Some allow existing customers to add SR-22 filing to a current policy, but most non-renew at the first renewal date after a DUI conviction. Colorado does not require you to own a vehicle to hold a restricted license, but you must carry SR-22 coverage. Drivers without a personal vehicle use non-owner SR-22 policies, which provide liability coverage when driving employer vehicles, rental cars, or borrowed vehicles. Non-owner SR-22 policies cost $40 to $90 per month and satisfy Colorado's restricted license SR-22 requirement.