The Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit
The Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit (MVIU) is a law enforcement agency of criminal investigators who have full peace officer status and authority to direct file criminal cases, make arrests, and conduct criminal investigations, codified into CRS by 16-2.5-122.5. Established in 1978 and codified under C.R.S. § 42-1-222, our mission is to investigate and prevent fraud involving driver’s licenses, identification cards, and vehicle titles and registrations. We are dedicated to protecting the integrity of Colorado’s official documents and committed to providing critical support to victims of identity theft.
Investigation Holds and FAQs
An investigation hold may be placed on any driver or motor vehicle record when the Department has reason to believe information within the record is false or fraudulent.
The Department has the right to revoke, suspend, cancel or deny the reissuance of any driver or minor driver license upon determining that the licensee was not entitled to the issuance thereof for any of the following reasons:
- Failure to give the required or correct information in an application, or commission of any fraud in making such application or in submitting any proof allowed under this section,
- Inability to operate a motor vehicle because of physical or mental incompetence,
- Permission of an unlawful or fraudulent use or conviction of misuse of license, titles, permits or license plates,
- That such license would have been subject to denial under the provisions of section 42-2-104,
Failure of the licensee to register in Colorado all vehicles owned by the licensee under the requirements of section 42-3-103
If you have applied for a Colorado Driver License, Identification Card, Instruction Permit, Motor Vehicle Title or Registration, and were told that you have an investigation hold and you were referred to the investigations unit, you will need to call (303) 205-8383.
If fraudulent activity involving your record is believed to have occurred, an Investigations Unit alert may have been placed on your record, and you may be referred to the Investigations Unit. Contact MVIU via phone at (303) 205-8383 for further details.
Not all fraud is identity theft, but all identity theft is fraud. Fraud may include the manufacture of counterfeit documents, the use of a false identity or variation of the perpetrator's name or date of birth, etc. for unlawful purposes, but it does not necessarily involve the use of another's actual identity. Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) section, 18-5-902 defines identity theft as the unlawful use of personal identifying information, financial identifying information, or the financial device of another. Please visit the Fraud page for more information. Please visit the Identity Theft page for assistance.
With current security measures in place, it is very unlikely someone else will obtain an instruction permit, driver license, or identification card under your Colorado motor vehicle record or personal identification number (PIN). Please visit the Identity Theft page for assistance.
If your driver license or ID card number has been used for credit or check fraud, a new personal identification number (PIN) may help you conduct business. However, because motor vehicle records are protected by federal and state privacy laws and are not accessible for credit purposes, this will not prevent or stop credit fraud. Please visit the Identity Theft page for assistance.
Miscellaneous FAQs
Per Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) and section, 42-2-107(1)(b)(I) you must prove your full legal name, identity, age and lawful presence in the United States to be issued a Colorado driver license, instruction permit, or identification card. The Identification Requirements Chart shows the documents that you may use to prove each of these elements. In some cases, a single document may prove all four elements. However, it may be necessary for some applicants to provide multiple documents in order to prove all the required elements.
All documents presented must be certified originals, certified amended originals or true copies that have been certified by the issuing agency. If you can not prove each of the required elements with the documents set forth in the chart, then you may request to go through Exception Processing to prove the required elements with additional or alternative documents. Find Form DR 2469 on the chart. You may also be eligible for a "Dossier Application". Please visit the Exception Processing and Dossier Application pages for more information.
Per Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) sections, 42-2-107(3)(a) and 42-2-302(1)(a), you are required to provide proof of your Social Security number at the time you apply for a driver license, instruction permit, or identification card. However, per Colorado DMV policy 05-5609, persons stating they have never been issued a Social Security number will be required to present documentation indicating they have been denied one, are not eligible for one or have never been issued one. That person will also be required to provide proof of lawful presence. A driver license or ID card will not establish lawful presence. Since 2005, Social Security numbers have not been printed on driver licenses, instruction permits or ID cards.
The US. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program is responsible for administering programs involving customer access to information contained in the USCIS Verification Information System database. Proof of lawful presence must be established at the time you apply for a Colorado instruction permit, driver license, or identification card, per Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) sections, 42-2-107(1)(b)(I) and 42-2-302(1)(a) Please visit the SAVE page for more information.
The US. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) must verify Certificates of Naturalization or Citizenship, the same as is required of the birth certificate process for customers born in the United States. Please visit the SAVE page for more information.
Some colleges do not notify the US. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) when a student transfers to another college or changes programs. It is the policy of the Colorado DMV that the date verified by the USCIS will be the expiration date for the driver license or identification card (ID). Please visit the SAVE page for more information.
Lawful presence must be verified every time a permit, driver license or identification card is renewed, so renewing your license early is suggested. The processing time for verification - such as a change in status - may be up to six weeks. By renewing early, the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program process will not cause any lapse in your identification document or driving privilege. Please visit the SAVE page for more information.
If you cannot provide the required documents as listed on the Identification Requirements Chart at a driver license office for an instruction permit, driver license, or identification card, you may be eligible to apply for Exception Processing to provide additional or alternative documents to prove the required elements of identity. Please visit the Exception Processing page for more information.
Additional Resources
- Identity Theft and Fraud main page
- Lost, Stolen, Or Compromised Documents
- Scam and Fraud Alerts
- Stop Fraud Colorado - Colorado Attorney General's Office
- Lock Down Your Car - Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority