Towing Laws in Colorado: Your Rights, Costs & Impound Rules

If your car was just towed in Colorado - from an apartment complex, a mountain highway, or a crash scene - this page explains what state rules say about the fees you can be charged, how to get your vehicle back, and where to file a complaint. Every fact below comes directly from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and other state sources, each cited so you can verify it yourself.

Who regulates towing in Colorado

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is the primary regulator of the towing industry, covering permits, insurance, rate-setting, and complaint investigation. Consumers file towing complaints with the PUC's Consumer Affairs Unit, which handles a substantial volume of cases - it investigated more than a thousand towing-related complaints and obtained 469 refunds totaling $280,289.35 between 2022 and 2024. You can reach the PUC's complaint line at (303) 894-2070 or by emailing dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us.

What a tow can cost

The PUC sets reasonable maximum rates for many types of tows statewide. For vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less, the current PUC maximums are $239.88 for a private-property tow and $46.08 per 24 hours of storage, with after-hours release capped at $101.40. If your vehicle was nonconsensually towed from residential property, it must be released to you upon payment of 15 percent of the total balance owed, not to exceed $60, using the Towed Vehicle Release Form.

Since these are statewide maximums, an itemized invoice should let you check your bill directly against them. Our towing cost calculator can help you run that comparison before you pay.

Getting your car back from impound

Colorado's storage rules protect you from open-ended daily charges. Storage must be prorated on an hourly basis, and only the first 24 hours may be charged until certified notification is mailed to the owner. If your vehicle was towed from residential property, the towing carrier must release your personal property from it within 30 days of legal notification, at no charge to you.

If you're towed from private property

A nonconsensual private-property tow in Colorado requires documented, signed permission for that specific tow within the prior 24 hours - a blanket standing agreement isn't enough. Towing carriers also aren't allowed to patrol or monitor a property on their own initiative to enforce parking restrictions; the removal has to be individually authorized each time.

After an accident

Colorado law requires crashes to be reported immediately to the agency with jurisdiction over where the crash happened. The state's official guidance doesn't set a dollar-damage threshold for reporting, so when in doubt, report the crash to the police or sheriff's department covering that location.

The Move Over law

Colorado drivers must move over at least one lane from any stopped vehicle displaying flashing or hazard lights. If moving over isn't possible, drivers must slow to 25 mph or less in a 40 mph zone, or reduce speed by at least 20 mph in zones posted 45 mph or higher. A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense carrying a $150 fine and 3 license points.

Chains & winter traction

When the Colorado Department of Transportation activates the Traction Law, vehicles need all-wheel or four-wheel drive with mud-and-snow, winter, or all-weather rated tires with at least 3/16-inch tread depth, or they must use chains or an approved alternative traction device. Under a Chain Law, every vehicle must have chains or an approved alternative device, regardless of drivetrain. Violating an active law carries a $100 fine plus a $33 surcharge, or a $500 fine plus a $157 surcharge if the vehicle ends up blocking the roadway.

FAQ

What's the maximum a Colorado tow company can charge for a private-property tow? For vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less, the PUC's current maximum is $239.88 for the tow itself, plus $46.08 per 24 hours of storage.

How much do I have to pay to get my car back from a residential tow before it's fully processed? If your vehicle was nonconsensually towed from residential property, you can get it released by paying 15 percent of the total balance owed, capped at $60, using the Towed Vehicle Release Form.

What happens if I don't have chains when Colorado's Chain Law is active? Every vehicle needs chains or an approved alternative traction device when a Chain Law is active. Violating an active traction or chain law carries a $100 fine and $33 surcharge, rising to a $500 fine and $157 surcharge if your vehicle blocks the road.

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