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Denver drivers face mountain weather swings, snow and high-altitude conditions. This page explains where to look first if your car was impounded, what Denver’s impound facility asks for, and how to request a tow or roadside help.
If your car was towed in Denver
Start with the official source: City and County of Denver: Vehicle Impound. It is the place to confirm where a city or police tow was taken, current fees, hours and what to bring. For private-lot tows, the sign at the lot entrance usually names the tow company to call. Our impound lot guide and impound release cost estimator help you plan the pickup.
What Denver’s Vehicle Impound page covers
The City and County of Denver’s Vehicle Impound page lets you search for an impounded car online by plate, VIN or date, lists common reasons for impound, and explains two ways to remove a car: towing it out with a PUC-certified commercial tow truck, or driving it out with valid registration, insurance, a driver’s license and a vehicle deemed roadworthy by staff. It lists accepted payment methods, which include cash, money orders, cashier’s and traveler’s checks and several credit cards, and says personal checks are not accepted. The page also explains how to request an impound hearing and what a hearing officer can and cannot consider.
Because the page notes that a car towed out of the lot must use a certified commercial tow truck, mention that when you request a tow from the impound facility.
Colorado rules for private tows
Non-consensual towing in Colorado is regulated by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Its towing consumer page is the official source for rates, payment and complaints.
Driving and breakdowns in Denver
Weather can change fast along the Front Range. Snow and ice may mean a car needs winching before it can be towed, and cold mornings drain weak batteries. If you head into the mountains, conditions on interstate passes can be very different from the city, and services may be farther away. Tell the provider where you are, whether you are on snow or a slope, and whether the car is AWD, since many AWD cars need a flatbed.
Denver local rules at a glance
- At the Denver city impound lot, vehicles under 6,000 lb pay a $120 tow fee and $20 a day for storage. Over 6,000 lb, it’s $170 and $30 a day.
- Confirmed victims of a recovered stolen vehicle pay no fees. Personal checks are not accepted.
- For private-property impounds, the Colorado PUC sets the maximums: $250.91 for the tow (up to 10,000 lb), $48.19 per 24 hours of storage, and a $97.70 drop charge.
Source: Vehicle impound (denvergov.org); Towing rates (puc.colorado.gov). Last checked Oct 31, 2026. Fees and rules can change, so confirm on the official page before you go. See also tow and impound fees by city.
Asking for a tow or roadside help in Denver
If you are hiring a tow yourself, get the full price in writing before the truck is hooked up, and ask how you can pay. Our checklist for choosing a tow company and avoiding scams covers what to ask, and the tow cost calculator gives a ballpark range.
Denver towing guides on TowCars.com
- My car was towed: what to do next
- Stuck on the highway: roadside checklist
- Tow bill checker
- Tow yard storage fee limits
- How to choose a tow company and avoid scams
Frequently asked questions
The City and County of Denver’s Vehicle Impound page offers an online search by license plate, VIN or impound date.
Denver’s page says only a PUC-certified commercial tow truck may tow a vehicle out. Check the official page for current rules.
No. We pass your free quote request to independent providers who serve the area. They set their own prices and terms.
Need a tow or roadside help in Denver? Tell us what happened and where, and we’ll pass your request to independent providers who serve the area.
