First: find your car
Look for a towing company sign where you parked and call the number on it. The longer the car sits at the tow yard, the more it costs to get it back. Colorado's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates towing carriers and sets the maximum rates.
What a tow can cost (PUC maximums)
These are the PUC's maximum rates for a vehicle up to 10,000 pounds, effective March 15, 2026:
| Private-property tow, up to 10,000 lb | $250.91 max |
| Storage, under 10,000 lb | $48.19 per 24 hr |
| Caught before it's towed away (not residential) | $97.70 max |
| After-hours release | $106.06 max |
| Belongings back, residential tow | free |
| Residential tow: pay now to get car back | 15%, max $60 |
- $250.91 base rate for a tow from private property, plus mileage (the PUC lists $3.80 a mile) and a fuel surcharge that changes monthly.
- $48.19 per 24-hour period of storage. For private-property tows, storage can't build up past the first 24 hours until the company has sent the required notice to the owner and lienholders.
- $75 for that certified notice on a private-property tow ($150 from public property).
- $106.06 extra if you pick the car up outside business hours, typically before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on weekdays, or on a weekend or holiday.
- Companies may add a surcharge if you pay by credit card.
If you catch the tow truck
If the car is hooked up but not yet removed from the property, the company can charge a drop fee of up to $97.70. Since August 10, 2022, there's no drop fee for tows from residential private property.
Towed from your apartment, condo or HOA?
- Unless you were parked without a required permit, blocking a driveway or road, in a handicap space or fire lane, or in someone's assigned space, the car must get a notice on the windshield 24 hours before it can be towed.
- You can get the car back by paying 15% of the total, up to $60, and signing a Retrieval with Payment Owed form; the rest is paid later.
- Your personal belongings must be released at no charge if you ask within 30 days of the certified notice. (For commercial-property and police tows, the PUC maximum is $102.28 an hour.)
Paying and problems
Tow yards take cash, Visa or Mastercard; some take other payment. If you don't pick the car up within 30 days of the certified notice, the tow company can take possession and dispose of it to cover its costs. Questions or complaints go to the PUC's Consumer Affairs staff at 303-894-2070, option 2.
Tows from some special districts can fall outside the PUC's rules.
Common questions
How much can a tow company charge in Colorado?
For a vehicle up to 10,000 pounds towed from private property, the PUC maximum base rate is $250.91, plus mileage and a fuel surcharge, $48.19 per 24 hours of storage, and a $75 notification fee. Rates took effect March 15, 2026.
Is there a drop fee in Colorado?
Up to $97.70 if the car is hooked up but not yet removed, but there's no drop fee for tows from residential private property.
Can I get my car back without paying everything in Colorado?
Yes, if it was towed from residential private property. Pay 15% of the total, up to $60, and sign a Retrieval with Payment Owed form; the rest is owed later.
Can I get my stuff out of a towed car for free in Colorado?
For a residential tow, yes, if you ask within 30 days of the certified notice. For commercial-property and police tows, the maximum is $102.28 an hour.
Checked against official sources on October 29, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or business before you act.