Cars & light trucks
Towing in Colorado: the published maximums and your rights
This state publishes a statewide maximum card — the numbers below are the operative maximums.
Rules checked October 2026
Colo. Rev. Stat. §40-10.1-405; Colorado PUC nonconsensual rate card, March 2026 (CPI-adjusted annually)
| Charge | Published maximum |
|---|---|
| Maximum tow charge | $250.91 |
| Maximum storage | $48.19/day |
| Maximum drop fee | $79.40 |
| Mileage | $3.80/mile |
| After-hours release cap | $106.06 |
Notification fees
Notification fees are capped at $75 (private-property tow) / $150 (public-property tow).
Payment
The yard must accept cash and Visa/MasterCard; any card surcharge is capped at 2%. An itemized bill is your right, and photo documentation of the tow is required.
Special release rule
Residential tow? You may get your vehicle back for 15% down (never more than $60) and pay the balance over 90 days.
Penalties & remedies
Charges above the PUC card are not collectible as published maximums; the PUC takes towing complaints and the Towing Bill of Rights (HB22-1314) backs the card, the itemized bill, and the 15%-down release.
Kickbacks
U.S. PIRG's state survey (2022) found no law here banning kickbacks to property owners for private-property tows. If money changed hands behind your tow, that fact still belongs in your complaint.
Who takes the complaint
Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC).