October 23, 2025 - The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today released updated information on towing, booting/immobilization to help consumers understand new regulations and avoid issues with their vehicles. The PUC regulates towing and booting to protect consumers from predatory or illegal towing practices under Colorado law. Recent legislation has made important changes to the PUC’s oversight of these industries, and the PUC is launching a new information campaign to educate consumers on how to avoid being towed or booted (also called vehicle immobilization) and what to do if they are.
The PUC has created fact sheets, FAQs and updated its website to provide information to consumers, as well as operators. The PUC encourages businesses and housing complexes to share this information with residents and customers in order to avoid being towed or booted/immobilized.
“The best outcome for consumers is not to be towed or booted in the first place but when it does happen, the PUC is here to help drivers understand their rights, to investigate consumer complaints, and hold companies accountable if they violate our consumer protection rules,” said PUC Director Rebecca White. “Last year the PUC processed 447 complaints, secured over $68,000 in refunds to consumers and issued over $1.6 million in industry penalties and fines.”
The best way to protect your property and vehicle is to follow all rules and regulations where you are parking, including reading nearby signage. Many common reasons for being towed or booted include:
- No parking permit where a permit is required
- Blocking a driveway or roadway
- Parking improperly in a handicap space
- Parking in a fire lane
- Parking in someone’s designated space without permission
- Parking in a location where you are not doing business. (For example: You park in a space for “Business A” but go next door or across the street to “Business B.” You do not have the right to park in Business A’s space.
- Parking in a lot for a business when the business is closed
PUC Towing Regulations & Background:
Between 2021-2024, new state legislation significantly expanded consumer protections and towing carrier regulations. The PUC is the primary regulator of the towing industry in Colorado and protects consumers and businesses by setting rules that:
- Ensure that towing carriers meet insurance requirements
- Set reasonable rates for all types of tows
What to do if your vehicle has been towed:
If your vehicle has been towed from a residential or commercial area, or by law enforcement, the PUC has created “What you need to know if you have been towed” FAQs, available on the PUC website, to help consumers navigate the steps to retrieve their vehicles. The PUC has English and Spanish versions of these FAQs, and has made them available to towing carrier offices, to help consumers.
If a consumer feels they have been improperly towed, the PUC Consumer Affairs team can take their complaint. Each year, the PUC investigates over a thousand towing-related complaints, most of which involve nonconsensual tows.
Enforcement action can include refunds to consumers and/or fines issued to the towing carriers. From 2022 through 2024, the PUC has helped customers save money by obtaining 469 refunds that totaled $280,289.35:
- 2022: 86 Refunds and $71,917
- 2023: 259 Refunds and $140,064
- 2024: 124 Refunds and $68,307
Booting/Immobilization Background:
The PUC has regulated the booting/immobilization industry since 2019. In 2025, HB 25-1117 increased consumer protections in the booting/immobilization industry, particularly on residential properties. The PUC's oversight includes rules that:
- Ensure vehicle booting/immobilization companies are permitted and meet minimum insurance requirements, set maximum rates for having a boot or immobilization device removed from a vehicle, and establish other operational criteria, such as vehicle release standards, accepted forms of payment, and property signage requirements.
What to do if your vehicle has been booted/immobilized?
The PUC has created a Booting & Immobilization Website & FAQs, to help consumers understand when booting is allowed and what to do when it happens. Consumers can file a complaint if they believe a boot/immobilization was improper. The PUC takes consumer complaints, investigates to determine if violations have occurred, and pursues enforcement action if necessary.
Learn more about the PUC Transportation unit, which also regulates:
- Common carriers such as taxis, sightseeing vehicles, shuttles, and charter services
- Contract carriers provide unique and exclusive services to contracted customers
- Household goods carriers (movers) such as intrastate moving companies
- Limited regulation carriers and Large-Market Taxicab Services (LMTs) such as luxury limousines, charter buses, off-road scenic charters, and children’s activity buses
- Transportation Network Companies (Rideshares) such as Lyft, Uber, HopSkipDrive, River North Transit, or Drivers Cooperative - Colorado.
Contact the for assistance by phone at 303-894-2070 option #2 or 800-456-0858 (Outside Denver), or by email at dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us or online.