Towing
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is the primary regulator of the towing industry in Colorado. The PUC protects consumers and businesses by setting rules that:
- Ensure that towing carriers meet minimum insurance requirements
- Set reasonable maximum rates for many types of tows
- Allow the PUC to collect consumer complaints and investigate to determine if violations have occurred, and if enforcement action is necessary.
What you need to know if you have been towed
About the Transportation Unit
The PUC’s Consumer Affairs Unit handles complaints as they come into the PUC and some can be resolved at this step. Others are transferred to the PUC’s Transportation Investigations and Compliance team to conduct more thorough investigations.
The PUC’s Transportation Unit has seven investigators, and two other Staff working on towing-related investigations. In addition, the PUC's Consumer Affairs team assists with filed complaints and other towing-related questions.
What Happens When You File a Complaint
- Once a complaint is filed, Consumer Affairs reviews and may request additional information. Consumer Affairs can decide to dismiss, resolve, or forward the complaint to the PUC Transportation Investigations Unit.
- If forwarded, an investigator will review all materials collected. The investigator may conduct field research or ask for additional information. The investigator determines whether or not a violation occurred.
- If a determination is made that a violation has occurred (before enforcement action), the towing carrier may be asked to release a vehicle at no charge or refund money that has already been paid by the vehicle owner/operator. Enforcement action against a towing carrier may include the issuance of a Violation Warning Letter or a Civil Penalty Assessment Notice, which includes monetary penalties. More severe cases may also result in filed criminal charges.
- Certain cases, including in circumstances when a towing carrier disputes a penalty, can be referred to an Administrative Law Judge.
Protecting Consumer's Rights
Between 2021-2024, new state legislation - House Bills 21-1283, 22-1314, and 24-1051 – significantly expanded consumer protections and towing carrier regulation. The PUC protects consumers from predatory or illegal towing practices under Colorado law. Each year, the PUC investigates more than a thousand towing-related complaints. Most of the cases involve nonconsensual tows.
Enforcement action can include refunds to consumers and/or fines issued to the towing carriers. In some instances, investigations may be referred to an Administrative Law Judge within the PUC.
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
Important Forms for Towing Consumers
- Towed Vehicle Release Form: This form is necessary to retrieve a vehicle towed non-consensually from a residential private property by paying 15 percent of the total balance owed, NOT to exceed $60. Bring this form when going to get a vehicle released from a towing carrier. Vehicle owners/operators sign the form, which indicates they will pay the remaining balance due to the towing carrier, in exchange for them releasing the vehicle without full payment.
- Vehicle Release Form for Authorized Operators: This form is necessary to have when retrieving a vehicle from a towing carrier, as it indicates the owner/operator of the vehicle has provided all documentation proving a connection to the vehicle, which includes vehicle registration, proof of insurance, VIN number, keys, and location of where the vehicle was towed.
- Property Owner Tow Authorization Form: This is the standardized form for a nonconsensual tow authorization. This form must be used for all nonconsensual tows from private property (Residential and Commercial).