Colorado Public Utilities Commission offers on-line guidance

Find your car towed from where you parked it? Maybe it’s got a boot on it?

Either scenario generates anxiety, stress and financial hardship. Predatory and illegal towing and immobilization have resulted in the state legislature passing new laws to help protect consumers and give tow companies room to do their jobs legally.

Colorado drivers can now access clearer rules on towing and vehicle booting, courtesy of new materials from the Public Utilities Commission. The agency has created fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and website enhancements to guide consumers and operators alike, according to a news release from PUC. Businesses and apartment complexes are urged to distribute this info to prevent unnecessary tows.

Many tows arise from simple errors. Parking without a permit, blocking driveways, or using handicap spots improperly often lead to removal. Other triggers include fire lane violations, taking assigned spaces without permission, or parking at businesses without patronizing them. Even spots for closed establishments risk action.

“The best outcome for consumers is not to be towed or booted in the first place but when it does happen, the Public Utilities Commission 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.

The PUC began regulating booting in 2019, requiring permits, insurance minimums, and operational standards like maximum removal fees and signage.

Towing oversight expanded from 2021 to 2024 through bills like House Bill 21-1283, 22-1314, and 24-1051. These generally mandated insurance for carriers, capped rates for various tows, and boosted consumer safeguards against unauthorized removals.

House Bill 25-1117 in 2025 added protections and restrictions on booting, especially on residential lots, including felony penalties for violations and clearer payment options.

If a vehicle disappears from private or public property, check the Public Utilities Commission’s “What you need to know if you have been towed” frequently asked questions on its website. Materials are available in English and Spanish.

According to the agency, 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.

• Parking in a lot for a business when the business is closed

If you have personal items in your car you can recover them from the carrier at no charge within 30 days. File complaints with the agency’s Consumer Affairs team if you are denied access to your property or find things missing.

For immobilized vehicles, consult the PUC’s dedicated booting frequently asked questions for when it’s allowed and steps required to get the boot removed.

Permitted companies must accept payments and release vehicles promptly. Complaints to the agency can result in investigations, with substantial fines against the operator being possible for violations.

PUC officials have investigated more than 1,000 towing complaints yearly, securing $280,289 in refunds from 2022 to 2024, $71,917 in 2022, $140,064 in 2023 and $68,307 in 2024, according to the release.

Contact PUC Consumer Affairs at (303) 894-2070 (option 2) or dora_puc_complaints@state.co.us for help.