Towing service in the Denver metro
Towing after a crash
After a crash, the order is safety, then the report, then the tow. Who picks the tow company depends on whether police are directing the scene, and where the car ends up decides what you pay later.
One local towing company gives its name and the total first. Your rights ยท Who pays us
Right after the crash
- If anyone is hurt, or a car is blocking a travel lane on a highway, call 911.
- If the cars can move and no one is hurt, get them off the road if it's safe to do so.
- Exchange insurance and contact details, and take photos of both cars and the scene.
Who picks the tow company
When police are directing the scene and the car is blocking traffic, they may call a tow company themselves. That is a police-ordered tow, and the car may go to an impound lot. If you can choose, you can call your insurer, call a company yourself, or send us a request. Either way, ask where the car is going before it leaves.
Where the car should go
Every day the car sits in a tow yard, storage adds up. If you know which body shop you want, or your insurer has one, tow it straight there and you skip a second tow later. If you aren't sure, ask the insurer before the truck leaves the scene.
Paying for it
If the other driver was at fault, their insurer may cover the tow and storage. Your own policy may cover it too, depending on your coverage. Keep every receipt. If the bill looks high, ask for it itemized. Colorado tow companies have to provide one on request.
If your car went to the City of Denver impound lot, see how to find it and get it out.
Questions Denver drivers ask
Do I have to use the tow company the police call?
If police order the tow, it is their call. If they don't, and the car isn't a hazard, you can usually choose. Ask the officer.
Sources
- Colorado General Assembly, HB22-1314 Towing Carrier Nonconsensual Tows (signed June 7, 2022) (checked October 28, 2026)
- City and County of Denver, Vehicle Impound (fees, hours, documents) (checked October 28, 2026)