Towing in Denver

What a standard tow covers

Most Denver tows are short: from a driveway or a shoulder to a repair shop a few miles away. The truck hooks up, the driver checks that the car is in neutral with the parking brake off, and the car rides with two wheels on the road or all four on a flatbed bed. The company sets its own price for a tow you ask for. There is no state cap on that kind of job, so the call is where you settle the number.

What to ask when the company calls back

The call is short, and it is where you settle the price. Five questions cover it.

• Who are you? The legal business name, and its towing carrier permit number from the Colorado PUC.
• What is the total? One number with the hook-up, the miles and any flatbed or winch fee in it. Ask about a night or weekend fee too.
• Will your truck fit? Say if the car is in a garage, and give the level. Say if it is all-wheel drive, electric or lowered.
• Where does it go? Name the shop, and check that it is open. A closed shop can mean a night at a storage yard.
• How do I pay? Cash, card or app. Ask now so nothing is a surprise at the curb.

Write the name and the total down. If the driver quotes a different number at the scene, you can say no before the car goes up.

Four things that change the price

• Distance. Most companies charge a hook-up fee plus a rate per mile. Towing to a shop across town costs more than towing to one nearby.
• The truck. All-wheel-drive cars and most EVs should ride on a flatbed. So should lowered cars, and some companies charge more for one.
• Getting it out. A car in a ditch or deep snow may need a winch before it can be hooked up. So may one wedged into a tight garage.
• The hour. Some companies add a fee at night or on weekends. Storms can add one too, so ask before the truck leaves.

Denver spots that change the job

Highway shoulders. On I-25, I-70, I-225 or C-470, the exit number and your direction of travel are worth more than an address. If you are stopped in a travel lane or anyone is hurt, call 911 before you call anyone else.

Downtown and Cherry Creek garages. Many parking garages have low ceilings, and a full-size flatbed won't fit under them. Give the garage name and the level when you call, so the company can send a truck that fits or plan another way out.

Snow days. The metro's counties logged about 4 winter storm episodes a year from 2016 to 2025 in NOAA's records. Those are the days every truck in town is busy and slide-offs need a winch. What to do in a winter breakdown.

Coming down from the mountains. A car that quits on I-70 west of the metro is a long tow, priced by the mile. How long-distance tows are priced.

Where to take it

Decide before you call if you can. A tow company will happily take the car to its own yard, and then you pay for storage and a second tow to your shop. If you don't have a mechanic, ask the driver for the nearest shop that's open and call it yourself before you agree.

What the state caps, and what it doesn't

A tow you ask for has no state price cap. The company sets it, which is why you get the total on the phone. A tow you didn't ask for, from a parking lot or an apartment complex, is capped by the PUC, and state law gives you the right to get your things out for a small fee or none. These are the public numbers.

If a towing company breaks these rules, the PUC takes complaints. Its consumer line is (303) 894-2070. The Colorado rules, in plain English.