State guide
Colorado
Colorado has one set of abandonment rules for public property and another for private-property tows, and the state DMV publishes detailed checklists for operators and title applicants. Colorado also expressly says that a landowner who simply finds a vehicle abandoned on private property must call a tow truck and does not receive title directly.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- When a vehicle counts as abandoned
- On public property, a vehicle is abandoned after 48 hours outside a city or after the local-ordinance limit within a city, and if there is no local ordinance the state default is 48 hours; on private property, it is abandoned after 24 hours without consent unless local ordinance sets another period.
- Removing one from private property
- For a private-property tow, the operator must notify the department, sheriff, or chief of police within 30 minutes, then request ownership records within 24 hours but not more than 10 days after tow, and the landowner must use a registered tow operator.
- Getting title to an abandoned vehicle
- Colorado states that a private property owner who merely finds a vehicle abandoned on the property must call a tow truck and title will not be issued to that owner; repair shops and some storage situations may use abandoned-vehicle or mechanic/storage-lien procedures, and Colorado also publishes surety-bond title instructions.
- State agency
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Services Program
- Official forms or instructions
- Official page →
Official resources in Colorado
DR 2773 Private Tow Requirements Checklist
Official Colorado DMV checklist for private-property abandoned-vehicle towing and notice steps.
DR 2542 Repair Shop Abandoned Vehicle Titling
Official Colorado checklist for repair-facility abandoned-vehicle titling.
Colorado Revised Statutes portal
Official state statutes portal for Colorado vehicle and traffic law.
Key facts for Colorado
- On public property outside a city, a vehicle is abandoned after 48 hours unattended.
- On public property inside a city, the local ordinance controls the time limit; if there is no ordinance, the state default is 48 hours.
- On private property, a vehicle is abandoned after 24 hours without the owner’s or lessee’s consent, unless local ordinance sets another period.
- For a private-property tow, the operator must notify the department, sheriff, or chief of police within 30 minutes.
- After a private tow, the operator must request ownership records within 24 hours but not more than 10 days after tow and stolen-vehicle check.
- Colorado says that if a vehicle is abandoned on private property, the property owner must call a tow truck and title will not be issued.
City abandoned-vehicle reporting in Colorado
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abandoned Vehicle Unit Denver | Denver | Not published* | Denver Sheriff’s Abandoned Vehicle Unit handles abandoned-vehicle enforcement and publishes direct contact information. |
| Access Aurora Arapahoe | Aurora | 303.739.7000 | Aurora accepts public-property abandoned-vehicle reports through Access Aurora and explains that private-property owners are responsible for arranging towing. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If the vehicle is simply sitting on your land without consent, use a registered tow operator instead of trying to apply for title yourself.
- Ask the tow operator whether they are registered with both the Colorado Public Utilities Commission and Colorado DMV before the tow proceeds.
- If you are a repair shop or there was a storage agreement, review the appropriate DMV checklist before pursuing titling or a bond.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Colorado's population center, for comparison only):
- City of Cheyenne Code Enforcement, Wyoming · about 111 miles
- Cheyenne Police Department non-emergency dispatch, Wyoming · about 111 miles
- City of Laramie RequestTracker, Wyoming · about 126 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.DR 2773 Private Tow Requirements Checklist
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Colorado page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.