Vehicle Impound

Search for your impounded vehicle online by license, vehicle identification number (VIN), or date of impound.

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Your vehicle may have been impounded because of the following:

• A traffic accident where the owner is transported to the hospital and/or the vehicle is rendered inoperable.
• Disabled vehicles causing traffic hazards.
• Illegal parking.
• A vehicle is left parked in the right-of-way or a public area continuously for 72 hours or longer.
• The driver of the vehicle is taken into custody by the Denver Police Department and the vehicle is left unattended.
• Invalid/misused license plates or driver’s license.
• The vehicle is involved in a criminal investigation.
• The vehicle is reported stolen.
• Vehicles deemed hazardous or are a public safety concern.

You may recover your vehicle or property any time during normal operating hours, excluding city-observed holidays:

Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The impound is busiest on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays and near opening and closing; avoid long lines by visiting during other open days and times.

Impound staff are not permitted to waive or reduce fees according to the Denver Revised Municipal Code.

Acceptable forms of payment:

• Cash
• Money order
• Cashiers check
• Travelers check
• Credit card: MasterCard, Visa, or Discover

We do not accept personal checks.

**Booted vehicle owners must pay all parking fees, in addition to normal impound and storage fess, for the vehicle before it can be claimed – a receipt showing all parking fees have been paid is required. Parking fees are paid online through Parking In Denver.

If you are the victim of a recovered stolen vehicle, you do not need to pay. All storage and tow fees are waived for confirmed victims of stolen vehicles.

Once all holds on a vehicle have been dropped, the owner has 30 days to recover the vehicle. If the vehicle is not recovered after 30 days, it will be sold at auction or sent to recycling as junk. The auctioning off or junking of any vehicle satisfies any storage and tow fees owed. Any tickets or citations issued to the vehicle prior to or at the time of impoundment will remain active.

Your vehicle cannot be repaired while at the impound. If your vehicle is inoperable or unsafe to drive, it must be towed out of the impound and repairs made elsewhere.  

There are not any charges to validated owners for recovering property or inspecting their vehicle.

Taking photos of your vehicle is not allowed. The impound is a secured facility and use of cell phones or cameras inside any of its lots is strictly prohibited. Photographs of the vehicle taken at the time it was impounded can be requested in writing via email <VIF@denvergov.org>.  Additionally, verified insurance agents are authorized to take photographs of vehicles. We will not release photos of any vehicles with law enforcement holds.

You may have a locksmith make a key for your vehicle while it is impounded as long as the service does not take longer than 20 minutes.

The vehicle owner may authorize another party to pick-up the vehicle and/or property with the following documentation:

A Notarized Letter of Authorization (PDF) from the registered or titled owner/lien holder instructing his/her designee to act as the owner’s legal agent, which must include:

1. Owners name matching the name on title and/or current registration
2. Description of owner’s vehicle to include year, make, model, VIN and/or license plate number
3. Name of person designated to act as an owner’s agent–agent’s name must match the identification presented to the Vehicle Impound Facility
4. In order to drive the vehicle off the lot, agents must have a valid driver license, current registration, and proper insurance–if only the title is presented, the vehicle must be commercially towed

Please be aware that access will not be granted for vehicles with police holds.

For questions, please call us at 720-865-0470.

Owners will receive a notice of right to hearing along with the notice of impoundment. A notice of right to hearing will also be supplied upon retrieval of a vehicle.
Vehicle impoundment hearings are held at the Vehicle Impoundment Hearing Office located at the Parking Magistrate’s Office: 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO. 
Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

In order to obtain a hearing, you must take one of the following actions within 10 calendar days of the mailing date on your notice of impoundment or hand delivery of the notice of right to hearing, whichever is first:

• Appear in person during business hours to set a hearing; or
• Telephone the Parking Magistrate’s Office <(720) 913-5300> to set a hearing

Parking fees must be paid at Denver International Airport (DEN). These fees are in addition to the Vehicle Impound Facility storage fees. A receipt must be provided indicating parking fees associated with the vehicle have been paid when claiming the vehicle. 

DEN Parking can be contacted at 303-342-4650. 

Vehicles impounded for special event parking violations near Empower Field at Mile High will initially be towed to Waste Water Management located at 2000 W. 3rd Avenue. The vehicle must be claimed within two hours after the end of the event. A valid driver license and $120.00 will be required to recover the vehicle at the temporary impound location.  

If the vehicle is not recovered within two hours after the end of the event, the vehicle will be towed to the Vehicle Impound Facility located at 5160 York St. The vehicle can only be claimed during normal business hours for $240.00, plus storage. Proof of ownership, valid photo identification, and proof of insurance will be required.