Vehicle Impound

Owners will be required to produce the following documents to retrieve or access a vehicle:

1. For a tow-out:
   • Current proof of ownership: a title or current registration and a valid photo identification
   • A PUC certified commercial tow truck
2. To drive the vehicle out:
   • Owner must provide a valid current registration
   • Valid and current insurance for the vehicle
   • Valid state issued driver’s license from the United States

Proof of ownership includes:

• Current vehicle registration showing you as the owner
• Original title designating you as the current owner – we will accept a faxed title (front and back) from the lien holder

Valid photo identification in the form of one of the following:

• Valid state issued driver license from the United States
• Valid state issued identification card or military ID from the United States
• Valid passport
• Name on identification must match the owner documents

Current proof of insurance

• A vehicle may be driven off the lot only if it is properly insured; without proper insurance it must be towed by a commercial towing service 

Auctions are held online only through Dickensheet & Associates. They are offered every other week – bidding starts on Wednesdays and ends on Sundays. You must be at least 18 years of age to bid at these events. 

Learn more about the Abandoned and Confiscated Vehicle Online Auction, including future auction dates, sale lists for upcoming and previous auctions, and what to expect when attending an online vehicle auction. 

Payment can be made online and in person and is managed by Dickensheet & Associates. 

Contact Dickensheet with any questions or to learn more about online auctions.

Note: C.R.S. 42-4-1804 and D.R.M.C. 54-814 require that vehicles are secured for a minimum of 30 days before disposition, unless held for police investigation.

Cash, money orders, cashiers checks, travelers checks, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are acceptable forms of payment. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Recovering a stolen vehicle:

All stolen vehicles recovered in the City and County of Denver will not have fees assessed. The owner will not be required to pay fees in order to recover the stolen vehicle.

Booted vehicles: 

You must provide a receipt that you have paid all parking fees associated with the booted vehicle before the vehicle can be claimed. You must pay the parking fees at Parking Management at the Wellington Webb Building located at 201 W. Colfax, Denver, CO. These fees are in addition to the normal impound and storage fees.

Inmate Property 

The Denver Sheriff Department operates a property bureau located at 5150 York Street, adjacent to the Vehicle Impound Facility. Excess inmate property, or property from inmates that has been released to the Department of Corrections, will be transferred to the property bureau from the Denver County Jail or the Downtown Detention Center. 

Retrieval of property from the property bureau will require a government issued ID (driver license, state ID card, passport, etc). Written authorization may be given by the inmate for an individual to retrieve their property.

For inmate property inquiries please call 720-865-0490.

Personal Property from a Vehicle

With proof of ownership (valid ID and valid registration or title), access will be granted to vehicles for personal property removal. Access will not be granted for vehicles with police holds. 

The vehicle owner or his/her legally authorized agent may have one opportunity to retrieve personal property. Only one person will be allowed in the yard to recover property. Items attached to the vehicle such as radios, speakers, wheels, etc. may not be removed.

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.

Call 720-865-0471 and leave the following information:

• Address where the vehicle is located
• Description of the vehicle including make, model, year and color of the vehicle
• The license plate number of the vehicle

A deputy will respond to the location of the reported abandoned vehicle and post it with an “Abandoned Vehicle Warning.” After 72 hours, if the vehicle has not been moved at least 100 feet, the vehicle will be impounded as abandoned.

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 the Broncos Stadium 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.