Pitkin County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator — Pitkin County, Colorado
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot.
*Estimated fees shown. Actual fees in Pitkin County may vary. Contact the impound lot directly for exact costs.
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The First 48 Hours Are Critical
After a arrest in Pitkin County, your vehicle is likely towed to an impound lot. Storage fees accumulate daily, making time your biggest enemy.
What Happens Immediately After Arrest
- 1
Vehicle is towed (usually within 30 minutes of arrest)
- 2
Tow company notifies impound lot (charges start immediately)
- 3
Storage fees begin accruing daily in Pitkin County
- 4
Administrative fees added (varies by lot)
Documents You Need to Retrieve Your Vehicle
- Valid photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
- Vehicle registration or title
- Proof of insurance
- Payment for all fees (see calculator above)
- Release authorization (if not the registered owner)
Can Someone Else Pick Up My Car?
Yes, but they'll need:
- • Written authorization from the registered owner
- • Copy of owner's ID
- • Their own valid ID
- • Proof of insurance in their name or the owner's name
Find Impound Lots in Pitkin County
Call Before You Go
Verify your vehicle is at this lot and confirm the exact amount owed before making the trip. Hours and fees may change without notice.
The Impound “Poverty Trap”
Many people can't afford to get their car out immediately, but waiting only makes it worse.
Here's the vicious cycle:
Can't afford the first 3 days of storage + admin fees
Wait a week to save money → fees double
Can't get to work without car → lose income
Wait 2 weeks → fees triple or quadruple
After 30 days → Car may be auctioned by the lot
What You Can Do
- • Borrow money from family/friends (pay them back later, cheaper than daily fees)
- • Use a credit card (even with interest, cheaper than impound fees)
- • Sell non-essential items quickly
- • Ask your employer for an advance
- • Check if your auto insurance covers towing/storage (some policies do)
Shaun’s Towing and Recovery holds the primary municipal contract for the City of Aspen and serves the broader Roaring Fork Valley. This entity controls the release of impounded vehicles after a DUI arrest in Pitkin County. Understanding their operational protocols is critical because their policies are financially aggressive and strictly adherent to bureaucratic requirements.
Vehicle Impound Locations
Shaun's Towing operates two lots, and verifying the location of your vehicle is crucial to avoid delays.
- Shaun’s Towing and Recovery (Basalt Yard): 82 Duroux Lane, Basalt, CO 81621. This is the most common location for general tows and administrative processing.
- Shaun’s Towing and Recovery (Pitkin County Landfill Impound): 32046 Jack Gredig Lane, Aspen, CO 81611. Vehicles towed under the City of Aspen contract are frequently taken to this location. While the car might be at the Landfill, the administrative release and payment processing might need to happen at the Basalt office or the Aspen Parking Department first.
Fees and the "Midnight Rule"
Financial penalties are time-sensitive. Storage charges increase at midnight each day the vehicle remains in custody. For example, if arrested at 11:00 PM on a Friday and unable to secure release until Monday morning, you'll be liable for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday storage fees.
Required Documents for Release
Retrieving your vehicle requires strict compliance. Be sure to have these documents:
- Valid Driver’s License: The person driving the vehicle off the lot must be licensed. Since your license was likely confiscated under Express Consent laws, you must bring a licensed driver.
- Vehicle Title or Registration: Must be printed within the last 7 days. An insurance verification card is NOT accepted as proof of ownership.
- Notarized Absentee Authorization and Hold Harmless Agreement: Required if the registered owner is not present. If the registered owner is in another state, they must find a notary, sign the specific form provided by Shaun's Towing, and email it before release is permitted.
Payment Methods
Shaun’s Towing accepts:
- Cash (exact change only - drivers do not carry change)
- Credit Card (with a 4% fee)
Aspen Parking Department Intermediary
For vehicles towed by the Aspen Police Department (APD), you must often contact or visit the Aspen Parking Department (427 Rio Grande Place) to pay outstanding fines and obtain a release authorization before going to the tow yard. The Parking Department is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If your vehicle is towed on a Friday evening, the Parking Department is closed until Monday morning, guaranteeing three days of storage fees.
Risk of Foreclosure
After 30 days from the impound date, the vehicle is subject to foreclosure proceedings, and you lose the right to claim it.
To determine if your vehicle was towed by the Aspen Police Department, contact the Aspen Parking Department at 427 Rio Grande Place.
Sources
Colorado Transportation Code
Pitkin County Towing Regulations
Colorado Department of Licensing and Regulation
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