Summit County Vehicle Impound Guide
Impound Cost Calculator — Summit County, Colorado
Calculate how much it will cost to retrieve your vehicle from the impound lot.
*Estimated fees shown. Actual fees in Summit 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 Summit 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 Summit 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 Summit 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)
Ryan’s Recovery serves as the dominant towing partner for the Breckenridge Police Department (BPD). Their facility is located at 198 Continental Court, Breckenridge.
Vehicle Impound After a DUI Arrest in Summit County, Colorado
Being arrested for DUI in Summit County, Colorado, means your vehicle will likely be impounded. Understanding the local procedures for vehicle release is crucial to minimizing further inconvenience and expense. This guide provides specific information to help you navigate the process in Summit County. The process depends heavily on which law enforcement agency made the arrest.
Arresting Agency and Towing Company
The first step is to identify the arresting agency, as this determines the towing contractor and the location of your vehicle. Contact Summit County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 970-668-8600 to confirm the specific impound lot where your car is located. Dispatch logs every non-consensual tow in the county.
- Breckenridge Police Department (BPD): Primarily uses Ryan’s Recovery, located at 198 Continental Court, Breckenridge.
- Frisco Police Department: Uses Ski Country Shell (Ski Country Auto Repair & Towing), located at 1125 N Summit Blvd, Frisco.
- Silverthorne and Dillon Police Departments: Utilize multiple providers on a rotational basis, including Dillon Towing & Recovery, JH Mountain Towing (205 Warren Ave, Silverthorne), and I-70 Towing (330 Warren Avenue, Silverthorne).
- Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO): May utilize multiple providers, including I-70 Towing (330 Warren Avenue, Silverthorne).
Release Procedures and Required Documents
You will generally need to provide proof of ownership and a State ID to retrieve your vehicle. In Breckenridge, if the vehicle is under a "Police Hold," you'll need a physical release form from the BPD station at 150 Ski Hill Rd before the tow yard will release the vehicle.
Fees and Costs
DUI tow costs in Summit County are often higher than in other areas of Colorado due to what is called “Mountain Recovery" classification. Also, if your car requires winch cables to extract the vehicle from a snowbank, a standard impound can escalate to $800–$1,200 due to “Recovery Labor” and “Recovery Equipment” charges with a 25% markup.
Be aware of administrative fees. For example, the Town of Breckenridge Municipal Code (7-3-5) authorizes the assessment of a "reasonable administrative fee" in addition to towing company charges.
Ski Country Shell's administrative release of vehicles is typically during business hours (Mon-Fri, 8 AM-5 PM); after-hours retrieval may incur an 'After-Hours Gate Fee.'
If a vehicle is not claimed within 10 days by the Summit County Sheriff, a 'Notification Fee' is triggered for record search.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) accepts checks, money orders, or credit/debit cards (with a 2.25% + $0.75 fee) for administrative fees.
Important Considerations
- "Protected Items" Loophole: PUC rules mandate access to "Life Essential" items, including prescription medication, medical devices, child restraint systems, credit cards/cash, state ID, and cellular telephones. You should not have to pay an "access fee" (up to $100/hour) to retrieve these items.
- Abandoned Vehicle: A vehicle is legally "abandoned" if left unattended on public property for 48 hours or not removed from an impound lot within 72 hours of notice.
- Verification: Verify if a "Law Enforcement Hold" is active before heading to the tow lot.
Contact Summit County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 970-668-8600 to confirm your vehicle's location.
Sources
Colorado Transportation Code
Summit County Towing Regulations
Colorado Department of Licensing and Regulation
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