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Abandoned Vehicles

The statutory authority for abandoned vehicles is broken down into three different categories:

A Motor Vehicle Is Considered Abandoned On Private Property When:

  • Left unattended on private property for a period of 24 hours or longer or for such other period as may be established by local ordinance without the consent of the owner or lessee of such property or the owner's or lessee's legally authorized agent.
  • Stored in an impound lot at the request of its owner or the owner's agent and not removed from the impound lot according to the agreement with the owner of the impound lot.
  • Left on private property without the property owner's consent, towed at the request of the property owner and not removed from the impound lot by the vehicle owner within 48 hours.
  • Fitted with an immobilization device that is on private property and deemed to be abandoned per CRS 42-4-1105(7)(c).
  • Vehicles Abandoned on Private Property C.R.S. 42-4-2101

A Motor Vehicle Is Considered Abandoned At A Repair Shop When:

Left at a repair shop by the motor vehicle's owner, the owner's agent, or an operator hired by the owner or owner's agent.

  • Repair shop has offered to repair and for which the repair shop has prepared an estimate of repair costs.
  • If a repair shop is unable despite good faith efforts, to obtain a response from the owner or the owner's agent regarding the authorization of repairs, payment for authorized and completed repairs, or the removal of a motor vehicle the owner or owner's agent shall be deemed to have refused to grant authorization, make payment, or remove the motor vehicle five (5) working days following the repair shop's last good faith effort to contact the owner or owner's agent.
  • Is not the subject of sale negotiations or a sale agreement between the owner or the owner's agent and the repair shop.
  • Vehicles Abandoned at Repair Shops  C.R.S. 38-20-116-(2.5)(a)

A Motor Vehicle Is Considered Abandoned On Public Property When:

  • Left unattended on public property for a period of 48 hours or longer.
  • Left unattended on public property for a period longer than any limit prescribed by any local ordinance.
  • Stored in an impound lot at the request of a law enforcement agency and not removed from the impound lot within 72 hours after the time the law enforcement agency notifies the owner or agent that the vehicle is available for release upon payment of any applicable charges or fees.
  • Vehicles Abandoned on Public Property  C.R.S. 42-4-1801

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