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Your rights after a tow in Connecticut

Connecticut law sets rules for towing from private property, such as apartment complexes and store lots. One set of maximum rates applies across the state. Here is what the law says, in plain English.

Maximum charges in Connecticut

$130.63

Ceiling to tow a standard car from private property under Connecticut (statewide, DMV) rates; your city may set its own

$30.00

Connecticut (statewide, DMV) ceiling per day of storage

Other Connecticut (statewide, DMV) maximums
Charge	Maximum
After-hours or gate fee	$50.00
Drop fee (released after hook-up, before removal)	$50.00
Mileage, per mile after first 2 loaded miles (max 13 miles, $86.45 total)	$6.65
Extra labor for winching or exceptional services, per hour	$50.00
Storage per day after day 5, inside building, vehicle under 20 ft	$37.00

The base tow charge covers prep and the first two loaded miles; no fuel surcharge is allowed. Storage for a car under 20 ft is capped at $30 a day for days 1 to 5 inside a building ($26 outside in a fenced, lit lot; $23 in an open lot), then $37, $31 and $25 a day. The base tow rate rises to $136.51 on 2027-01-01 and $142.65 on 2028-01-01. See the official Connecticut (statewide, DMV) rates (opens in a new tab).

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Who can order a tow

A property owner, tenant or their agent must sign a written authorization form for each tow. It lists the car, the reason for the tow and who ordered it, and is signed under penalty of false statement. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(b), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 1 (opens in a new tab)
The tow company must take at least 2 photos showing why the car was towed and its condition before hooking it up. You can ask for the authorization form and the photos for free. If the company fails to supply the form, the law presumes it had no authority to tow. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(d), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 1 (opens in a new tab)

Tow-away signs and notices

Parking lots and apartment lots must have tow signs at every entrance, installed at least 48 hours before a tow. A residential lot means a building of 5 or more units, a condominium or a common interest community. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145; P.A. 25-55 sec. 3(b)-(c) (opens in a new tab)
The sign must show the international towing symbol, be at least 12 by 18 inches with letters at least 1 inch tall, and say cars may be removed at the owner's expense. It must also list the costs and the tow company's name, address and phone number (or a number to find your car), plus the parking rules that can get you towed. P.A. 25-55 sec. 3(c) (opens in a new tab)
No sign is needed for some tows: a disabled-parking space without a placard, a fire lane or hydrant (within 10 feet), blocking a building entrance, exit or traffic aisle, a leaking vehicle, or parking outside any marked space. A non-residential lot may instead put a notice on your windshield at least 48 hours before towing. P.A. 25-55 sec. 3(d)-(e) (opens in a new tab)
A lot or apartment complex cannot tow you only for expired registration unless it first puts a written notice on your car at least 14 days earlier. For an expired resident parking permit at a residential lot, the notice period is 72 hours. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(c)(2)-(3), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 1 (opens in a new tab)

If you get back before the tow leaves

If you return before the car is hooked up, the driver must stop. If you move the car or fix the problem, no fee may be charged. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(e)(1), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 1 (opens in a new tab)
If the car is already hooked up but not yet off the property, the company must release it as soon as you pay the drop fee. The state maximum for a regular car is $50, payable by cash or credit or debit card, and you get a receipt. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(e)(2), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 1; DMV schedule effective 2026-01-01 (opens in a new tab)

Finding and getting your car

The company must tell the local police (or resident state trooper) within 2 hours of the tow, giving the time, where it was taken from and where it is stored. It cannot charge storage for time before that report. Calling the police non-emergency line is the fastest way to find a towed car. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(f)(1), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 1 (opens in a new tab)
The car must be kept in a secured lot at the company's own business site, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. The company must also answer a phone number 24 hours a day for pickup requests. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66a(a), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 12 (opens in a new tab)
If you ask to pick up the car outside business hours, the company must make it available within 4 hours of your request. It may charge a capped after-hours redemption fee, which is $50 for a regular car. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66a(a), (c); DMV schedule effective 2026-01-01 (opens in a new tab)
You must show proof of ownership, such as a registration, title, bill of sale or lease. The company must release the car even if the address on the paper differs from your current address. An owner, lender or person authorized by either may redeem. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66a(d), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 12 (opens in a new tab)
The company has no lien on belongings inside the car and must let you remove them during business hours, or within 4 hours of asking if it is closed. The company cannot hold your personal property for any reason. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66a(b); DMV Consumer Bill of Rights (opens in a new tab)
The company must accept cash or a credit or debit card and keep enough cash on hand to make change. If you pay by card, the cardholder must come in and sign the receipt. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66a(e), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 12 (opens in a new tab)

Inspecting the car and paperwork

You may inspect the car before you redeem it. The company cannot make you sign a general release of damage claims or claims that the tow was unjustified. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66a(f), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 12 (opens in a new tab)
Photos taken before the tow are your best evidence. If the car was damaged and the company failed to provide the photos you requested, the law presumes it caused the damage. Write down any damage before you pay. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(d)(2), as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 1 (opens in a new tab)
You must get a receipt that names the company and itemizes every charge. A towing company cannot make you sign a repair or storage contract as a condition of the tow. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66a(f); 14-66(e)(3), as amended by P.A. 25-55 secs. 6, 12 (opens in a new tab)

What they can charge

The DMV publishes maximum charges for private-property tows, and a towing company may not charge more or add fees not on the schedule. The company must also post the DMV's Consumer Bill of Rights at its office. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-66, 14-66a and P.A. 25-55 secs. 5, 7(g) (opens in a new tab)
A Connecticut city or town may pass an ordinance regulating towing and storage within its borders, as long as it does not conflict with state law. The DMV schedule is the only statewide cap, and the ordinance of the town where the tow happened controls. P.A. 25-55 sec. 4 (opens in a new tab)

If the tow was wrong or overcharged

If the property owner or its agent towed you improperly, the owner must pay your towing and storage costs plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145c, as amended by P.A. 25-55 sec. 20 (opens in a new tab)
Connecticut law gives private-property tow victims no bond or hearing to get the car out early that we could confirm. The DMV hearing form A-25 is described for tows ordered by a town or police. Your routes are paying under protest, a DMV complaint, or small claims. DMV towing page (opens in a new tab)
If you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. For billing errors, your written dispute generally must reach the issuer within 60 days of the first bill showing the charge. Whether a tow charge qualifies is up to the issuer. Fair Credit Billing Act (FTC guidance) (opens in a new tab)

If you cannot get the car right away

If the car is not claimed 48 hours after the police report, the company must send a notice by certified mail to the owner and any lender. The company holds a lien on the car for towing and storage charges, but not on belongings in it. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-145(f)(1)(B); P.A. 25-55 sec. 14(a) (opens in a new tab)
A car worth $1,500 or less cannot be sold until it has been stored at least 30 days, and a more valuable car at least 60 days. The company must first send a certified-mail notice of intent to sell, get DMV approval, and then wait at least 5 business days. A sale without proper notice is void. P.A. 25-55 sec. 14(b), (c)(3), (h) (opens in a new tab)
If the car is sold, money left after towing and storage is held in escrow for you for one year and then goes to the state as unclaimed property. A pending DMV complaint about the tow stops DMV from approving the sale. P.A. 25-55 sec. 14(c)(1), (d), (g) (opens in a new tab)

Where to complain

CT DMV Consumer Complaint Center. Complain about overcharges or unlawful towing by a licensed wrecker service. Fill out DMV form K-35, sign two copies, attach copies of receipts and the tow authorization and photos, and mail one copy to DMV and one to the tow company at 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. Phone 860-263-5405. File a complaint (opens in a new tab)

Connecticut small claims handles money claims up to $5,000, which can include a refund of improper towing and storage charges. A property owner who towed you improperly is liable for those costs plus attorney's fees and court costs.

Check your tow

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-17. These are the laws and official pages this page is based on.