Connecticut Law About Towing and Wreckers

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See Also: Repossession, Replevin, Abandoned Property, Driving Under the Influence, Driving Too Fast

Useful Websites and Information

Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles:

OLR Research Reports - Office of Legislative Research:

Office of Legislative Research reports summarize and analyze the law in effect on the date of each report's publication. Current law may be different from what is discussed in the reports.

  • Tow Truck Warning Light Colors in Other States - 2023-R-0128 (July 11, 2023) - "Provide information on (1) the color of tow truck warning lights allowed in northeastern states and (2) states that allow light colors other than amber or yellow."
  • Motor Vehicle Towing and Storage Rates and Charges - 2018-R-0310 (December 31, 2018) - "This report (1) discusses state law concerning rates and charges for the nonconsensual towing and transporting of motor vehicles, and for the storage of motor vehicles, and (2) summarizes recent increases to these rates and charges."
  • New Requirements for Vehicle Towers - 2010-R-0385 (October 1, 2010) - "You asked for a description of the new requirements that apply to organizations that tow vehicles on behalf of organizations that accept vehicles under donation programs."
  • Tow Truck Operators - 2002-R-0713 (August 19, 2002) - "You asked for information on the State Police policy as it pertains to hiring wrecker (tow truck) operators. Specifically, you want to know (1) if the department uses a rotation system, (2) who is responsible for the towing bill and salvage of an abandoned vehicle, and (3) whether the towing company gets to keep the salvage value of the abandoned vehicle in lieu of the towing fee. We will address the last two questions in a later report."

Caselaw

  • Towing and Recovery Professionals of Connecticut, Inc. v. Department of Motor Vehicles - 205 Conn. App. 368 (2021). "Section 14-66 (a) (2) provides in relevant part that, '[i]n establishing and amending ... rates and charges, the commissioner may consider factors, including, but not limited to, the [CPI], rates set by other jurisdictions, charges for towing and transporting services provided pursuant to a contract with an automobile club or automobile association ... and rates published in standard service manuals.'"
  • Family Garage, Inc. v. Commissioner of Motor Vehicles - 130 Conn. App. 353 (2011). "The current regulatory scheme pertaining to 'Permitted Charges' for storage and release of stored motor vehicles . . . expressly provides that following a nonconsensual tow, no additional fees shall be charged by the towing service for the release of the vehicle to the owner, Regs., Conn. State Agencies 14-63-36b (2)(G), 14-63-36c (a) and 14-63-36c (e)."

Connecticut General Statutes

Selected Statutes:

Chapter 98. Municipal Powers

  • Sec. 7-148 (c)(7)(B)(iii). Scope of municipal powers.

Chapter 246. Motor Vehicles

  • Sec. 14-1 109). Definitions. (Wreckers)
  • Sec. 14-36i Seizure and forty-eight-hour suspension of operator's license of person who is sixteen or seventeen years of age for certain violations.
  • Sec. 14-66 Wreckers. Towing and transporting. Distinguishing number plates. Penalties.
  • Sec. 14-66a Regulations
  • Sec. 14-66b Operators of wrecker services to maintain records.
  • Sec. 14-66c Sale or disposal of motorized personal property. Penalty.
  • Sec. 14-145 Towing or removal of motor vehicle from private property. Use of a wheel-locking device. Regulations. Prohibition re issuance of parking citation. Exemption. Penalty.
  • Sec. 14-145a Towing, removal or use of wheel-locking device prohibited except upon express instruction of property owner or lessee or for repossession. Rebate prohibited.
  • Sec. 14-145b Storage and release of motor vehicles that have been towed or rendered immovable.
  • Sec. 14-145c Liability of property owner, lessee or lending institution for improper towing or removal of motor vehicle or use of a wheel-locking device.
  • Sec. 14-150 Abandoned or unregistered motor vehicles and motor vehicles which are a menace to traffic. Notice. Removal. Storage. Hearing. Lien. Affidavit of compliance. Sale. Regulations re title to abandoned motor vehicles and re disposal of motor homes or recreational vehicles abandoned at campgrounds

Chapter 248. Vehicle Highway Use

  • Sec. 14-262a. Towing or hauling of vehicles in excess of certain limits and federal requirements.
  • Sec. 14-262b. Permits for operating or towing mobile homes. Width and length of vehicles. Regulations.
  • Sec. 14-262d. Permits for vehicles transporting mobile homes, modular homes, house trailers or sectional houses.
  • Sec. 14-270. Permits for nonconforming vehicles. Regulations. Penalities.

Click on the link to search the full-text of the statutes: https://search.cga.state.ct.us/r/statute/dtsearch_form.asp

Connecticut Regulations

Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles:

14-63-34 to 14-63-37b - Fees to be Charged by Wrecker Services for Storage and Release of Stored Motor Vehicles - Standards for Rates for Nonconsensual Towing or Transporting

14-137-107 to 14-137-109 - Notice to Owners and Lienholders of Motor Vehicles Upon Nonconsensual Tow of Motor Vehicles from Private Property, and Notice Upon Sale or Other Disposition

14-150-1 to 14-150-5 - Hearings Procedures for Motor Vehicles Taken into Custody Pursuant to Section 14-150

14-150-6 to 14-150-9 - Towers Acquiring Title to Abandoned Towed Motor Vehicles

14-307-1 to 14-307-8 - Notice Required to Owners and Lienholders of Motor Vehicles Upon Towing by Police or Traffic Authority and Upon Sale or Other Disposition of Motor Vehicles

Click on the link to search the full-text of the regulations: https://eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Search/RCSA

Federal Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations

Title 23:. Highways

Subchapter G. Engineering and Traffic Operations

Part 658. Truck Size and Weight, Route Designations - Length, Width and Weight Limitations

  • 658.5: Definitions
  • 658.17: Weight


Connecticut Law by Subject