Connecticut lawmakers have taken further steps to protect residents from potentially predatory practices within the state’s towing industry. On Wednesday, the Connecticut Senate approved Senate Bill 413, building upon landmark legislation passed in 2025 that aimed to curb abuses related to vehicle towing and storage fees. The new bill focuses on increasing transparency for vehicle owners and limiting the speed at which towing companies can sell abandoned vehicles, addressing concerns raised by both consumer advocates and lawmakers regarding the financial burden placed on individuals who have their vehicles towed.
The impetus for these reforms stems from investigations conducted by The Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica, which revealed systemic issues within Connecticut’s towing regulations. These investigations highlighted instances where towing companies were able to quickly initiate the sale of vehicles, sometimes for significantly less than their market value, leaving owners with limited time and resources to reclaim their property. The latest legislation seeks to address these concerns by establishing a more equitable process for vehicle owners and ensuring greater oversight of the towing industry.
The core of Senate Bill 413 centers on the creation of an online portal, managed by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), designed to allow vehicle owners to easily track their towed vehicles. This portal will provide information on the location of the vehicle, whether it is eligible for sale, and the associated fees. The bill modifies the timeframe for selling towed vehicles, stipulating that companies can only initiate the sale process after 30 days if the vehicle is at least 15 years old. This represents a shift from previous regulations, which allowed sales to begin after as little as 15 days for vehicles valued under $1,500.
Addressing Loopholes and Protecting Consumers
Last year’s overhaul of Connecticut’s towing laws, enacted in 2025, was a direct response to concerns about the speed at which towing companies could begin the process of selling vehicles. Prior to the 2025 reforms, the 15-day window for vehicles deemed worth less than $1,500 was considered one of the shortest in the nation. This rapid timeline often resulted in vehicle owners losing their cars due to an inability to quickly pay towing and storage fees. The 2025 legislation extended this timeframe to 30 days and mandated that towing companies accept credit card payments, allow owners to retrieve personal belongings from towed vehicles, and provide advance notice before towing vehicles from private property for minor infractions.
Despite these improvements, reports continued to surface of residents receiving inadequate notification about impending vehicle sales, often due to outdated address information or vehicles still being registered to previous owners. Investigations by CT Mirror and ProPublica also revealed that towing companies frequently undervalued vehicles, allowing them to expedite the sales process. This practice raised concerns about fairness and transparency, prompting lawmakers to seek further reforms.
Senate Bill 413 directly addresses these issues. The new online portal aims to mitigate the problem of inadequate notification by providing a centralized location for vehicle owners to track their towed vehicles. The requirement that vehicles be at least 15 years old before being eligible for expedited sale is intended to prevent towing companies from quickly selling newer, more valuable vehicles at significantly reduced prices. Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford), Transportation Committee Co-Chair, emphasized the need to strike a balance between protecting consumers and supporting legitimate towing businesses. “There are bad actors,” Cohen stated, “We have read about it in the press. It’s what prompted us to accept action and really kind of take a look at our towing statutes on the whole.”
Bipartisan Support and Ongoing Oversight
The bill garnered strong bipartisan support in the Senate, passing with a vote of 35-1. Senator Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield), ranking member of the Transportation Committee, lauded the legislation as a continuation of “remarkable landmark legislation” passed the previous year. This broad support underscores the widespread recognition of the need for reform within the towing industry. The legislation’s origins can also be traced back to a working group established following the 2025 reforms, tasked with studying towing policies and making recommendations for improvement.
The working group, comprised of representatives from towing companies, consumer rights organizations, and the DMV, faced challenges in reaching a consensus on all proposed changes. DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera, who chaired the group, ultimately issued recommendations that did not receive unanimous support. Despite these internal disagreements, the resulting legislation reflects a commitment to addressing key concerns raised by stakeholders.
Beyond the online portal and the age restriction for expedited sales, Senate Bill 413 also establishes an advisory council to continue studying towing policies and monitoring the effectiveness of the new regulations. This council will be responsible for overseeing the operation of the DMV portal and assessing its impact on vehicle owners and towing companies. The bill also addresses the issue of towing fees, mandating that rates be reviewed and adjusted every three years based on government measures of inflation. This provision aims to ensure that towing fees remain reasonable and reflect the current economic climate.
Concerns Remain Regarding Accessibility
While the bill has been widely praised as a positive step forward, some consumer advocates have expressed concerns about the accessibility of the new online portal. Raphael Podolsky, a consumer advocate who served on the working group, cautioned that not all residents have access to computers or reliable internet service. “First of all, everybody doesn’t have a computer, and second of all, everybody who does have a computer would not know to go to a DMV portal, and third, not everybody has internet access, even if they have a computer,” Podolsky explained. This highlights the potential for the portal to exacerbate existing inequalities, particularly for low-income individuals and those living in rural areas.
However, DMV Commissioner Guerrera expressed confidence that the portal will enhance transparency and streamline the process of locating towed vehicles. “You have to be accountable and take things head-on,” Guerrera stated. “This portal that we will obtain running as soon as possible will allow someone to go online and — even without all their information — find where their car is.” Sal Sena, president of the Towing & Recovery Professionals of Connecticut, also expressed optimism about the new legislation, stating that it will “make it easier for everyone” and that the state is “on the right track.”
The bill is now awaiting consideration by the Connecticut House of Representatives. If passed by the House, it will be sent to the Governor for signature, becoming law. The implementation of the online portal is expected to take several months, with the DMV working to develop and launch the system in the coming year. The success of these reforms will depend on the effective implementation of the online portal, ongoing monitoring of towing practices, and continued collaboration between state officials, consumer advocates, and the towing industry.
This latest legislation represents a significant effort to address longstanding issues within Connecticut’s towing industry and protect the rights of vehicle owners. By increasing transparency, limiting the speed of vehicle sales, and establishing ongoing oversight, the state aims to create a more equitable and consumer-friendly system. The focus on towing reform underscores a growing awareness of the potential for abuse within this often-overlooked sector of the transportation industry.
The Connecticut House of Representatives is expected to vote on Senate Bill 413 in the coming days. Residents are encouraged to follow the progress of the bill and contact their state representatives to express their support or concerns. Further updates on the implementation of the online portal and the advisory council will be available on the Connecticut DMV website.