Summary — HB 7162: “An Act Reforming the Motor Vehicle Towing Statutes” (Public Act 25-55)
Status: Signed by Governor (Public Act 25-55) — signed June 10, 2025
Introduced: March 5, 2025
Primary subject areas: motor vehicle towing and storage; abandoned vehicles; consumer protections and unfair trade practices; fees, fines and infractions; municipal regulation and permits; notices and signage; records retention; police and state agencies; studies and reporting.
Purpose and intent
The act updates and consolidates Connecticut’s statutory framework governing vehicle towing, impoundment, storage and related transactions. Its stated goals are to strengthen consumer protections, clarify responsibilities for tow operators and property owners, standardize notice, signage and recordkeeping requirements, and refine enforcement and penalty provisions to reduce unfair or deceptive towing practices.
Key topics and provisions (high level)
The enacted law addresses multiple aspects of towing practice and regulation, including but not limited to:
- Consumer protections and unfair trade practices: expanded measures to protect vehicle owners from deceptive or abusive towing and storage practices; enhanced remedies or penalties for violations.
- Fees, fines and infractions: revisions to allowable towing, storage, and administrative fees and to civil/administrative penalties or infractions for statutory violations.
- Notice and signage requirements: clarified requirements for posting of tow-away/No Parking signage and for providing owners with notice after towing or impoundment.
- Abandoned vehicle and repossession procedures: adjustments to procedures for declaring vehicles abandoned and for notifying owners / lienholders; rules for vehicle release and redemption.
- Licensing, permitting and municipal authority: updates to municipal permitting or licensing regimes for private towing operators and regulations governing towing from private lots and parking facilities.
- Records retention and reporting: requirements for tow companies and/or municipal/state agencies to retain records and, potentially, to submit reports or participate in studies.
- Role of police, State Police and motor vehicle agencies: clarified coordination and responsibilities among law enforcement and the Department of Motor Vehicles for impounds, releases and oversight.
- Standards affecting motor vehicle dealers, repairers and storage facilities: procedural clarity for repair shops, dealers and storage operators that accept towed vehicles.
- Signs, parking rules and enforcement: alignment of towing practices with local parking regulation enforcement.
Note: This summary is based on the bill title, subject classification and legislative actions. For precise statutory language (fee levels, timelines for notice, specific penalty amounts, effective dates and any mandated studies or reporting requirements), consult the enacted Public Act 25-55 text on the Connecticut General Assembly or Secretary of the State website.
Who is affected
- Consumers/vehicle owners and lienholders (rights, notice, potential fees and remedies)
- Private towing companies, repossession agents and vehicle storage operators (licensing, fee rules, recordkeeping)
- Municipalities and parking lot/property owners (signage, permit and enforcement practices)
- Law enforcement agencies and the Department of Motor Vehicles (procedures and oversight)
- Motor vehicle dealers, repairers and inspectors who handle towed vehicles
Legislative and procedural timeline
- Introduced March 5, 2025; referred to Transportation Committee and subsequently to Appropriations for review.
- Multiple committee reports and amendments, including House Amendment Schedule A.
- Passed both chambers (House adopted amended version, Senate concurred with House amendment).
- Transmitted to Governor June 9, 2025; signed June 10, 2025 (becomes Public Act 25-55).
For implementation details (effective date, agency rulemaking deadlines, and exact statutory changes), review the full enacted bill text and any implementing guidance issued by state agencies.
