Rules
Towed From a Lot in Waterbury? What Connecticut Law Requires
If your car vanished from a private lot in Waterbury, it was most likely towed, not stolen. Connecticut law says the tow company must tell the local police within two hours. So call the Waterbury Police non-emergency line at 203-574-5261 and ask who towed it. Then read the lot's posted sign. On most commercial lots, the law says that sign must tell you where your car went and how to get it back.
Was my car towed or stolen?
You come out of a shop near Brass Mill Center, or back from a show at the Palace Theater, and your space is empty. Your stomach drops. Before you report a theft, check two things.
- Look for a sign. Walk the lot entrances and the building walls. Take a photo of any towing sign you find.
- Call the police non-emergency line. Waterbury Police headquarters is at 255 East Main Street. The non-emergency number is 203-574-5261.
Why the police? Under C.G.S. 14-145, a licensed wrecker that tows a car off private property must notify the local police within two hours. The notice has to be in writing, by fax or by email. So if the tow happened more than two hours ago, the police should have a record of it.
The police also run the car's VIN no later than 48 hours after that notice. They check it against stolen car records. If your car was stolen and then dumped in a lot, that check can catch it.
What does the tow sign have to say?
A private commercial lot can have your car towed or booted. But first, the owner must put up a sign you can see. Connecticut law says the sign must tell you:
- That cars left without permission may be towed or booted.
- Where a towed car will be stored.
- How you can get it back.
- Any costs or fees you may be charged.
Snap a clear photo of that sign. It tells you where to go. If the sign was missing, or didn't list those things, the photo is your proof later.
When can they tow with no sign at all?
The law lists spots where a lot can tow you with no warning sign. Your car can go if it was left:
- In a disabled parking space without a placard or special plate.
- In an area kept for emergency vehicles.
- Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Blocking a building's door or access.
- Blocking the way in or out of the lot.
- For 48 hours or more.
A lender can also repossess a car with no sign. If you're behind on a car loan, that's worth a thought before you assume the lot owner did it.
Who can order a tow from a private lot?
Only the property owner, the tenant who leases it, or their agent. A tow company can't spot your car and haul it off on its own. Under C.G.S. 14-145a, the tow needs their express instruction. The one exception is a lender's repossession.
The same law bans kickbacks. A tow company can't pay the lot owner money, or anything else of value, for the right to tow cars off that lot.
Here's another one many drivers don't know. A private lot in Connecticut can't write you a parking ticket. The law bars private owners from fining you through a written warning, a posted sign or any other way. Private colleges and private high schools are the exceptions. So if a store lot leaves a "fine" on your windshield, read it closely.
Can they charge storage before telling the police?
No. The tow company can't charge you storage for any time before it notified the police. When you get your bill, look at when storage starts. Ask to see when the police notice went out.
Say your car still sits there 48 hours later. Then the tow company must mail a notice to you and any lender on your title. It goes by certified mail, on a state DMV form. If nobody claims it after that, the tow company can start the process to sell it. So don't wait. Storage keeps adding up, and the clock keeps running.
How do I get my car back from the tow lot?
A car towed off private property has to be kept at the tow company's own secured lot. Under C.G.S. 14-145b, that lot must be open for pickups from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. It also has to be reasonably available on weekends and holidays.
Bring these with you:
- Proof of registration. The law says you must show it.
- Payment for the tow and the storage.
- Your keys. Can't go yourself? The law lets an owner send a person they authorize. Give that person a signed note.
- Your phone, to take photos of the car before you drive away.
What are my rights at the counter?
The same law gives you three protections when you pay:
- You can inspect the car first. Walk around it before you accept it. Photograph every side.
- You don't have to sign away your claims. The tow company can't make you sign a general release as a condition of getting your car back.
- You get an itemized receipt. It must show the name of the tow company and a list of each charge.
Keep that receipt. You'll need it if you file a complaint or go to court.
What if a boot is on my car?
Some lots use a wheel lock, or boot, instead of a tow. Connecticut sets rules for that too. The lot must notify the police within two hours of booting your car. It can't charge you to remove the boot before that notice.
The law also caps the boot removal fee. You can pay it in cash, by check, or by debit or credit card. Someone has to be on site to release your car for at least eight hours after the boot goes on. After that, a sign must list the hours you can get it removed.
Where do I complain about a bad tow in Connecticut?
It depends on what went wrong.
| Problem | Where to take it |
|---|---|
| Towing or storage charges seem too high | DMV Consumer Complaint Center, Form K-35 |
| Your car was damaged in the tow | Small claims court (the DMV doesn't investigate tow damage) |
| The lot had no proper sign, or towed you for no good reason | The property owner may owe you the tow and storage costs |
The state sets maximum rates for tows you didn't agree to, and a private lot tow counts. The DMV complaint page explains the steps. Print two copies of Form K-35 and sign both. Mail one to the DMV Consumer Complaint Center, 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. Send the other to the company. The center's phone number is 860-263-5405. Include copies of your receipt and photos.
If the lot owner improperly had your car towed, C.G.S. 14-145c makes the owner liable to you. That covers the tow and storage costs, plus reasonable lawyer fees and court costs when they apply.
My car won't start after I get it back. Now what?
This happens more than you'd think. The car sat in a cold lot for days. The battery is flat, or the tow company says it can't be driven. You still need to get it out.
That's where we come in. Sentinel doesn't do impounds, private lot tows or releases. But once your car is released to you, we can help. A jump start may get a cold battery going again. If the car can't be driven, a car tow can take it from the lot to your home or your shop.
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent, then check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise. You can also track your truck on a map. For breakdowns on I-84, Route 8 and the hills, see our Waterbury towing page.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Waterbury Private Lot Towing Questions
Can Sentinel get my towed car out of the lot?
No. Sentinel doesn't do impounds or private lot releases. You pay the tow company and pick up the car yourself. If it won't start or can't be driven once it's released, call us for a jump or a tow.
The lot had no sign. Can they still tow me?
Only in certain spots. A commercial lot can tow with no sign if you blocked a hydrant, a door or the entrance, parked in a disabled or emergency space, or stayed 48 hours or more. Otherwise, the law says a sign must be posted. Photograph the lot as proof.
Do I have to pay before I can look at my car?
No. Connecticut law gives you the right to inspect the car before you accept it. Check every side and take photos. Then pay and get your itemized receipt.
Someone else is picking up my car. Is that allowed?
Yes. The law lets the owner send an authorized person. Give them a signed note, the registration and payment. Call the tow lot first to ask what else they want to see.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Connecticut General Statutes 14-145 to 14-145d, CT DMV towing procedures and rates, CT DMV file a complaint, Waterbury Police Department.
