State guide
Connecticut
Connecticut DMV regulates wreckers through its dealer/repairer licensing system and publishes statewide maximum charges for nonconsensual private-property trespass tows. The state does not provide a public statewide towed-vehicle locator; Hartford and New Haven instead direct owners to city police or city parking lookup tools.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- How to find a towed car
- No public statewide owner-facing tow lookup was found; CT’s towing inquiry system is for licensed towers, not the public.
- State rules on tow and storage fees
- Connecticut DMV caps private-property nonconsensual tow charges statewide through an official maximum-fee schedule, including base tow, mileage, drop fee, and certain hourly exceptional-service rates.
- Notice rules (police and owner)
- For private-property nonconsensual tows, the tower must notify local police within the time required by §14-145, cannot charge storage before that notice, and must mail owner/lienholder notice if unclaimed after 48 hours.
- Who regulates tow companies
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
Official resources in Connecticut
CT DMV towing procedures and rates
Official DMV page explaining nonconsensual towing, CT’s towing inquiry system for licensed towers, and how to file a complaint.
Key facts for Connecticut
- CT DMV says only Connecticut licensed dealers or repairers with at least one wrecker plate may use the towing inquiry system; it is not a public owner lookup.
- For private-property nonconsensual tows, Connecticut publishes maximum charges; light-duty base tow is $130.63 and drop fee is $50.00, effective January 1, 2026.
- Connecticut bars storage charges before the tower notifies local police of a private-property nonconsensual tow.
- If a privately towed vehicle is unclaimed after 48 hours, the tower or storage facility must mail DMV’s tow notice by certified mail to the owner and lienholders.
- DMV’s Consumer Complaint Center investigates non-consensual towing and storage charges by Connecticut-licensed dealers or repair shops.
City towed-car lookups and impound lots in Connecticut
| City | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Got Booted or Towed? New Haven | New Haven | Not published* | City page says to search Citizen Connect by plate; if that fails, call police to learn whether the car was towed and why. |
| Parking & Enforcement New Haven | New Haven | Not published* | Main city parking-enforcement page linking to the tow/boot page and listing the non-emergency police line for other times. |
| Towing Operations Fairfield | Bridgeport | Not published* | Bridgeport Police page listing towing ordinances, CT DMV towing requirements, and the city’s current tower contact list. |
| Property Room Fairfield | Bridgeport | 203-581-5268. | Bridgeport Police Property Room handles evidence and found property; page lists inquiry and retrieval hours. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Call the local police or city parking office first; Connecticut has no public statewide tow-locator for owners.
- Ask for the posted DMV rate sheet and compare the invoice to the current CT maximum-fee chart before paying.
- If the tow or storage bill seems unauthorized or excessive, use DMV Form K-35 and send it to the DMV Consumer Complaint Center.
Not seeing your city or county?
Not every city publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Connecticut's population center, for comparison only):
- Records Bureau, Massachusetts · about 45 miles
- Boot & Tow Information / Policy, New York · about 65 miles
- Abandoned Vehicles, Massachusetts · about 75 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.CT DMV towing procedures and rates
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Connecticut page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.