On the Hook
Connecticut allows tow truck companies to sell some people’s cars in 15 days, one of the shortest windows in the country. This and other laws favor towing companies at the expense of low-income residents. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting.
Featured Posts in this Series
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Gone in 15 Days: How the Connecticut DMV Allows Tow Companies to Sell People’s Cars
A law intended to deal with abandoned vehicles is making it hard for low-income people to get their cars back after they’re towed. The consequences can extend far beyond the cost of the car.
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How a Connecticut DMV Employee Made Thousands by Selling Towed Cars
For years, a towing company cut the lines at the DMV in exchange for deep discounts on towed cars, according to an internal DMV report, showing the agency’s oversight failures.
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Connecticut Towing Companies Frequently Value Cars Low, Allowing Them to Sell Vehicles Quickly
A database created by The Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica of more than 6,000 forms submitted by the state’s towing companies shows a pattern of low values, including for some luxury cars.
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Connecticut Towing Companies Use Belongings Left in Cars as Leverage to Collect Fees, Drivers Say
The Connecticut DMV allows owners to get back into towed cars to retrieve items that are essential to their health and welfare. But people have lost work equipment, car seats, important documents and priceless mementos.
20 stories published since 2025
