§ 24-14-9-2 — Prohibited actions for towing companies and storage facilities

Indiana § 24-14-9-2

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Art. 14: TOWING SERVICES
• Ch. 9: Prohibited Acts

Text

A towing company or a storage facility shall
not do any of the following:
(1) Upon payment of all costs relating to a tow, motor vehicle
storage, and all allowable fees, as applicable, refuse to release the
motor vehicle during regular office hours to a properly identified
person who owns or holds a lien on the motor vehicle in
accordance with the procedures and subject to the same
requirements set forth in IC 9-22-1-8 with respect to abandoned
motor vehicles. However, a towing company or storage facility
shall not release a motor vehicle in any case in which a local law
enforcement agency has ordered the motor vehicle not to be
released, or in any case in which the motor vehicle cannot be
released because of pending litigation.
(2) Refuse to permit:
(A) a properly identified person who owns or holds a lien on a
motor vehicle; or
(B) a representative of the insurance company that insures the
motor vehicle, if the vehicle is covered by an active policy of
insurance;
to inspect the motor vehicle during regular office hours before all
costs incurred against the motor vehicle are paid or the motor
vehicle is released. A retrieval fee may be charged if it complies
with the requirements of IC 9-22-1-8.
(3) Charge any storage fee for a stored motor vehicle with respect
to any day on which:
(A) release of the motor vehicle; or
(B) inspection of the motor vehicle by the owner, lienholder, or
insurance company;
is not permitted during regular office hours by the towing
company or storage facility.
(4) Offer to provide compensation to a person for a referral unless
the person and the towing company or storage facility have an
executed contract in place.
(5) Charge more than the fees that are included in a towing
agreement or contract with the law enforcement agency that
ordered the tow or the contract with the private property owner
that ordered the tow under IC 9-22-1.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.281-2019, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.227-2025, SEC.52.