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

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

Sec. 2. 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.

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

IC 24-14-10Chapter 10. Violations

24-14-10-1Deceptive acts 24-14-10-2Jurisdiction of attorney general 24-14-10-3Rulemaking authority