Current through Acts 2023-2024, ch. 1069
Section 55-31-402 - Fees - Period exceeding twenty-one (21) days(a) A person engaged in the business of towing motor vehicles by tow truck or otherwise or the storing of such motor vehicles for any type of remuneration, whether as the principal business of the person or as an incidence to the person's principal business, shall not charge the owner or lienholder of a stored motor vehicle a storage fee for a period exceeding twenty-one (21) days without the consent of the owner or lienholder, except as otherwise provided in § 55-31-403.(b) A person engaged in a business described in subsection (a) shall not charge a storage fee for any day on which the vehicle is not available for release to the owner, lienholder, or insurer, unless the failure to release is based on a hold placed on the vehicle by law enforcement.(c) Upon provision of documentation from an insurer or lienholder showing its right to take custody of a vehicle, a person engaged in a business described in subsection (a) shall release the vehicle to the insurer or lienholder, or an authorized agent or representative for such insurer or lienholder, upon the insurer's or lienholder's payment of reasonable charges due, without requiring additional consent from the owner of the motor vehicle. The insurer or lienholder shall indemnify and hold harmless the releasing person or entity from any action, cause of action, claim, judgment, loss, liability, damage, or cost that it may incur due to wrongful release of the motor vehicle to an authorized agent or representative of the insurer or lienholder.Added by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1017,s 4, eff. 7/1/2024.