Bill expanding oversight of Illinois tow truck industry heads to governor
Published 8:32 am Thursday, July 30, 2026
CHICAGO — Legislation strengthening Illinois’ oversight of the tow truck industry and expanding the secretary of state’s authority to crack down on fraudulent operators has been sent to Gov. JB Pritzker for his signature.
House Bill 4843, which passed the Illinois General Assembly unanimously, expands Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ authority to suspend or revoke certificates and special registration plates issued to tow truck and wrecker operators who fraudulently obtain registrations, illegally use tow truck plates, or otherwise violate vehicle registration laws.
“For too long, rogue tow-truck operators have exploited loopholes in the system, deceived consumers and undercut the honest businesses that play by the rules,” Giannoulias said. “This legislation gives us stronger enforcement tools to identify bad actors, revoke their registrations and remove them from Illinois roads.”
Under the bill, the secretary of state would be able to suspend or revoke a tow truck or wrecker operator’s registration or plates if the individual or company is not lawfully entitled to them, has knowingly allowed illegal use of the plates, has committed fraud in registering vehicles, or has failed to provide legally required notices involving vehicle transfers.
The measure builds on legislation signed into law last year that gave the secretary of state’s office authority to suspend tow truck registrations for companies that fail to pay Illinois Commerce Commission fines and that strengthened consumer protections during towing and vehicle impoundment, including rules governing personal property left inside towed vehicles.
