How to Lose a Car in 15 Days

How to Lose a Car in 15 Days

May 21, 2026 · 42 min

About this episode

This episode investigates the troubling practice of cars being towed and sold within 15 days, highlighting the legal framework and the impact on vulnerable drivers.

Local reporters at The Connecticut Mirror heard story after story of drivers having their cars towed and then sold out from underneath them, sometimes in just 15 days. They teamed up with ProPublica to investigate why, how often this was happening and who was profiting from it. This episode traces the history of the 100-year-old law that made all of it legal and follows the reporters as they try to track down drivers’ cars and confront the bureaucrats allowing a flawed system to take advantage of vulnerable people. Reporters: Ginny Monk and Dave Altimari Read More: https://www.propublica.org/series/on-the-hook Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate .

People in this episode

Guests: Ginny Monk, Dave Altimari

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Connecticut Mirror, ProPublica

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