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Car Stolen from Paid Parking? Who's Responsible, You or the Operator? The Law Explained
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News18•27-09-2026, 17:56
Car Stolen from Paid Parking? Who's Responsible, You or the Operator? The Law Explained
- •If your car is stolen from paid parking, the parking operator is legally responsible, not the owner.
- •Under the Indian Contract Act, 1872, the parking operator acts as a 'Bailee' and has a legal duty to ensure the car's safety.
- •The clause 'Parking at Owner's Risk' on receipts is misleading and holds no legal value, as ruled by the Supreme Court.
- •In case of theft, preserve the original receipt, file an FIR, demand CCTV footage, and approach the Consumer Court if compensation is denied.
- •The driver is only at fault if the car was left unlocked or keys were forgotten inside. The operator is not liable for theft of valuables left inside the car's trunk.
Key Questions Answered
According to the Indian Contract Act of 1872 and a historic Supreme Court ruling in 'Taj Mahal Hotel vs. United India Insurance', the 100% legal responsibility lies with the parking operator, not the vehicle owner.
No. Printing 'Parking at Owner's Risk' on the receipt is a misleading loophole that holds no value in the eyes of the law, as commercial parking operators cannot shirk their liability for vehicle safety.
First, carefully preserve your original parking receipt as proof of custody. Immediately file a police FIR for theft, demand CCTV footage from management, and you can approach the consumer court to recover the car's full cost.
