diff --git a/example-config.yml b/example-config.yml
index b04b7d8cf..efcbc1b51 100644
--- a/example-config.yml
+++ b/example-config.yml
@@ -70,10 +70,9 @@ api:
 persistence:
   enabled: true
   strategy: localStorage
-  ### This variable hides the "more info" link when accepting the terms of storage.
-  ### If no terms of storage page content is set, this removes an otherwise dead link
-  ### False is default in that if the value isn't set, the link isn't shown
-  # terms_of_storage: true
+  ### This variable defines the default state of the terms of storage checkbox.
+  ### Possible values: 'visible-unchecked' (default) | 'visible-checked' | 'hidden-unchecked' | 'hidden-checked'
+  # termsOfStorageDefault: 'visible-unchecked'
 
 ### If using the OTP Middleware to store user profiles
 ### with Auth0 as the authentication mechanism,
diff --git a/lib/components/user/terms-of-use-pane.tsx b/lib/components/user/terms-of-use-pane.tsx
index 2bb872c6e..74db697ac 100644
--- a/lib/components/user/terms-of-use-pane.tsx
+++ b/lib/components/user/terms-of-use-pane.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,26 @@
 import { Checkbox, ControlLabel, FormGroup } from 'react-bootstrap'
 import { connect } from 'react-redux'
 import { FormattedMessage, useIntl } from 'react-intl'
-import React, { FormEventHandler } from 'react'
+import { FormikProps } from 'formik'
+import React, { useEffect } from 'react'
 
 import { AppReduxState } from '../../util/state-types'
+import { CheckboxDefaultState } from '../../util/config-types'
 import { LinkOpensNewWindow } from '../util/externalLink'
 import {
   TERMS_OF_SERVICE_PATH,
   TERMS_OF_STORAGE_PATH
 } from '../../util/constants'
 
+import { EditedUser } from './types'
+
+interface Props extends FormikProps<EditedUser> {
+  disableCheckTerms: boolean
+  locale: string
+  termsOfServiceLink?: string
+  termsOfStorageDefault?: CheckboxDefaultState
+}
+
 /**
  * User terms of use pane.
  */
@@ -18,26 +29,31 @@ const TermsOfUsePane = ({
   handleBlur,
   handleChange,
   locale,
+  setFieldValue,
   termsOfServiceLink,
+  termsOfStorageDefault = CheckboxDefaultState.VISIBLE_UNCHECKED,
   values: userData
-}: {
-  disableCheckTerms: boolean
-  handleBlur: () => void
-  handleChange: FormEventHandler<Checkbox>
-  locale: string
-  termsOfServiceLink?: string
-  values: {
-    hasConsentedToTerms: boolean
-    storeTripHistory: boolean
-  }
-}) => {
+}: Props) => {
   const intl = useIntl()
-  const { hasConsentedToTerms, storeTripHistory } = userData
+  const { hasConsentedToTerms, id, storeTripHistory } = userData
 
   const TOSLinkWithI18n = termsOfServiceLink?.replace('{locale}', locale)
 
   const termsURL = TOSLinkWithI18n || `/#${TERMS_OF_SERVICE_PATH}`
 
+  const showStorageTerms = termsOfStorageDefault.startsWith('visible-')
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // When creating a new account, pre-check the storage field per defaults.
+    if (
+      !id &&
+      (termsOfStorageDefault === CheckboxDefaultState.HIDDEN_CHECKED ||
+        termsOfStorageDefault === CheckboxDefaultState.VISIBLE_CHECKED)
+    ) {
+      setFieldValue('storeTripHistory', true)
+    }
+  }, [id, setFieldValue, termsOfStorageDefault])
+
   return (
     <div>
       <ControlLabel>
@@ -61,44 +77,46 @@ const TermsOfUsePane = ({
           />
         </Checkbox>
       </FormGroup>
-      <FormGroup>
-        <Checkbox
-          checked={storeTripHistory}
-          name="storeTripHistory"
-          onBlur={handleBlur}
-          onChange={(e) => {
-            // Show alert when user is unchecking the checkbox
-            if (storeTripHistory) {
-              // Do nothing if the user hits cancel
-              if (
-                // eslint-disable-next-line no-restricted-globals
-                !confirm(
-                  intl.formatMessage({
-                    id: 'components.TermsOfUsePane.confirmDeletionPrompt'
-                  })
-                )
-              ) {
-                return
+      {showStorageTerms ? (
+        <FormGroup>
+          <Checkbox
+            checked={storeTripHistory}
+            name="storeTripHistory"
+            onBlur={handleBlur}
+            onChange={(e) => {
+              // Show alert when user is unchecking the checkbox
+              if (storeTripHistory) {
+                // Do nothing if the user hits cancel
+                if (
+                  // eslint-disable-next-line no-restricted-globals
+                  !confirm(
+                    intl.formatMessage({
+                      id: 'components.TermsOfUsePane.confirmDeletionPrompt'
+                    })
+                  )
+                ) {
+                  return
+                }
               }
-            }
 
-            handleChange(e)
-          }}
-        >
-          <FormattedMessage
-            id="components.TermsOfUsePane.termsOfStorageStatement"
-            values={{
-              termsOfStorageLink: (contents: JSX.Element) => (
-                <LinkOpensNewWindow
-                  contents={contents}
-                  inline
-                  url={`/#${TERMS_OF_STORAGE_PATH}`}
-                />
-              )
+              handleChange(e)
             }}
-          />
-        </Checkbox>
-      </FormGroup>
+          >
+            <FormattedMessage
+              id="components.TermsOfUsePane.termsOfStorageStatement"
+              values={{
+                termsOfStorageLink: (contents: JSX.Element) => (
+                  <LinkOpensNewWindow
+                    contents={contents}
+                    inline
+                    url={`/#${TERMS_OF_STORAGE_PATH}`}
+                  />
+                )
+              }}
+            />
+          </Checkbox>
+        </FormGroup>
+      ) : null}
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -106,7 +124,7 @@ const mapStateToProps = (state: AppReduxState) => {
   return {
     locale: state.otp.ui?.locale,
     termsOfServiceLink: state.otp.config.termsOfServiceLink,
-    termsOfStorageSet: state.otp.config.persistence?.terms_of_storage
+    termsOfStorageDefault: state.otp.config.persistence?.termsOfStorageDefault
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/util/config-types.ts b/lib/util/config-types.ts
index d3f10a090..bbc15aaba 100644
--- a/lib/util/config-types.ts
+++ b/lib/util/config-types.ts
@@ -91,8 +91,6 @@ export interface Auth0Config {
 /** Local persistence setting */
 export interface LocalPersistenceConfig {
   strategy: 'localStorage'
-  // eslint-disable-next-line camelcase
-  terms_of_storage?: boolean
 }
 
 /** OTP Middleware (Personas) settings */
@@ -107,14 +105,27 @@ export interface MiddlewarePersistenceConfig {
   strategy: 'otp_middleware'
 }
 
+/**
+ * Enum to describe the layout state of checkboxes.
+ */
+export enum CheckboxDefaultState {
+  /** Checkbox is hidden and initially checked */
+  HIDDEN_CHECKED = 'hidden-checked',
+  /** Checkbox is hidden and initially unchecked */
+  HIDDEN_UNCHECKED = 'hidden-unchecked',
+  /** Checkbox is visible and initially checked */
+  VISIBLE_CHECKED = 'visible-checked',
+  /** Checkbox is visible and initially unchecked */
+  VISIBLE_UNCHECKED = 'visible-unchecked'
+}
+
 /** General persistence settings */
 export type PersistenceConfig = (
   | LocalPersistenceConfig
   | MiddlewarePersistenceConfig
 ) & {
   enabled?: boolean
-  // eslint-disable-next-line camelcase
-  terms_of_storage?: boolean
+  termsOfStorageDefault?: CheckboxDefaultState
 }
 
 /** Popup target settings */