If you have a comprehensive or third party property, fire and theft car insurance policy, you should be covered for towing at no extra cost if you're in an accident, but there are limits on where or how far they'll tow your car.
Applies to Comprehensive, Comprehensive Extras, Comprehensive Advantages and Fire, Theft & Third Party Property Damage cover
Towing your car from scene of incident to Suncorp's nearest repairer or somewhere else it agrees to
Storage costs if your vehicle can't be driven
Only covers the cost of a single tow
If you have Fire, Theft & Third Party Property Damage cover this additional cover only applies when the incident is fire or theft or a claim covered under "Damage by uninsured drivers"
If you have Third Party Property Damage cover this additional cover only applies if your claim is covered under the additional cover "Damage by uninsured drivers"
Comprehensive and Third Party Fire and Theft Cover
The cost to tow your vehicle to the closest repairer and the cost to store until repairs are undertaken
For comprehensive: If you're towing a caravan or trailer when you have an accident, you're covered for the transporting of this to the nearest repairer too
Comprehensive, Third Party Fire and Theft Car insurance
Pay reasonable towing costs for your car (and any caravan or trailer hitched to it), from the accident scene to the insurer's chosen location
For Third Party Property Damage cover, towing is only covered if the other driver is at fault (you have to provide the insurer with details about the incident)
Many comprehensive car insurance policies will automatically include towing to the nearest repairer or safe location in the event of an incident. Some plans even include complimentary roadside assistance, which may include towing, though this depends on the state of your car and the specific roadside assistance provider.
Apart from comprehensive policies, certain insurers like Youi, Budget Direct and Coles offer third party property, fire and theft policies with towing costs included.
Always check your policy documents to make sure you know what you're covered for!
Am I covered for towing?
For comprehensive policies, you'll likely be covered for towing in the case of any incident included in your policy (such as accidents or attempted theft) – if it leaves your car in an undrivable condition. For third party fire and theft policies (with towing as a benefit), your car will probably only be towed if the incident was a fire or attempted theft.
Most insurers do not provide a distance limit on towing, but do specify that they will only take you as far as the nearest approved repairer or secure place of storage, like your house. But once again, make sure to read the fine print of your policy details. For example, Suncorp will only cover you for a single tow, even if your vehicle doesn't end up at a repairer.
What should I do if I need a tow following an accident?
It's hard to keep your wits about you when you've just been involved in a crash on the road; you'll probably be quite shaken. But if your car is damaged enough that it can't safely be moved under its own steam, you'll need a tow to get it off the road and have it seen to. To avoid the predatory practices of questionable tow truck operators, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Contact your insurer. From a safe place and before agreeing to anything, call up your insurer and find out what they actually cover. Towing costs may not be included in your policy. Either way, your insurer may be able to arrange a tow for you with somebody they trust.
Ensure the tow service isn't dodgy. Just because they were the first to show up on the scene doesn't mean they're what you need. Depending on what state you're in, there may be particular identifiers of legitimate businesses. For example, in NSW, all licensed tow trucks will have "TT" as the last 2 characters on their registration. If you can, check their reviews online.
Know what you're signing. The only thing you should ever sign from a tow company is a standard towing authority form. Double-check the small print. If the form looks more like a contract or some kind of pamphlet, don't sign it! You have the right to contact anyone you need to before agreeing to the service to make sure it's legitimate. It shouldn't ask for anything more than details about the car and contact information. Keep a copy of whatever you sign.
Know where your car is going. Make sure you know who is towing your vehicle and the address where it will end up. This will help prevent it from being "carnapped" by an unscrupulous provider.
Empty your car of valuables. If you're able to, remove anything of value from your vehicle. It's very easy to rob things from a wrecked car hooked on the back of a tow truck or stored inside a yard.
Where should I have my car towed?
When getting a tow, you'll need to pick where to have it transported, unless the police request to have it taken in. You can usually pick between a few locations, including your own home, a mechanic's workshop and the towing company's holding yards.
Be careful when having it taken to the towing yard. Depending on your state, you might only have around 2 days before you start accruing expensive storage costs of $40-$60 a day. If there are any delays in dealing with your insurer or arranging repairs, these storage costs can add up quickly.
If you're ever unsure (and it's practical to do so), have your car taken to your own home. Assuming you have somewhere to put it, you won't have to worry about any extra storage fees when it's sitting in your garage or driveway. However, keep in mind that you may have to arrange a second tow to get it repaired. You might have to pick up the bill for that – so talk with your car insurer first and see what they suggest.
Towing regulations in different states
The rules around towing vary depending on where you are in Australia. Some places are highly regulated and some have barely any rules at all. Here's the geographical breakdown:
Contact anyone you need to before signing an authority form
Decide who tows your vehicle and where
Tow truck drivers must have an accredited towing certificate. Towing vehicles will have a registration plate with 4 numbers followed by TT, for example, "0357-TT"
Tower must provide a complete quote of all fees and charges
Arrange your own tow or have the police arrange it
A towing roster exists in the territory
Does roadside assistance cover towing?
Yes, in some circumstances. If you buy roadside assistance, whether it's from your insurer or a dedicated roadside assistance provider, towing should be included as part of the service. But there's a catch. Unlike towing provided after an incident on an insurance policy, free towing as part of roadside assistance is usually subject to a couple of restrictions:
Distance limits. Budget Direct's roadside assistance will only tow your vehicle for free up to 20km in a metropolitan area or 50km in a rural area.
Size limits. Your vehicle has to be under a certain weight and height, usually less than about 3.5-4 tonnes and no more than 3 or so metres high.
Whether roadside assistance is worth it depends on how likely you think your car is to face routine mechanical issues since it won't help with a tow in the event of an accident or fire – you'll need car insurance to be covered for that.
Also, roadside assistance tends to have a limited service area. While you might be covered for accidents Australia-wide, you simply may not be able to get roadside assistance in some parts of the country.
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Alexandra Koster is Finder's publisher for car, home and pet insurance. She has a Tier 1 certification in General Insurance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney. Her hobbies include reading Product Disclosure Statements and deciphering complicated insurance lingo to help people save on their insurance so that they can spend their money on better things – like dogs.
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