Your Guide to Crash Towing Services

Tow trucks are used for various purposes, including trade towing and crash towing or Police towing in Victoria.

Towing for Trade

Non-crash towing for hire or reward, such as when a vehicle breaks down and needs to be towed, is known as trade towing. Towing for trade can be done by: Anyone with a vehicle capable of delivering a towing function that meets the regulated requirements for a tow truck. tow trucks with ordinary number plates or number plates that end in ‘TT’ (these may only perform trade towing), tow trucks with number plates that begin with ‘TOW’ (these may perform trade towing and crash towing)

Heavy vehicles may necessitate the use of a heavy tow truck. It makes no difference whether the tow truck is a trade-only or a TOW tow truck if you need a trade tow. Both must abide by Victoria’s traffic laws, consumer protection laws, and other applicable laws (such as the Australian Design Rules, which set out safe design standards).

Towing after an accident

A crash-damaged vehicle must be moved to avoid posing a safety hazard. If your vehicle can’t be driven away from the accident, you’ll need to arrange for it to be towed. Only certain tow trucks are allowed to tow a vehicle that has been involved in a collision. The number plates on these tow trucks will read ‘TOW’ or ‘HTT’ (heavy vehicles only). This is a case of the police towing in Victoria.

Accreditation is required for these tow trucks drivers, operators, and depot managers. Accreditation ensures that the person providing crash towing services is technically competent, of good character, acts honestly, and provides a safe, efficient, and timely service.

In metropolitan Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula (Melbourne Controlled Area), as well as the Geelong area, a crash allocation system is in place for light vehicles (vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of fewer than four tonnes) (Self-management Area of Geelong). Your vehicle will be towed by a tow truck, which the allocation centre will arrange. An allocation number will also be given to the tow truck driver.

Conclusion

Before signing any paperwork to have your vehicle towed, the tow truck driver must give you a copy of the towing leaflet from an accident scene and explain your rights to have the vehicle towed to a location of your choice as the owner or driver of the crash damaged vehicle.

You will not have your vehicle towed until you have signed an Authority to Tow. The Authority to Tow specifies the towing and salvage services that will be provided and the associated costs. If you cannot sign the Authority to Tow, it may be signed on your behalf by police towing in Victoria or VicRoads officer.

Matt Nichole is the author of this article. For more details about Tow Truck Assistance please visit our website: victoriatowing.ca