Guide · Victorian towing

Accident vs breakdown towing in Victoria

Grey sedan on a flatbed tow truck; registration details obscured.

In Victoria, towing a car that has broken down and towing a car from a crash scene are handled under different arrangements. TP Towing takes breakdown and other non-accident towing enquiries on 0469 929 029. It does not provide accident towing.

After a crash, follow directions from police or emergency services, and call 000 if anyone is hurt. This guide explains the difference in general terms.

Call for Towing — 0469 929 029

How the two kinds of towing differ

The short answer: a breakdown tow is arranged like any other service, while crash-scene towing is a separately regulated activity.

Breakdown (trade) towing
Moving a vehicle that has broken down, will not start or is being relocated. You contact an operator, agree the job and quote, and choose where it goes.
Accident towing
Towing a vehicle damaged in a road crash. In Victoria this requires an accident towing licence, and in some areas an allocation system decides which operator attends.
Who directs it
At a crash scene, follow police or emergency services. Who attends can depend on the exact location of the crash.
Where to check
Transport Victoria publishes current information on towing arrangements, including what to expect after a crash.

TP Towing does not attend crash scenes

Use this guide for general understanding only. For breakdown towing, costs are explained in Towing costs and quote details.

Working out which applies to you

A simple order of questions. It is general information, not legal advice.

  1. Was there a crash?

    If yes, follow police or emergency services and call 000 if anyone is hurt. Do not arrange a breakdown tow from the scene yourself.

  2. If not, is anyone at risk?

    Get to a safe place away from traffic before arranging anything.

  3. Gather the details

    Exact location, vehicle make and model, its condition and where it should go.

  4. Contact a breakdown towing operator

    TP Towing confirms whether we can take a non-accident job, our availability and the quote before anything is booked.

Accident and breakdown towing questions

No. A breakdown tow is arranged directly with an operator. Crash-scene towing in Victoria is regulated separately, so follow directions from police or emergency services. For a breakdown, you can request a towing quote.

Transport Victoria publishes current information about tow trucks and accident towing, including tips for motorists. Arrangements can depend on where the crash happened, so check the official source rather than relying on a towing company’s website.

Breakdown towing from TP Towing

For a non-accident tow, call 0469 929 029. Mobile towing enquiries are taken 24/7; onsite visiting hours at the Aintree base are separate. An enquiry is not a confirmed booking. After a crash, follow police directions.

Call for Towing — 0469 929 029Request a towing quote
Business
TP Towing Pty Ltd
ABN
91 686 956 865
Phone
0469 929 029
Mobile towing
Mobile towing enquiries 24/7
Base
2 Arbourton Avenue, Aintree VIC 3336