If a vehicle is damaged in a crash, there are requirements as to who can tow that vehicle and how it can be towed from the crash scene.

Authority to tow

The Accident Towing Services Act 2007 (Section 142) and Accident Towing Services Regulations 2008 (Regulation 35) outline the requirements regarding a person’s authority to tow a vehicle from a crash scene. 

A tow truck driver cannot tow a vehicle damaged in a crash unless the owner or driver of the vehicle (or, in certain circumstances, a member of the Victoria Police) signs a document authorising that tow truck driver to tow their vehicle. This is called an Authority to tow.

Authorities to tow must:

• be printed in bound books,
• be numbered sequentially,
• produce two or more copies of each Authority to tow document. This will allow one copy to be given to the driver or owner of the crashed vehicle for their records, and one to be retained by the tow truck driver,
• contain only the information contained in the templates provided below for download. This is the required information as set out in Schedule 2 of the Accident Towing Services Regulations 2008.

Creating your own Authority to tow forms

To assist towing operators, an Authority to tow template can be downloaded and used to print operators’ bound books. There are two types of template available: 

• overprint template - this has a blank space at the top of the document so that an operator can add their business details to the document. Authority to tow overprint template [PDF, 72kb, 1p] 
• pre-printed template - this form does not include a space for the operator to add their business details.  Instead, the tow truck driver will need to fill in the business details on each Authority to tow. Authority to tow pre-print template [PDF, 72kb, 1p]

Both templates have space at the top right hand corner to include the sequential numbers required in the bound book.

Buying a ready-to-use Authority to tow book

Operators who do not wish to print their own Authority to tow books may instead choose to purchase ready-to-use Authority to tow books from the VACC. You do not need to be a member of the VACC to purchase these books although member discounts do apply.

These Authority to tow books use the standard templates. Operators can choose which type they prefer. There are two types:

• overprint books which must be ordered in advance so that the details of the operator’s business can be added to the forms,
• pre-printed books which do not include the operator’s business details are available for immediate purchase and use.

For further information or to purchase a book contact the VACC’s Stationery Store on (03) 9829 1191.