Licence & towing fees

The amounts below are the fees that accident tow truck operators can charge for towing, storing and salvaging damaged motor vehicles that weigh less than four tonnes from the scene of an accident within the Melbourne controlled area.

The applicable charges for 2018-19 are listed below. 

Description Charge
Base fee
The first 8 kilometres travel by tow truck. This is based on the distance from the authorised depot to the accident scene, and then from the accident scene to the address on the Authority to Tow. This fee also includes an allowance for removal of all debris (including any spills), cleaning the tow truck, waiting time at the accident scene, phone calls, release of stored vehicle, unpaid tows and administration such as photos and documentation.		 $221.40
Additional fee per kilometre
Travel beyond the first 8 kilometres		 $3.50
After hours surcharge
5pm to 8am Monday to Friday
5pm Friday to 8am Monday (all weekend)
Public holidays (midnight to midnight)		 $75.60

The following maximum rates apply for secure storage of accident damaged motor vehicles in the Melbourne controlled area. Fees quoted are per day.

Storage type Charge
Car - under cover $17.00
Car - in locked yard $11.50
Motorcycle - under cover $5.60
Motorcycle - in locked yard $3.60

Note: All the above charges include GST

The fee for salvage work is not specifically regulated in the Melbourne controlled area. However, all salvage charges are required to be reasonable in accordance with section 212I of the Accident Towing Services Act 2007.

In the self management area of Geelong, regional Victoria and for heavy vehicle towing, the charges for accident towing are not specifically regulated under the Accident Towing Services Act 2007. However, the fee charged must be reasonable Some of the factors that may be taken into account to determine whether the fee charged is reasonable include:

  • the nature of the service provided
  • the day and time that the service is provided
  • any administrative costs incurred
  • the amount charged for a similar towing service, such as a car breakdown, and
  • the amount charged for the same or similar service by another accident towing operator in the same or similar area.

There are a number of fees for accident towing applications, permits and licences. Listed below are the applicable fees for 2018-19.

Fee Description Fee
Accreditation Certificate
Application for driver, operator and depot manager accreditation		 $77.30
Duplicate Accreditation Certificate
Replacement of an accreditation certificate that has been lost, stolen or destroyed		 $26.00
Trainee Permit
Application for a 60 day tow truck trainee permit		 $26.00
Annual Licence Fee – Melbourne controlled area
A regular tow truck licence operating under the road accident scene roster in the Melbourne controlled area. This fee can be paid in four instalments		 $1,013.40
Annual Licence Fee – Outside the Melbourne controlled area
A regular tow truck licence operating outside the Melbourne controlled area		 $202.00
Annual Heavy Tow Truck Licence
Licence to tow vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 4 tonnes or more		 $202.00
Duplicate Licence
Replacement of a licence that has been lost, stolen or destroyed		 $26.00
Licence Transfer
Transfer an existing tow truck licence to another person		 $202.10
Vary the hours of operation for a specified depot
Outside the Melbourne controlled area		 $202.10
Alteration of specified depot
Vary the depot address that a tow truck licence can operate from		 $202.00
Substitution of Specified Tow Truck
Substitute the tow truck specified in the licence for another tow truck		 $77.30
Temporary Tow Truck Permit
Permit for a tow truck to operate contrary to the licence conditions		 $26.00

Note: All the fees above include GST.

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