Western Australia’s second stage of tow truck industry reforms has officially come into effect, marking a major overhaul of how crash towing businesses operate across the state.
The new rules are designed to clamp down on predatory behaviour that has long been reported at crash scenes, including intimidation of drivers, inflated towing charges, and unsafe or unethical business practices. The reforms follow a 2022 government consultation that found a significant proportion of motorists had experienced poor treatment from towing operators after accidents.
Under the updated system, all businesses that want to provide crash towing services must now apply for formal authorisation. This introduces a “fit and proper person” test, meaning operators with serious criminal histories—such as certain drug or firearms convictions—may be disqualified from running or being involved in towing businesses.
Authorities will also assess applicants more broadly for suitability, including reviewing past behaviour and requiring national police clearances. Regulators say the goal is to ensure operators demonstrate honesty, integrity, and professional conduct before being allowed to tow vehicles from accident scenes.
The reforms are being rolled out in stages. The first phase, introduced earlier, focused on banning so-called “spotter fees” (payments to encourage towing referrals at crash sites), setting maximum charges for crash towing in metropolitan areas, and requiring operators to clearly disclose costs upfront to consumers.
This second phase expands oversight to the business level, while a third phase—planned for 2026–27—will further regulate individual towing workers.
To improve transparency, authorised towing companies must now display their approval details and use official “authority to tow” documentation when removing vehicles. Regulators say this will help drivers confirm they are dealing with legitimate operators and understand where their vehicles are being taken.
Fee structures are also being tightened. In Perth and Peel, crash towing charges are capped (with light vehicle towing around the low-$500 range), along with regulated daily storage fees and limits on additional charges such as administration and after-hours costs.
However, regional WA remains more complex. Due to large distances and higher operational costs, strict fee caps are not yet applied in all regional areas, though authorities say further regulation may be introduced later.
The Department of Transport says the changes are aimed at protecting vulnerable motorists immediately after crashes—when they may be distressed and more likely to agree to expensive or unclear towing arrangements. Officials have also flagged that enforcement powers will be used against businesses that operate without authorisation.
Industry oversight will continue to tighten over the next few years, with the government signalling that this reform program is still ongoing and may expand to address issues such as storage yard practices and secondary towing fees in future stages.
