Welcome to Issue 35 of Crash Towing Industry News.
This week’s newsletter highlights the following topics:
- Opening of towing business authorisation applications
- Setting up a DoTDirect organisation account for partnerships and trusts
Towing Business Authorisation Applications
Applications for towing business authorisations opened on 1 July 2026.
Applications must be submitted through DoTDirect, the Department for Transport and Major Infrastructure’s (DTMI) online platform. Information on the application process has been distributed through industry newsletters and is also available on the Department’s website under the Towing Business Authorisation pages.
The requirement for towing businesses to hold an authorisation will be introduced in stages across Western Australia.
It may take up to six weeks to assess your application once it has been received. Incomplete or incorrectly completed applications, or delays in providing additional information requested by DTMI, may further extend this timeframe.
If you do not submit your application within a reasonable timeframe, you may be unable to provide regulated (crash) towing services until DTMI has considered your application.
It is recommended that your business authorisation application is submitted prior to the dates below.
Perth and Peel
- Required authorisation date: 1 September 2026
- Recommended last date for application: 19 July 2026
South West
- Required authorisation date: 1 October 2026
- Recommended last date for application: 16 August 2026
Rest of State
- Required authorisation date: 1 November 2026
- Recommended last date for application: 20 September 2026
Online applications in DoTDirect cannot be saved and resumed later. The entire application must be completed in a single session. We recommend that you read the application guide relevant to your business type and have all required information available before starting.
If you experience any issues completing the DoTDirect towing business authorisation application, please contact the Towing Governance and Regulation team:
Email: Towing@transport.wa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 9320 4111
Setting up a DoTDirect Business Account – Partnerships and Trusts
To apply for a towing business authorisation, you must have the correct type of DoTDirect account for your business structure.
Newsletter 33, issued on 26 June 2026, outlined:
- How companies and incorporated bodies can register for a DoTDirect organisation account; and
- How sole traders can link their ABN to a DoTDirect personal account.
The process for partnerships and trusts is different and is outlined below.
Partnerships and trusts:
- Must have a DoTDirect organisation account.
- Must submit towing business authorisation applications through their organisation account.
As partnerships and trusts cannot register vehicles through a DoTDirect organisation account, they are unable to create an organisation account online. Instead, they must apply using the following form:
Once the form has been completed, together with all required supporting documentation, it should be emailed to the Towing Governance and Regulation team at:
Email: Towing@transport.wa.gov.au
Contact us
If you are unable to locate the information you require on our website, please submit your enquiry below or contact us on (08) 9320 4111 between 8 am to 4.30 pm weekdays.
