Welcome to Issue 43 of Crash Towing Industry News.
In this issue, we clarify common questions from industry about towing businesses and workers undertaking regulated crash towing.
This week's newsletter includes important information on:
- Who needs to be authorised as a towing worker.
- Passengers and ride-along workers.
- Recording of towing business authorisation numbers on an Authority to Tow (ATT).
- Subcontractors and business identification.
Thank you
We continue to appreciate the cooperation and support of towing businesses throughout the authorisation process. Your ongoing assistance is greatly valued and has helped support the timely assessment and approval of applications.
Applications currently under review will continue to be progressed, with applicants advised of the outcome in due course.
From 1 November 2026, this requirement will extend to all towing service providers operating throughout the rest of Western Australia who wish to undertake regulated (crash) towing activities.
Under sections 13 and 14 of the Towing Services Act 2024, regulated crash towing businesses must be authorised and comply with the conditions of their authorisation.
Maximum penalties are $40,000 for individuals and $200,000 for bodies corporate.
Towing workers must also be approved under an authorised towing business before undertaking regulated (crash) towing. This includes using an Authority to Tow (ATT) associated with an authorised towing business. Non-compliance may result in investigation and enforcement action.
Who needs to be approved as a towing worker?
A person must be appropriately authorised if they undertake, or assist another person to undertake, regulated (crash) towing activities. These activities include attending a crash site, obtaining or attempting to obtain an authority to tow, and loading, moving or unloading a crashed vehicle, as well as any other activity prescribed under the Towing Services Act 2024 and Towing Services Regulations 2025.
A person who cannot work as a towing worker in regulated (crash) towing may still be employed by a towing business in another capacity. This may include administrative support or non-regulated towing work, provided the person does not undertake or assist with regulated (crash) towing activities.
Towing businesses should carefully define worker duties and ensure that only appropriately authorised workers perform regulated (crash) towing activities. Failure to do so may result in offences and could affect a towing business authorisation.
Passengers and ride-along workers
A person who is not authorised as a towing worker may travel in a tow truck as a passenger. However, at a regulated (crash) scene, they must remain in the vehicle and must not assist with, participate in or engage in any regulated (crash) towing activity.
Towing businesses and towing workers should ensure unauthorised passengers do not exit the vehicle or assist in any way at a regulated (crash) scene.
Recording of towing business authorisation numbers on Authority to Tow (ATT)
It is not currently a requirement to record the towing business authorisation number on an ATT. However, as best practice, towing service providers are encouraged to record their authorisation number in the available space at the bottom-right of the TSP details section.
Further information will be provided when this becomes a requirement.
Subcontractors and business identification
A towing service provider operating as an approved towing worker (subcontractor) for an authorised towing business is not required to display the logo of that authorised towing business. However, the Authority to Tow (ATT) form must include the details of the authorised towing business for which the work is being performed.
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.
