Welcome to the first Crash Towing Industry News.

This will be a regular newsletter to provide important updates about the crash towing industry reforms, including legislative changes that may affect how you operate in the industry.

Towing industry regulation

In 2022, the Ministers for Transport and Commerce announced the Government’s intention to reform the towing industry to protect people involved in traffic accidents and combat bad behaviour and price gouging.

This announcement followed community and industry consultation about options for reforming Western Australia’s towing industry undertaken by Consumer Protection in 2020, and outlined in the Accident towing industry consultation report.  

In 2022, responsibility for developing the regulatory framework and executing crash towing industry reforms was moved to the Department of Transport (DoT). 

The regulatory framework developed by DoT is set out in the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement - Proposal for the Regulation of the Crash Towing Industry in Western Australia.

It should be noted that proposals outlined in this document may have changed during the legislative drafting process or following further targeted consultation with stakeholders.

What's new

On 22 October 2024, the Western Australian Parliament passed the Towing Services Bill 2024 to give effect to the Government’s commitment to reform the WA crash towing industry. 

The objects of the Bill are to promote the safe, fair and efficient provision of services for regulated towing at a reasonable cost to consumers, and to improve and maintain the reputation of the towing industry.

The Towing Services Act 2024 will commence in stages to introduce the following key elements:

• The banning of advertising, payment or receipt of spotter fees across the State. 
• Price regulation to establish maximum charges for the towing and storage of light vehicles involved in a crash in the Perth and Peel regions. Reasonable charges for crash towing and storage will be required elsewhere in the State and for all vehicle types.
• Safety standards for towing workers and towing service providers who provide crash towing services across the State.
• Occupational authorisations for towing workers and towing service providers who provide crash towing services, including fit and proper character provisions across the State.  
• Establishment of penalties and legal sanctions, including enforcement capabilities and powers for DoT. 

These elements will be introduced in stages with the banning of advertising, payment or receipt of spotter fees, commencing first.
 

We value your feedback!

Have your say in the Towing Services Bill 2024 industry survey.

What's next

Regulations are currently being drafted to support Stage 1 which will see the introduction of:

• maximum charges for the towing and storage of light vehicles involved in a crash in the Perth and Peel regions, including requirements that charges for crash towing and storage elsewhere in the State and for all vehicle types must be reasonable; 
• changes to the conduct and obligations of towing workers when seeking the authority to tow a crashed vehicle, including adherence to safety standards, and set maximum charges; and 
• associated administrative and enforcement powers will also commence in Stage 1.

Stage 2 and 3, will introduce occupational authorisations for towing workers and towing service providers who provide crash towing services. It is anticipated that Stages 2 and 3 will commence in 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 respectively, dependant on the development of supporting systems. 

Join us at an information session

As the Regulations are being developed DoT will hold a series of industry information sharing and consultation forums. To express your interest in attending one of these sessions please complete this form below.

Contact us

If you are unable to locate the information you require on our website, please submit your enquiry below.

Kind regards
Towing Governance & Regulation 
Department of Transport
GPO Box R1290, Perth WA
6844