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Department of Transport and Main Roads

Accredited tow truck drivers and assistants

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Tow truck driver accreditation

An accredited tow truck driver is authorised to drive a tow truck attending:

  • the scene of an incident (crash),
  • a police vehicle seizure under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 from a road that is an off-street regulated parking area (police seizure)
  • to the removal of vehicles from private property.  

For crash towing, the role includes the preparation of a motor vehicle for towing, and to clean up the scene of the incident efficiently and safely. 

Understand your obligations as a tow truck driver or assistant when towing vehicles from private property.

The responsibilities that accredited tow truck drivers and assistants must comply with, are set out in the Tow Truck Act 2023 and the Tow Truck Regulation 2024. This legislation can be found on the Queensland Legislation website.

How do I become an accredited tow truck driver?

To become an accredited tow truck driver you must:

Driver licence requirements for tow truck drivers

To become an accredited tow truck driver you must:

  • hold an open class of driver licence
    OR
  • have previously held an open class of driver licence and currently hold a restricted or probationary licence. 
You may drive a tow truck that corresponds to the highest class of driver licence you hold. 
Mutual recognition

A current New Zealand driver licence with a vehicle recovery endorsement may be recognised and transferred to the equivalent Queensland tow truck driver accreditation for the same vehicle classes. Applicants must make application to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) for recognition of their existing New Zealand licence and pay the applicable fee.

How long does a tow truck driver accreditation last?

A tow truck driver accreditation is issued for a period of up to 5 years. The expiry date is displayed of the front of the industry authority card. 

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Tow truck assistant accreditation

An accredited tow truck assistant is authorised to travel in a tow truck while the tow truck is attending a scene of an incident, a police seized vehicle, and when removing a vehicle from private property. They assist the tow truck driver when preparing a motor vehicle for towing and loading the vehicle. They also assist in cleaning up the scene of an incident. 

Tow truck assistants are not required to hold a driver licence as they do not drive the tow truck.

How do I become an accredited tow truck assistant?

To become a certified tow truck assistant you must:

How long does a tow truck assistant accreditation last? 

A tow truck assistant authority is issued for a period of up to 5 years. The expiry date is displayed on the front of the industry authority card. 

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What happens after I apply for tow truck driver or assistant accreditation?

Once we receive your application, we will assess your traffic history (not applicable for tow truck assistant) and criminal history to determine your suitability to be accredited as a tow truck driver or assistant.

We will obtain a criminal history report, including a New Zealand criminal history report (if required) and your traffic history.

We do not accept criminal history reports issued directly to you by the Queensland Police Service (or any third party).

We will also look at your accreditation history if you have been accredited before.

Assessing your criminal and accreditation history

If you have a criminal, traffic or accreditation history, we will consider:

  • how the offence/s is/are relevant to the role you have applied for
  • how long ago the offence/s was/were committed
  • any penalty imposed
  • is there a pattern of offending.

If you have a criminal, traffic or accreditation history that we believe makes you unsuitable to be an accredited Tow Truck Driver, your application may be refused.

Charged but not yet finalised

We may refuse your application on the basis that you have been charged with (but not yet finalised) a relevant criminal offence.

However, being charged with an offence does not automatically mean your application will be refused.

We may ask for more details of the charge(s) and consider their relevance to the role of an accredited tow truck driver or tow truck assistant before making a decision.

Approving your application

If you application is approved, an accreditation document will be issued showing when your accreditation expires and if any conditions apply.

Application refused

If you application is refused, we will send you a notice which details:

  • the decision
  • the legislation applied in making the decision
  • the facts relied on in making the decision including any offences considered
  • any evidence or other material considered in reaching the decision
  • the reasons for the decision
  • your rights for a review of and/or appeal against the decision.

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Additional information for tow truck drivers and assistants

  • The accreditation issued may take the form of an industry authority card or interim industry authority document. An interim industry authority is evidence that you are authorised to perform the role until your industry authority card arrives in the mail.
  • Tow truck drivers and assistants must carry their industry authority card or interim industry authority at all times while operating an authorised tow truck at or near the scene of an incident, police seizure or when towing a vehicle from private property. The industry authority card or interim industry authority must be produced upon request to an authorised officer and to the authorising person of a damaged vehicle at the scene of an incident.
  • If the vehicle is unlocked, any moveable property found in the vehicle must be given to the accredited tow truck operator for safe keeping until the property can be returned to the vehicle owner or agent. A locked vehicle must not be unlocked without the consent of the vehicle owner or their agent.
  • You must take all reasonable precautions to prevent loss or damage to a motor vehicle and any personal items left in the vehicle while it is being towed and while it is in the holding yard.
  • You must not disclose to another person any personal information about the owner of a vehicle that you gained through towing of the vehicle unless it is to be disclosed to the vehicle owner, their agent or to an authorised officer.
  • You must not allow a person to travel in an authorised tow truck unless the person has a driver’s or assistant’s accreditation or they are the owner of the vehicle being towed, the owner’s agent or they were a passenger in the vehicle.
  • You must not tow a vehicle while there is a person inside it.
  • You must not intimidate, harass, abuse or insult a person or prevent or hinder the delivery of first aid or medical treatment.
  • Tow truck drivers and assistants must notify TMR within 14 days of a change of name or address.
  • Tow truck drivers and assistants must give TMR notice if charged or issued an infringement notice (as well as the outcome) of a notifiable offence. The notice must be provided within 14 days after the charge or outcome is known. Notifiable offences are those offences relevant to the role of a tow truck driver or assistant.

Note: The accreditation takes the form of an industry authority card or interim industry authority document. If you are signed up for e-reminders we will email you:

  • an interim industry authority as evidence that you are authorised to perform the role until your industry card arrives in the mail
  • when your industry card is posted
  • 6 weeks before your industry authority is due to be renewed
  • 3 days before your industry authority is due to be renewed.

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Last updated 26 August 2024