Tow truck operator accreditation

The main purpose of accrediting tow truck operators is to regulate the activity of tow trucks and their operation when towing damaged vehicles from the scene of incidents, when towing police seized vehicles from off-street regulated parking areas, and when towing vehicles from private property parking areas. 

The scheme also covers regulated maximum towing charges and the handling and storage of towed vehicles, within regulated areas in accordance with the Tow Truck Act 2023 and the Tow Truck Regulation 2024.

How do I become an accredited tow truck operator?

Accreditation for a tow truck operator can only be granted to a company, an individual person or a partnership. A business name cannot hold accreditation.

To become an accredited tow truck operator you must:

• complete the Tow Truck Operator Accreditation Application form (F4644) which must be lodged at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre, or an authorised Queensland Government Agency Program Office
• pay the relevant fee.

If the application is in a company or partnership name, proof of the company/partnership must be provided by submitting with the application:

• a copy of the ASIC Certificate of Incorporation for the company  
• a Business Name extract for the business name of the company or partnership 
• original or certified copy of the formal Deed of Partnership listing all involved parties and proves validity of the partnership.
• the name/s and personal details of the persons behind the company or partnership (the legal entity name).
  
   

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What happens after I apply?

Once we receive your application, we will assess your criminal history to determine your suitability be accredited as a tow truck operator.

This includes a criminal history report for every director in a company and every partner in a partnership. Each of these persons must also notify their other directors or partners of their criminal history, including all convictions and any charges not yet finalised.  

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

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 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 or accreditation history that we believe makes you unsuitable to be an accredited tow truck operator, 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 convicted of) 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 operator 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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How long does a tow truck operator accreditation last?

New applicants will be granted a 1 year term and will have the option to select a term up to 5 years on renewal, provided there has been compliance with legislative requirements. The expiry date is displayed on the accreditation document. 

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Accredited tow truck operator obligations

An accredited tow truck operator must:

• offer towing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• conduct the business from premises controlled by the accredited operator
• have a holding yard approved by TMR for the safe keeping of towed vehicles
• only use tow trucks authorised by TMR
• only use accredited tow truck drivers and assistants You can check if your tow truck drivers and assistants are accredited using the tow truck accreditation checker online service. 
  
   

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Approved premises and holding yards

The business premises and holding yard/s must be inspected by a TMR Transport Inspector before an application can be processed. 

The holding yard must be located in Queensland. At the time of inspection, you must provide evidence that you have sufficient control of the premises to prevent unauthorised persons from entering and unauthorised removal of vehicles and property. You may be asked for proof of ownership or lease arrangements.  

A holding yard must be enclosed by a fence or wall that:

• is structurally sound
• is at least 2.1m in height from the ground
• has lockable gates or doors that are closed and securely locked other than when a motor vehicle is being moved into or out of the area.

Each tow truck must be authorised by TMR for an accredited operator and be registered in Queensland with a current inspection certificate. Further information about tow trucks can be found under Authorised tow trucks.

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Tow trucks

An accredited tow truck operator is authorised to operate a tow truck business to conduct regulated towing activities in Queensland.

Tow trucks linked to an accredited tow truck operator must be authorised by TMR. Tow trucks must be inspected by a TMR Transport Inspector before an application can be processed.

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Recordkeeping

You must keep all towing documents including a copy of each towing authority given within the last 2 years and a copy of each private property towing consent relating to a current towing arrangement or those that ended within the last 2 years.

You must record information about vehicles towed including an inventory of moveable property found in the vehicle within 24 hours. These records must be kept for 2 years after the record is made. 

Authorised officers have authority to enter, search and view records and documents required to be kept. Auditing will be conducted by authorised officers to ensure operators are complying with the requirements.

• Crash and seizure towed vehicle register
• Found property register
• Towed vehicle register

Towing Authority Book—crash and police seizure towing

An accredited tow truck operator must have a Towing Authority Book for each TMR authorised tow truck listed on the accreditation. These books authorise the driver of the tow truck to tow a vehicle that has been damaged as a result of an incident or is a seized vehicle. Once the entire book is completed it should be kept in a safe place at the registered place of business to be able to be produced to an authorised officer for up to 2 years after the entry into the Towing Authority Book is made.

Towing Authority Books are only issued to accredited operators or to an authorised company representative.

Towing Authority Books are available from Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centres and most Queensland Government Agency Program Offices (excluding post offices or police stations). 

Note, as at 26 August 2024 new Towing Authority Books are currently in development. Once the new books are available, operators may return all full unused books to TMR in exchange for new books. All current books can continue to be used by operators until 26 February 2025. Used books are unable to be exchanged. 

The Towing Authority Book should be:

• kept in the designated tow truck at all times and individual tow authority forms within the book must be used consecutively in serial number order.
• completed at the incident site and signed by the authorising person for the damaged vehicle (that is, the vehicle operator/agent or authorised person such as a police officer) and the original retained by the damaged vehicle's driver or agent.

If the driver or agent is unable to sign, the form should be signed by an authorised officer (e.g. police officer) and forwarded to the vehicle's driver or agent within 7 days of towing.

Towing consent—private property towing

For specific recordkeeping requirements for private property towing, refer to Private property parking and towing – information for accredited tow truck operators.

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Responsibilities of an accredited tow truck operator

• An operator must keep their accreditation document in safe custody and show it to an authorised officer on request.
• An operator must not direct employees to undertake towing activities which break the law, such as, directing an unaccredited driver to do a regulated tow. You can check if your tow truck drivers and assistants are accredited using the tow truck accreditation checker online service.
• An operator must show the Towing Consent to a vehicle owner or driver, or to an authorised officer, on request.
• An operator must take reasonable steps to prevent loss from or damage to a vehicle held in the holding yard.
• An operator must not move a towed vehicle from the holding yard without consent of the vehicle owner or agent. Provision is made for the vehicle owner consent on the Towed vehicle and found property register template.
• 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.
• An operator must give TMR written notice within 14 days of a change of the holder's name, residential or business address.
• An operator (including all directors in a company and all partners in a partnership) 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 operator.

An accredited tow truck operator or tow truck driver must not:

• advertise or promote the business of anyone other than the accredited operator
• seek business for anyone other than the accredited operator
• display on the tow truck, any advertising or markings other than the business name, place of business or telephone number of the accredited operator, or information for a roadside assistance service
• advertise or promote services for vehicle repairs, vehicle insurance or assist with vehicle insurance claims
• advertise or promote services for car hire, purchase, or loan, or legal services.

The responsibilities of a tow truck licence holder are set out in the Tow Truck Act 2023 and the Tow Truck Regulation 2024. 

Auditing of tow truck licence holders

Accredited tow truck operators are audited to ensure they are complying with the Tow Truck Act 2023 and Tow Truck Regulation 2024.

Auditing is conducted by TMR Transport Inspectors. When a new operator is accredited, the operator can expect to be audited approximately 6 months later to ensure records are being maintained and that records are being stored in safe custody. However, if other anomalies are identified at this time, a full audit may be conducted.

At regular intervals, audits will be conducted to ensure that all requirements of the Tow Truck Act 2023 and Tow Truck Regulation 2024 are being complied with. These audits will include an audit of the operator’s business premises (including that records are being maintained), holding yard/s and tow trucks. Audits will also be conducted, if considered appropriate, following a complaint being received.

If an operator is found to be non-compliant with the requirements, they will be issued a Corrective Action Request. The operator will generally have 14 days to rectify the non-compliance however, if the non-compliance is considered to be serious and likely to jeopardise public safety, TMR may immediately suspend the operator’s accreditation and issue an infringement notice.

If no issues are identified during an audit, the operator will be sent confirmation that they have passed the audit. 

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Fee increase

On 1 July 2023 our fees and charges increased by 3.4% in line with the government's indexation policy.