Quick answer: In Australia, towing is often claimable under Comprehensive insurance after an accident or insured event. It’s sometimes covered for breakdowns (varies by policy or roadside plan). Third Party policies rarely cover your own towing unless the other driver is at fault and you recover costs from them. Always check your PDS.

This guide is general information for NSW/Australia, not legal advice.

When insurers typically cover towing

Situation	Comprehensive policy	Third Party Property	Notes
Accident (your fault or no-fault)	Yes – tow to safe storage or approved repairer	No for your car (but may recover from at-fault party)	Most insurers include “reasonable towing” after a crash.
Not-at-fault accident	Yes (you can also claim from the at-fault insurer)	Usually yes via at-fault party’s insurer	Keep strong evidence of liability.
Theft or vandalism	Yes – tow from scene or police yard	No	Covered as part of the insured event.
Storm/flood/fire	Yes	No	Often covered as emergency towing to prevent further damage.
Breakdown (mechanical/electrical)	Sometimes – only if policy includes roadside/towing benefit	No	Many rely on separate roadside membership (NRMA/RACQ etc.).
Unroadworthy after incident	Yes	Maybe from at-fault party	If lights/tyres/airbags/fluids make driving illegal/unsafe, tow is reasonable.
Interstate/long-haul transport	Sometimes – caps apply	No	Policies may limit distance ($ or km). Check PDS caps.

Key idea: Insurers pay for reasonable, necessary towing connected to an insured event. “Necessary” means safe/legal to remove the vehicle and avoid further loss (e.g., leaking fluids, deployed airbags, two blown tyres, or police direction).

What counts as “reasonable towing” (and cost caps)

From scene to nearest safe location, storage, or approved repairer.
Single tow is most typical; second/relocation tow usually needs pre-approval.
Distance/cost caps are common: e.g., nearest suitable repairer or up to $X or Y km.
Storage may be covered short-term until assessor inspects (daily caps).
Extras (after-hours call-out, winching from ditch, salvage) are covered when necessary but may need notes and photos.

Pro tip: Before a long tow, ask your insurer for authorisation and an email/SMS confirmation. When in doubt, we can tow to a safe yard first and move later once approved.

Evidence you should collect (this wins claims)

Create a small “claim pack” right away:

Photos
- Vehicle position, damage, leaking fluids, airbag deployment, tyre/suspension damage.
- Wider scene (intersections, signs, skid marks).
- Any third-party vehicle + number plate.
Details exchanged
- Other driver’s name, address, phone, licence, rego, insurer, policy no.
Incident notes (write immediately)
- Date/time, weather, street names, how it happened, witnesses.
Police event number (if police attended or thresholds require it).
Tow documents
- Tow docket/invoice with: pickup location, drop-off address, date/time, distance, fee breakdown (base, per-km, after-hours, winch, storage).
- Driver name and tow truck registration.
Insurer communications
- Save any authorisation numbers, emails, or SMS approvals.

At Tow Truck Sydney we automatically provide itemised invoices and, on request, scene photos and a brief condition report, handy for assessors.

Step-by-step: claiming your tow

Get safe and call us at (423) 242 242 (24/7). We’ll advise whether to tow to your home, our secure storage, or a repairer.
Notify your insurer ASAP (within 24–48 hours is ideal). Ask:
- “Where would you like the vehicle delivered?”
- “Are storage fees covered and for how long?”
- “Do I have Choice of Repairer?”
- “Can I have written approval for this tow?”
We tow and document: you receive an itemised invoice + photos if needed.
Share your claim ref with us; we can send the invoice directly to your insurer where permitted.
If third party is at fault: make a not-at-fault claim with their insurer. Send your evidence pack + invoice.
Track approval: keep a simple log (dates, who said what).
Second tow (if required): get pre-approval before relocating to a different repairer.

Common scenarios (and how insurers usually respond)

1) You’re not at fault; car undriveable

Likely outcome: At-fault insurer covers towing (or your comprehensive policy pays and recovers later).
Action: Gather strong evidence of liability (dashcam, photos, witness). Tow to safe storage/approved repairer.

2) You’re at fault; airbags deployed/leak present

Likely outcome: Comprehensive policies cover reasonable towing and storage.
Action: Inform insurer; we’ll deliver to their nominated yard/repairer.

3) Break down on M1 at 11pm

Likely outcome: Only covered if your policy includes breakdown/roadside or you have separate roadside membership.
Action: Call us for a quote; use our Estimator to compare costs: Tow Cost Estimator

4) Long-haul tow after rural crash

Likely outcome: Often covered to the nearest suitable facility; large interstate legs may be partially covered or require prior approval.
Action: We can store locally first, then plan a cost-effective long-haul once the insurer confirms.

5) Flood/storm damage; car won’t start

Likely outcome: Covered as an insured event. Towing prevents further damage.
Action: Don’t attempt to start a flood-affected engine (hydrolock risk). Photograph waterline, cabin, engine bay.

What can derail towing claims (avoid these)

Driving away after a crash when the vehicle is unroadworthy (may worsen damage and complicate claims).
Arranging expensive long-haul without insurer approval where a closer repairer was available.
Missing/unclear invoice details (no pickup address, no kilometres, no breakdown of fees).
Delays that rack up storage beyond what your policy covers.
Admitting fault prematurely at the scene, stick to facts.

Storage, salvage & secondary tows (the fine print)

Storage: Many policies cover a set number of days until inspection; after that, costs may be on you unless pre-approved.
Salvage/winch: Covered when necessary (off-road recovery, embankment, tight underground). We note tasks and time on the invoice.
Secondary/relocation tow: Usually needs approval, especially when moving from our yard to your chosen repairer or interstate.

Sample note to insurer (you can copy/paste)

Subject: Claim [Your Policy/Claim Number] – Towing Authorisation
Hi [Insurer],
My vehicle [Make/Model/Rego] is undriveable after [brief description] on [date/time] at [location]. For safety it was towed by Tow Truck Sydney to [destination/storage]. Please confirm coverage for the towing invoice (attached) and advise your preferred repairer and storage arrangements.
Photos and a summary are attached.
Thanks, [Your Name], [Mobile]

FAQs

Does insurance cover towing if I caused the crash?
With Comprehensive cover, usually yes, for reasonable towing and short-term storage.

Will Third Party cover my tow?
Not for your own car. You may recover costs from the at-fault driver’s insurer if liability is clear.

Are breakdown tows covered?
Only if your policy includes that benefit or you have roadside assistance. Otherwise, it’s out-of-pocket.

Can I choose the repairer?
Many policies offer Choice of Repairer; others route to an authorised repairer. Ask before we move the car.

How much of a tow is covered?
Policies often say “nearest suitable repairer” or set $ / km caps. Get approval for long distances.

Make it easy: we’ll help with the paperwork

Tow Truck Sydney provides:

24/7 response across Sydney and surrounds
Itemised invoices the way assessors like them
Photo documentation on request
Direct liaison with insurers where permitted
Long-haul & interstate options (NSW/QLD/VIC)

Call: (423) 242 242 • Get an instant estimate: Tow Cost Estimator

Guide: Towing Costs Claimable on Insurance? (Scenarios & Evidence)