How 24/7 towing works when you need a tow at 2am

It's 2am, the car won't start and every workshop in town is shut until morning. Plenty of towing websites say 24/7. Here's what that actually means when you're the one standing in a dark car park, how to stay safe while you wait, and how to work out where the car should go.

What 24/7 really means

A 24/7 service means you can ask for a tow at any hour. It doesn't mean there's a truck around the corner at every hour. Tow operators are independent businesses and drivers, so who's working changes through the night and from place to place. Inner Melbourne at 2am isn't the same as a back road outside Horsham.

On RoadM8 you can send a request 24 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays. It goes to operators near your pick-up, and anyone available can quote. Quotes depend on who's around at the time. If nobody takes the job, the booking page tells you, and you can try again or call the RoadM8 team on 0466 205 204, 9am to 9pm.

If you have roadside cover, keep that number handy too. RACV, for one, says its Emergency Roadside Assistance is available to subscribers 24/7. Having two options at night is better than one.

Stay safe first, then sort out the tow

Visibility is reduced at night for you and for everyone else on the road. RACV's advice is that where it's safe to do so, stay in your car with the doors locked and the hazard lights on while you wait.

The exception is when the car is close to traffic. In that case, get out through the passenger door and stand as far from the road as you can, with the car between you and the traffic. There's more on this in what to do on a Melbourne freeway.

Triple Zero (000) is for when you need urgent help from police, fire or ambulance. If you're in danger or feel unsafe, call it. Don't worry about whether your situation is serious enough.

What to have ready before you request

A few details make a night-time booking much quicker:

• Your exact location. Use the current location button on the form, then check the address it finds. Note the car park level or the nearest cross street if it helps.
• Where the car is going. You'll need a drop-off, so read the next section first.
• Your rego and a photo of the vehicle. Both are required on a RoadM8 booking. Your phone's flash will do, as long as you can take the photo safely.
• A charged phone. You'll need it for the SMS code and to follow the truck. Lower your screen brightness if the battery is low.
• A payment card. After you accept a quote, you pay by card on a secure page.

Where should the car go at 2am?

This catches a lot of people out, because their usual mechanic is closed. Here are the realistic choices:

• Home. Often the simplest option. Then you can organise a tow or a mobile mechanic in the morning. Check that a tow truck can get in and that you can reach the car park or driveway without any trouble.
• Your workshop. Only if they're expecting it. Some have an after-hours drop-off and many don't, and a car left on the street outside may not be safe or legal.
• The operator's yard. Some operators may be able to store it overnight. Ask what that costs and when you can collect it.

Also ask yourself whether you need a tow tonight at all. If the car is parked legally and safely, such as in your own street or in a car park that's open overnight, it might be fine to wait until morning. Just check the signs first. Clearway and tow-away zones are a different problem you don't want to wake up to.

What about the price at night?

Operators set their own prices, and some charge more after hours. That's one reason to compare. On RoadM8, you see each operator's price before you accept, so there's no need to guess. For more on what moves the number, see how much a tow truck costs in Victoria.

How tracking helps at night

Waiting is the hard part. Once you've accepted a quote and paid, you can see your operator on the map and how the job is going, so you can stay in the car with the doors locked rather than standing by the road watching for headlights.

When the truck arrives, check that the name on the screen matches the driver before you hand anything over. You'll have a PIN to give them in person when they load your vehicle, and another at drop-off. Don't share either PIN by phone or message.

Getting yourself home

Don't assume there's a spare seat in the tow truck. Some have room and some don't, and it's the operator's call. Sort out your own way home if you can, whether that's a family member, a taxi or a rideshare. If you're counting on a lift, call the operator after you've accepted and ask before they arrive.

You can request a tow from anywhere in Victoria, whether you're in Dandenong, Frankston or further afield. If you're stuck right now, start your request and you can see who's available.