How long does a tow truck take to arrive?

There's no honest single answer, because a tow truck's arrival depends on where it is right now, what it's doing and what it has to get through to reach you. Here's what decides the wait, how you can shorten it, and what to do if it starts to drag on.

What decides how long you wait

• Where the nearest available truck is. The closest truck isn't always the one that can come. It may be on another job, so a truck further away can sometimes reach you first.
• Traffic and time of day. A truck crossing Melbourne in peak hour has the same traffic you'd have. A breakdown on a freeway can also slow the truck coming to help you.
• Where you are. In regional Victoria the distances are simply longer, and there may be fewer trucks to choose from. See our guide to breaking down in regional Victoria.
• The hour you're asking. Fewer operators may be on the road late at night and on public holidays. Here's how towing works at night.
• Your vehicle. Not every truck suits every job. An all-wheel-drive may need a tilt tray, and Transport Victoria notes that heavy vehicles may need a heavy tow truck, so fewer operators may be able to help.
• How clear your location is. A driver who has to hunt for you loses time. This one is partly in your hands.

Be careful with exact promises

Any operator can tell you a time on the phone, but nobody controls traffic or knows for certain how the job before yours will go. Treat any arrival time as an estimate, and ask what it's based on. A useful question is simple: where is the truck coming from right now?

If you're comparing a few operators, a realistic estimate from one that's close by usually tells you more than a confident promise from one that won't say where its truck is.

Six ways to help the truck reach you sooner

1. Give an exact location. Use your phone's location if you can. On a freeway, note the direction you were heading, the last exit you passed and any overpass or sign you can see.
2. Say where the vehicle needs to go. A driver can plan the job, and quote it properly, once they know the drop-off.
3. Describe the vehicle honestly. Mention all-wheel drive, a flat tyre, a low car park, a locked steering wheel or missing keys, so the right truck is sent the first time.
4. Send a photo if you're asked. A photo of the vehicle and where it's parked saves a lot of back and forth.
5. Keep your phone on and handy. Drivers often call when they're close. Save your battery if you can, and answer unknown numbers while you wait.
6. Make the vehicle easy to spot. RACV advises keeping your hazard lights on while you wait, which also helps a driver find you. RACQ points out that vehicles are harder to see at night, so an exact location matters even more.

How you can see the wait on RoadM8

Ringing around means asking each company in turn how long they'll be, and writing it down while you stand on the side of the road. On RoadM8 you send one request and operators near your pick-up can quote on it. You can compare how far away each one is and how long they say they'll take, as well as the price.

Once you've accepted a quote, you can follow the truck live on a map instead of guessing. Who's available depends on the area and the time, so you can start from your own part of Victoria, such as towing in Melbourne's western suburbs.

If the wait starts to drag on

• Ask for an update. Call the operator and ask where the truck is now and whether anything has changed.
• Check your own situation. A long wait is much more serious on a busy road or in extreme heat than in your own driveway. If you can't stay safe, move away from the traffic and tell someone where you are.
• Know when it's no longer a towing problem. If you're in danger or anyone is hurt, call 000. If your vehicle is stuck in a lane or blocking traffic on a major road, Transport Victoria's line, 13 11 70, is open 24 hours.
• Tell the operator if your plans change. If you get going again or someone else collects the vehicle, let them know straight away so the truck can go to someone else.

While you wait, our guide to staying safe while waiting for a tow truck covers where to stand and what to do at night.