How much does a tow truck cost in Victoria?

There's no single price for a breakdown tow in Victoria. Operators set their own, so the same trip can be priced quite differently depending on who you ask and when. Here's what drives the number, what the only published towing prices actually cover, and how to avoid a nasty surprise.

Breakdown tows don't have a set price

Victoria splits towing into two types. Trade towing is non-accident towing, such as when your car breaks down. Accident towing is moving a vehicle damaged in a crash.

Transport Victoria describes trade towing as deregulated, although operators still have to follow road safety, consumer protection and workplace safety laws. The charges the government publishes are for accident tows. So for a breakdown, the price is whatever you and the operator agree to, which is why it pays to see it before you commit.

What changes the price

• Distance. This covers the trip from pick-up to drop-off, and often how far the truck has to travel to reach you. It's a bigger factor in regional Victoria, where the nearest truck may be a long way off.
• Your vehicle. A scooter, a hatchback and a loaded work van are very different jobs. Transport Victoria notes that heavy vehicles may need a heavy tow truck.
• The truck needed. An all-wheel-drive or electric car usually needs a tilt tray, for example. See which tow truck you need.
• How hard it is to load. Flat tyres, a locked steering wheel, missing keys, a low basement car park, soft ground or a car in a ditch can all add time and equipment.
• When you need it. Some operators may charge more for nights, weekends and public holidays. Ask, or compare.
• Extras. Waiting time, tolls and storage at a yard can all come up, so check whether your price includes them.

The only published prices are for accident tows

When people go looking for an official towing fee, this is what they find. The March 2026 determination sets what can be charged for towing a crash-damaged vehicle under 4 tonnes from an accident scene in a controlled area, including the Melbourne region. All amounts include GST.

These amounts don't apply to a breakdown tow, so don't read them as what your tow should cost. They're here because they're easy to find and easy to misunderstand. For how crash towing works, see who tows your car after a crash.

Questions to ask before you say yes

Whoever you book with, get these answered before your vehicle is loaded:

1. Is that the total price, including GST and all the kilometres?
2. Could anything be added, like winching, waiting, tolls, after-hours work or storage?
3. How and when do I pay?
4. Is your truck right for my vehicle, and can it reach where the vehicle is?
5. If you're taking it to a yard, what happens next and what does that cost?

If something goes wrong with a breakdown tow, try to sort it out with the operator first. Transport Victoria sends trade towing complaints to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

How to compare prices without ringing around

The traditional way to find a cheap tow truck is to call one company after another, write down what they say and hope someone picks up. On RoadM8 you send one request, and independent tow operators across Victoria can quote on it. Each quote shows the operator's own price, and they're listed with the lowest first. Your card isn't charged until you've accepted one, and if the tow is cancelled before pick-up, it's refunded in full.

The lowest number isn't automatically the right one. Look at how far away the operator is and how long they say they'll take, especially if you're stuck somewhere exposed. Quotes depend on who's available near your pick-up at the time.

You can also start from your local area, such as towing in Geelong or towing in Ballarat. It's the same form with local roads and towns added.

Check these before you pay for a tow

Two things can save you the cost altogether. First, CHOICE suggests checking whether roadside assistance is already included with your car insurance or your new car's after-sales service. Second, not every breakdown needs a tow. RACV lists flat batteries, empty fuel tanks, locked keys and tyre punctures among the common jobs it fixes at the roadside.

No cover at all? Here are your options without a roadside membership.