Need a tow without roadside membership? Your options in Victoria

Your car has stopped, and you've just realised you never renewed your roadside cover, or never had any. You still have options. The right one depends on what's wrong with the car, so it's worth taking a minute to work that out before you spend any money.

First, check what you might already have

Plenty of drivers have some cover without realising it. CHOICE suggests checking whether roadside assistance is already included with your car insurance or your new car's after-sales service. It's worth looking at these:

• Your car insurance. Some insurers offer roadside assistance as an optional extra on comprehensive policies, and at least one includes it by default. Check your policy or insurer's app.
• Your car's manufacturer. Major car companies often offer it as part of after-sales service, sometimes renewing it each time you service with them. Check the service book, the glovebox or the brand's app. CHOICE notes that a tow under these plans will usually go to the nearest dealership or authorised service centre.
• Someone else's cover. If it's a company car, rental or lease, ask whoever manages it before you book anything, because they may have a set process and may not pay for a tow you arrange yourself.

Option 1: Join a roadside service on the spot

You don't always need to be a member in advance. RACV says even non-members can call 13 11 11, sign up on the spot and start getting help straight away. Ask what it'll cost before you agree, because on-the-spot terms and prices change.

This option makes the most sense when the car can probably be fixed where it is. RACV says eight out of ten of its callouts are fixed on the spot, with common issues including flat batteries, empty fuel tanks, locked keys and tyre punctures. A tow won't fix any of those. It only moves the problem somewhere else.

Check the towing limit too, as roadside plans generally include a set towing distance. RACV's terms say towing kilometres beyond the limit are paid by the member at the time of the tow.

Option 2: Pay for a single tow

If the car clearly isn't going anywhere, such as when the engine has failed, the gearbox has gone or it's badly overheated, you may just want it moved. In Victoria, breakdown towing is a commercial service you can buy without any membership. Transport Victoria says trade towing services are listed online, in the phone book or available through your roadside assistance company.

The downside of doing this by phone is the ring-around: one call for each price, nothing to compare it with, and no way of knowing where the truck is once someone says yes. If you go this way, get the total price clearly stated before the truck is on its way.

Option 3: Book a tow through RoadM8

RoadM8 is a towing booking app, and it's not a membership. There's no joining fee, so you only pay for a tow you accept. You send one request with your pick-up, drop-off, rego and a photo, then independent tow operators near you can send quotes. You compare the prices, accept the one that suits you and pay by card, then track the truck live on the map.

Keep in mind what it doesn't do. RoadM8 is for getting a vehicle moved, not for repairing it at the roadside, so it isn't the answer to a flat battery if a jump-start would get you going. Quotes also depend on who's available near your pick-up at the time.

Which one makes sense?

Is it worth getting membership afterwards?

That depends on how much and where you drive. If you do long regional trips or have an older car, a yearly plan might pay for itself, and the peace of mind counts for something too. If you rarely drive and your car is new and under a manufacturer's plan, you may not need it. Once the stress has passed, compare a year of cover with what this breakdown cost you and decide from there. CHOICE's guide is a good place to start.

Before you pay anyone

• Get the total price, and ask what could be added to it.
• Confirm where the vehicle is going and whether anyone will be there to receive it.
• Ask how you'll pay and when.

There's more on this in how much a tow truck costs in Victoria. If you've decided you need a tow, you can start your request from anywhere in the state, whether that's Melbourne, Shepparton or somewhere in between.