To drive a tow truck in the greater metropolitan area of Adelaide (declared area) you must hold a tow truck certificate.
Map of the declared area (3.6 MB PDF)
Outside metropolitan Adelaide, a tow truck certificate is not required, but heavy vehicle licence conditions apply.
Eligibility requirements
To obtain a tow truck certificate, you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- hold a current South Australian driver's licence of a classification appropriate to the weight of the tow truck you wish to drive
- know the laws about driving and operating tow truck equipment
- be a 'fit and proper person' - you can prove this with a national police certificate available from the South Australia Police or online through a nationally approved provider.
Vehicles that are classed as a tow truck
A tow truck is defined as a vehicle that has been constructed or adapted for the specific purpose of towing or carrying another vehicle that cannot be driven on its own and is fitted with a winch or some type of lifting equipment.
Exemption
Drivers of a vehicle towing a car trailer are exempt from holding a tow truck certificate provided, that the car trailer that is fitted with a winch (defined as a tow truck) is not being used in expectation of a fee, reward, or benefit of any kind or in the course of business of motor vehicle towing.
Fees
You will need to pay the relevant tow truck certificate fee.
How to apply
Complete and lodge the application forms
In person
- Complete the tow truck certificate application forms:
MR410 Tow trucks - application by an individual person (160.5 KB PDF)
MR420 Statement of personal particulars (208.2 KB PDF)
MR428 Accident Towing Authority - information for towtruck certificate (96.7 KB PDF)
- Take your national police certificate, 4 passport type colour photographs of yourself, the appropriate fee, and your driver's licence.
- Your application will then be forwarded to the Accident Towing Authority (ATA) for assessment.
Phone
- phone ATA on 7133 3295 and ask for the forms and information to be posted to you
Post
- post to:
Accident Towing Authority
GPO Box 1533
Adelaide SA 5001
Assessment
Your application will be assessed by an authorised officer on behalf of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
The authorised officer will determine your eligibility to be issued a certificate. If you are eligible a temporary tow truck certificate valid for 3 months will be posted to you, during which time you will need to complete a practical and proficiency assessment in using the equipment of a tow truck.
The temporary tow truck certificate will be restricted to driving a tow truck for any purpose other than attending crash sites.
Pass the tow truck practical and proficiency assessment
You'll need to:
- pay the fee for the assessment at a Service SA centre
- phone 7133 3295 and quote your receipt details to arrange an assessment.
When you pass the assessment, you'll be issued a tow truck certificate invoice. Once the invoice is paid at a Service SA centre, the Accident Towing Authority will issue you your tow truck certificate. This is valid for 1 year and is renewable annually.
If you will be working for a business — granted a position on the accident towing rosters — you will need to be issued an accident tow truck certificate. This incurs a higher fee than the trade-only tow truck certificate.
