How To Get A Tow Truck Licence – Transport Driver Training

How to Get a Tow Truck Licence in Victoria TDT Training

Published: July, 18 2026

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Section 1 - Intro and Snippet

There is no single "tow truck licence" in Australia. To drive a tow truck doing accident recovery, you need two things: a standard heavy vehicle driver licence (MR or HR depending on the size of the truck) and separate driver accreditation from your state transport authority. In Victoria, the accident tow truck vehicle itself also needs its own accident towing licence - issued to the vehicle, not the driver - and that licence must be purchased from an existing holder.

Trade towing - breakdown recovery, private property towing, and general roadside assistance - is a different story. In Victoria, trade towing has been deregulated. You can do it with any suitable vehicle and a standard heavy vehicle licence, without needing accident tow truck accreditation.

How to Get a Tow Truck Licence in Australia (Victoria)

Hold a full car licence - 12 months for MR, 24 months for HR in Victoria.
Get your MR or HR licence through a registered RTO - MR for two-axle trucks, HR for three-axle and heavier. Most tow trucks require HR.
Apply for accident tow truck driver accreditation via Transport Victoria (processed by VicRoads). Submit the form with your licence, photo, and criminal history consent. VicRoads assesses within 30 days.
Work for an operator who holds an accident towing licence - the TOW or HTT vehicle licence belongs to the operator. New licences cannot be applied for fresh - they are purchased from existing holders.
Complete employer induction - tow operators run their own site and safety inductions before you attend accident scenes.

Section 2 - Accident vs Trade Towing

Accident Towing vs Trade Towing - Know the Difference

These two types of towing have completely different rules. Mixing them up is the most common source of confusion for anyone getting into the industry. Getting this wrong can put you in breach of the Accident Towing Services Act 2007.

Accident Towing

Recovering a vehicle damaged in a crash. Strictly regulated. Can only be done by a licensed tow truck (TOW or HTT plates) driven by an accredited driver. Requires both driver accreditation and a vehicle accident towing licence.

Trade Towing

Breakdown recovery, private property towing, general roadside assistance. Deregulated in Victoria. Any capable vehicle with a standard heavy vehicle licence can do it. However, if an operator uses a licensed accident tow truck for trade towing, the driver must still be accredited.

Melbourne Controlled Area

Accident tow trucks in Melbourne (including Mornington Peninsula) are allocated to scenes on a roster basis. You need an allocation number to attend accident sites in this area.

Regional Victoria

Outside Melbourne's controlled area, tow trucks can attend accident scenes without a formal allocation. Different rules apply in Geelong's self-management area.

The Vehicle Licence Is Separate from the Driver Accreditation

Your driver accreditation lets you drive an accident tow truck. But the vehicle also needs its own accident towing licence - displayed as a TOW or HTT plate - and that licence belongs to the operator. You cannot apply for a new one from scratch. Accident towing licences in Victoria are bought and sold between operators and transferred with approval from the Department of Transport and Planning.

Section 3 - Licence Pathway

Which Heavy Vehicle Licence Do You Need?

The licence class depends on the size of the tow truck you will be operating. Most medium and heavy tow trucks require HR. Light tow trucks used for small car recovery may qualify under MR. Check with your employer before you book a course.

Licence Pathway - Victoria

Car
Licence

Class C

Hold 12 mths (MR) or 24 mths (HR)

›

Medium Rigid

Light tow trucks, 2-axle over 8t

›

Heavy Rigid

Most tow trucks. Preferred by operators

Driver
Accred.

Accident Tow Truck Accreditation

Required for accident scenes

An HR licence covers all rigid tow trucks. Most operators prefer or require HR. Confirm with your employer before booking.

Manual vs Automatic Licence

Your MR or HR licence may carry a transmission condition in Victoria. Condition A covers automatic; condition B covers synchromesh. Most modern tow trucks run automatic gearboxes, but older heavy recovery trucks may use synchromesh.

Confirm with your training provider what vehicle is used in your assessment, and check with prospective employers what their fleet runs before you book.

Section 5 - Accreditation Process

Accident Tow Truck Driver Accreditation - Step by Step

Driver accreditation is the personal credential that lets you drive an accident tow truck and attend crash scenes. It is separate from the vehicle licence. Here is how to apply in Victoria.

Step	What You Need	Notes
1. Hold a current driver licence	Full Victorian MR or HR licence	Must be full and current - not provisional or learner
2. Criminal history consent	Consent form for Victoria Police check	Included in the accreditation form. All convictions and non-conviction matters may be considered
3. Current passport photo	Recent photo showing full facial features	Prescription glasses must be worn if normally used
4. Submit to VicRoads	Completed accident tow truck driver accreditation form with all attachments	Download from transport.vic.gov.au. VicRoads assesses within 30 days
5. Trainee permit option	Available while your accreditation is being assessed	Lets you drive under supervision of an accredited driver while you wait

Trainee Permit While You Wait

You do not have to sit out the 30-day assessment window. An accident tow truck trainee permit lets you drive to and from accident scenes under the supervision of a fully accredited driver while your main application is being processed. The trainee permit is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. Ask Transport Victoria about applying for the trainee permit at the same time as your accreditation application.

Section 6 - State by State

State-by-State - How Tow Truck Licensing Works Across Australia

Tow truck licensing is not nationally consistent. Each state runs its own framework and the rules vary significantly. Here is how the main states handle it.

Victoria

Regulated under the Accident Towing Services Act 2007. Accident tow trucks display TOW or HTT plates. Both driver accreditation and vehicle licence required for accident towing. Trade towing is deregulated.

New South Wales

Tow trucks licensed by NSW Fair Trading under the Tow Truck Industry Act 1998. Category A licences (accident and trade towing) display 4-digit TT plates. Category B licences (trade towing only) display 3-digit TT or TTT plates. Annual HVAIS inspection required for licence renewal.

Queensland

Regulated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). Class 4 tow truck permit scheme. NHVR processes heavy tow truck permit applications in QLD.

Western Australia

New Towing Services Act 2024 and Towing Services Regulations 2025, in force January 2025. Sets maximum charges for light vehicle towing from crash scenes in Perth and Peel regions.

Section 7 - Duties

What Does a Tow Truck Driver Do?

Tow truck driving is not just driving. You are often the first person on scene after a crash, before emergency services have fully cleared the area. The job involves vehicle recovery, roadside safety management, customer communication, and paperwork - all at the same time.

Accident towing is physically and mentally demanding. You are working around damaged vehicles, distressed motorists, traffic hazards, and time pressure. Experience behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle helps, but it is the combination of practical skills, situational awareness, and communication ability that makes a good tow truck operator.

Common Duties of a Tow Truck Driver

Responding to accident scenes and breakdown callouts across the roster area
Safely recovering and loading damaged vehicles using boom, wheel-lift, or flatbed equipment
Managing roadside safety and traffic around recovery operations
Completing accident towing paperwork and maintaining towing records
Pre-start vehicle checks on the tow truck before each shift
Communicating with dispatch, police, and motorists throughout each job
Transporting recovered vehicles to depots, repairers, or impound facilities
Reporting vehicle defects and incidents to the operator

Section 8 - Pay

What Do Tow Truck Drivers Earn in Australia?

Pay varies by state, employer, and whether you are doing accident towing or trade towing. Accident towing roles that cover night and weekend callouts attract penalty rates on top of the base hourly rate, which can significantly lift total take-home pay.

Entry-level
1-3 years experience

~$57,000/yr

National average
Indeed, May 2026

$75,684/yr

Experienced operator
8+ years

~$85,000 - $89,000/yr

Source	Reported Figure	Notes
Indeed (May 2026)	$75,684/yr average	39 salaries reported in Australia
SalaryExpert (2026)	$76,890/yr ($37/hr)	Entry $57,195 - Senior $85,887
Payscale (2026)	$25.49/hr median	Range $21.26 - $33.63/hr
Jooble (July 2026)	$73,610/yr ($38.74/hr)	Aggregated from job ad data

Penalty rates for night callouts, weekend work, and public holidays under the Road Transport Award can add meaningfully to the base figures above. Drivers who cover after-hours emergency callouts typically earn more than those on standard business-hours shifts.

Tip for Aspiring Tow Truck Drivers

Get your HR licence before applying for driver accreditation. Most tow truck operators in Victoria run heavy tow trucks that require HR. Having HR when you apply for accreditation puts you ahead of MR-only candidates and opens up heavier recovery work straight away.

Section 9 - FAQ and Related

Frequently Asked Questions

You need an MR or HR driver licence depending on the size of the tow truck, plus separate driver accreditation if you are doing accident towing. In Victoria, accident tow truck driver accreditation is processed by VicRoads. The tow truck vehicle itself also needs an accident towing licence (TOW or HTT plates) which belongs to the operator - not the driver.

The MR licence course costs from around $700 to $1,300. The HR licence course costs from $1,450 at TDT. The vehicle accident towing licence must be purchased from an existing licence holder and has no fixed market price. Contact Transport Victoria for current driver accreditation application costs.

No. Towing a caravan with a standard car or SUV does not require a truck licence. A regular car licence covers towing a trailer including a caravan, provided the combination stays within the towing capacity rated by the manufacturer and complies with state road rules on trailer length and mass.

Accident towing means recovering a vehicle damaged in a crash. It is strictly regulated in Victoria and can only be done by a licensed tow truck with TOW or HTT plates, driven by an accredited driver. Trade towing covers breakdown recovery and private property towing. Trade towing has been deregulated in Victoria - any vehicle with a suitable towing capacity can do it without accident tow truck accreditation. However, if an operator uses a licensed accident tow truck for a trade towing job, the driver must still be accredited.

According to Indeed, the average tow truck driver salary in Australia is $75,684 per year (updated May 2026). SalaryExpert puts the national average at $76,890 per year or around $37 per hour. Entry-level drivers typically start around $57,000, while experienced operators can earn above $85,000. Night and weekend callout penalty rates can lift total earnings significantly.

In Victoria, licensed accident tow trucks display a TOW or HTT number plate issued by Transport Victoria. In NSW, licensed tow trucks display TT or TTT plates and are licensed by NSW Fair Trading. Check the number plates first, then verify with the relevant state transport authority if needed.

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TDT was a great first impression, everyone's amazing and super helpful. Personally i had Scott as my trainer and assessor when completing my Heavy Rigid truck licence. He was absolutely amazing, super friendly and talkative which helped with nerves as well as being super clear and simple with all of his instructions. Which ultimately made it super easy to drive without stressing about anything. Scott is really polite but really straight to the point, which I think is great. Thank you Scott and thank you tdt😃

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A huge thank you to David for helping me successfully get my HR licence! I was extremely nervous before my driving test, but David was incredibly patient, supportive and positive throughout the whole training session. He explained everything clearly and gave me plenty of opportunities to practise until I felt comfortable and confident. Thanks to his guidance and encouragement, I became much more confident and relaxed, and the test felt so much easier and more manageable. David is an excellent trainer who genuinely wants his students to succeed. I really appreciate all his patience, encouragement and support. Highly recommend David to anyone looking to get their HR licence. Thank you so much, David!

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