Tilt Tray Tow Trucks
Used for general vehicle transport.
Insurance cover
Tow Truck Insurance
Insuregroup supports towing operators as insurance brokers, helping arrange tow truck insurance by comparing options across a network of insurers. We assist businesses involved in recovery, roadside assistance and vehicle transport.
- Licensed & Regulated Broker
- Steadfast Group Member
- 100+ insurance markets
- 2014
- Broking Since
- 5,000+
- Policies Arranged
- 100+
- Insurance Markets
- 5.0
- Google Rating (102)
- Home
- Tow Truck Insurance
Tow Truck Insurance Brokers
We work with a range of insurers and specialist heavy vehicle underwriters, including Zurich, Allianz, Lloyd’s, QBE, CGU, NTI, GT Insurance and UAA. (Policy terms and availability subject to underwriting assessment).
Insuregroup
Why Tow Truck Operators Trust Insuregroup
Insuregroup (AFSL No. 525491) has been supporting Australian transport and heavy vehicle operators since 2014. Our team understands the demanding nature of towing operations, including roadside recovery risks, vehicle handling exposures, after-hours callouts and the responsibility involved in transporting customer vehicles and equipment, and brings extensive insight into heavy motor, machinery and transport-related insurance considerations.
Since our inception, we’ve assisted with more than 5,000 insurance policies nationwide, supporting everyone from independent tow truck owner-operators through to larger towing and recovery businesses managing multiple vehicles and drivers. Our experience across towing, transport and commercial motor risks helps us guide clients through insurance considerations relating to recovery work, vehicle custody, accident response operations and business continuity. As a licensed and regulated Steadfast Group brokerage, Insuregroup provides tailored guidance and ongoing support for businesses operating within the towing and roadside assistance industry.
Flexible monthly installment options may be available on tow truck insurance to support cash flow without compromising on business protection.
Expert Advice
With over 10 years of experience in commercial motor insurance, our team is ready to help you navigate the complexities of insurance for tow trucks.
Quick Quotes
Need cover fast? We assist with fast quote requests to help you compare available cover options and minimise operational delays. We work with a wide network of insurers to help you assess and compare cover options for single vehicles or full fleets, including liability and on-hook cover.
Policy Guidance
We help operators understand policy terms, inclusions and exclusions so they can make informed insurance decisions.
Claims Support
If a claim occurs, our brokers assist with the process and work with insurers on your behalf.
Ready to Get a Quote?
Submit your details online in minutes. Our brokers will review your information and provide a range of available cover options based on how your business operates.
What Is Tow Truck Insurance?
Tow truck insurance applies to vehicles used for towing, recovering or transporting other vehicles as part of a business. It usually combines cover for the tow truck itself with cover for the customer vehicles you winch, carry or store, and liability for the work you do at the roadside. As insurance brokers, Insuregroup helps tow truck operators explore insurance options through a network of insurers and arrange cover suited to their vehicles and operations.
Types of Tow Trucks That Can Be Insured
Insuregroup works with businesses of all sizes to arrange cover for a wide range of tow truck types, including:
Flatbed Tow Trucks
For luxury or low-clearance vehicles.
Wheel-Lift Tow Trucks
Used in urban recovery work.
Heavy-Duty Tow Trucks
Used for commercial and industrial vehicles.
Roadside Assistance Vehicles
Used for breakdown and recovery.
Whether you operate in a metro area, regional zone or across state lines, we can help you compare tow truck insurance options suitable for your business activities. As a specialist insurance broker, we provide access to a broad panel of insurers, including member products and pricing available through our membership with the Steadfast Insurance Group network.
Industries and Operators We Work With
At Insuregroup, we help towing operators explore insurance options suited to vehicles used for roadside recovery and vehicle transport.
Our clients typically include:
Roadside assistance and vehicle recovery operators
Accident towing and breakdown response services
Vehicle transport and relocation businesses
Mechanical workshops operating tow trucks
Salvage and vehicle recovery contractors
Accident Towing, Trade Towing and Heavy Recovery
The kind of towing work you do has a large bearing on the cover you need and how an insurer rates the business.
Accident Towing
Crash-scene work, often at night, on high-speed roads and in poor weather, with damaged and unstable vehicles and pressure to clear the road. Accident towing is licensed at state level, and licence or allocation scheme conditions can include insurance requirements, so check the current rules in your state and make sure the policy meets them.
Trade and Tilt Tray Towing
Pre-arranged moves for dealers, auction houses, workshops and private customers. Loads are known in advance, so the focus shifts to the value of what you carry: prestige vehicles, classic cars and machinery can exceed a standard on-deck limit. Our tilt tray insurance page covers carrying vehicles and machinery in more detail.
Heavy Towing and Recovery
Recovering trucks, buses and heavy plant with underlifts and rotators involves complex rigging and high-value vehicles, often with freight still on board. It usually needs higher on-hook limits.
What to expect
On-Hook, On-Deck and Storage Yard Cover
Most motor and public liability policies exclude damage to property in your care, custody or control. For a towing business that property is the customer’s vehicle, so it needs its own cover, often called on-hook, carried vehicle or vehicles-in-tow cover.
- Limit per vehicle. Set it to match the most valuable vehicle you realistically carry, and ask whether a higher limit can be arranged for one-off jobs.
- Winching, loading and unloading. Check the cover applies at the scene and at the drop-off point, not only while the vehicle is in transit.
- The storage yard. Vehicles held after accidents, impounds or while awaiting collection are still in your custody. The yard limit should reflect the total value you may hold at once, not a single vehicle.
- Damaged electric vehicles. Insurers increasingly ask how damaged EVs are separated and monitored in the yard. A written procedure helps.
- Customer vehicle contents. Contents are often excluded or limited. Photographing interiors and existing damage at pickup helps with disputed claims.
What Affects the Cost of Tow Truck Insurance?
There is no list price for tow truck insurance. Insurers look at the mix of accident, trade and heavy recovery work; the trucks and fitted equipment; the on-hook and yard limits you need; driver experience and licensing; hours of operation; yard security; where you operate; and your claims history, particularly any on-hook damage claims. Our guide on how much tow truck insurance costs explains each factor and practical ways to reduce the premium.
What to expect
What Does Tow Truck Insurance Cover?
Insurance for tow trucks can vary between providers, but most policies include protection against common risks involved in the towing industry.
Standard inclusions may cover:
- Accidental damage, fire and theft for the tow truck, including the tray, wheel-lift, winch and fitted equipment where declared
- Third party property damage and legal liability on the road
- Damage to customer vehicles while they are winched, loaded, towed or carried, where on-hook cover is included
- Vehicles in your custody at the depot or storage yard, where selected
- Public liability for work at roadsides, driveways and customer premises, where selected
Optional features may include windscreen and glass repair, a hire vehicle after an accident, emergency roadside assistance, business interruption cover and protection for towing accessories or specialised equipment
At Insuregroup, we help you review available features so you can make informed decisions about what’s appropriate for your business and operational needs.
What to expect
What Does Tow Truck Insurance Not Cover?
Tow truck insurance provides important protection, but all policies have limitations and exclusions. These vary by insurer, so reviewing the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is essential before purchasing a policy.
Common exclusions can include:
- General wear and tear
- Mechanical breakdowns not caused by an insured event
- Use of the vehicle outside the agreed business purposes
- Incidents involving unlicensed or unauthorised drivers
- Loss or damage resulting from unlawful activity or non-disclosure of material facts
Navigating tow truck insurance policy exclusions and cover terms can be complex. At Insuregroup, we have extensive experience supporting tow truck operators and can guide you through the process. Ensuring you understand what’s covered, what isn’t and that you secure cover appropriate to your circumstances.
Request a quote
Request an Online Tow Truck Insurance Quote
Please select from the options as required. You can select one or more options.
Complete the form below to receive a quote.
Completing the form usually takes 5 minutes.
Having trouble with the form? Contact Insuregroup
How it runs
Our Process
The Insuregroup Insurance Process – Insurance Solutions on Demand.
We’ve streamlined our process to make arranging insurance fast and straightforward. Simply complete our online quote form with a few details and we’ll compare options from our network of insurers. Most quotes are turned around within 24 hours.
Submit a Quote Request, Online or by Phone
Start by submitting a quote request through our online form or by calling our team. Provide your business and vehicle details, and we’ll begin sourcing the most suitable tow truck insurance options for you.
We Source Competitive Quotes
We search a wide network of reputable insurers to find the most competitive and relevant policies for your tow trucks, drivers and goods – typically within 24 hours.
Receive a Clear, Detailed Quote Summary
We present the available options in a clear, easy-to-understand email summary, outlining coverage, pricing and key inclusions tailored to your needs.
Finalise and Get Covered
Once you’re satisfied with the recommended policy, simply accept the quote. We’ll handle the paperwork and activate your cover quickly – often on the same day.
Tow Truck Insurance Guides & Resources
View our latest guides on truck insurance, regulatory considerations and managing risk in transport operations.
Plays from YouTube — nothing loads until you press play.
Your Broker
Stirling Sanderson, Principal Broker
Stirling set up Insuregroup in 2014 after many years as an insurance underwriter and broker. He oversees the day-to-day broking, negotiates with insurers for clients and helps with claims, for everyone from single-truck owner-drivers to large fleets of trucks and heavy plant.
- Qualifications
- Bachelor of Business, majoring in Insurance; Diploma of Financial Services (Australian Institute of Insurance and Finance)
- Experience
- Licensed authorised broker for over 10 years
- Authorised Representative No.
- 453069
Insuregroup have been very professional and prompt in dealing with the management of our insurances for the last 3 years.
Questions We Get Asked
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Tow Truck Insurance Differ From Truck Insurance?
Tow truck insurance is specifically designed for vehicles that recover or transport other vehicles. It typically includes liability for customer vehicles in your care – something not usually covered under standard truck insurance. If you operate a towing business, this type of cover is essential to protect your business from potential third-party claims and related risks.
What Is On-Hook Towing Insurance?
On-hook towing insurance provides cover for damage to a customer’s vehicle while it is being towed or transported. This may include vehicles being winched, hoisted, or carried. It’s an important feature for tow truck operators, as damage to a customer’s vehicle during recovery can result in costly claims if not appropriately covered.
What Does Tow Truck Insurance Cost?
Tow truck insurance cost varies depending on your business type, truck value, service area, claims history and the level of cover required. Insuring multiple trucks or adding cover for customer vehicles may also affect premiums. At Insuregroup, we help you compare quotes and explore options suited to your business risk profile.
How Can I Get a Quote for Tow Truck Insurance?
You can request a tow truck insurance quote online or by contacting us directly. We’ll ask for details like the truck type, business activities, locations serviced and any attachments or towing equipment used. Using this information, we’ll identify and help you compare policy options that suit your operations and provide guidance throughout the process.
Are Monthly Premiums Available?
Yes, we can arrange monthly payments. Easy and stress free!
When Will Insurance Certificates Be Provided?
We will issue you with a certificate of insurance promptly following the finalisation of your payment. These can be issued in electronic form, so as to ensure the fastest possible turnaround.
How Long Does IT Take to Effect Cover and Produce Certificates?
The time taken for insurers to confirm the cover request is generally no longer than half an hour. We demand the best in quality and reliability and for this reason we have access to over one hundred national and international insurance providers. Being specialists in insurance, you can be confident our insurers will respond in a prompt and proficient manner, allowing us to deliver much quicker insurance quotes than many of our competitors
What About Insuregroup?
As your broker, Insuregroup acts on your behalf when arranging cover, and we aim to keep our service transparent and honest. When we search policies across our network of insurers, we look for options that suit your needs and budget, and explain the differences so you can decide.
Guides and articles
More on Tow Truck Insurance
Truck Insurance NSW: Greenslips, Sydney Traffic and Routes
In NSW the greenslip and the truck policy are two separate purchases doing two different jobs. What each…
Tilt Tray Loads, Winching and Tie-Downs: Who Pays for Damage
The tilt tray is only half the risk. The other half is the car, machine or container on…
Hire and Reward Truck Insurance: Why Declared Use Matters
Carting your own goods and carting other people's goods for payment are different risks. Getting the use description…
How Much Does Tow Truck Insurance Cost? Price Drivers Explained
A towing business moves other people's vehicles for a living. The covers that protect it, what drives the…