Minutes after a crash, you may have several tow trucks around you, some of them not called by anyone. Accident towing is where drivers are most often pressured into signing slips they have not read, and where storage at a private yard can grow every day. You have the right to choose who tows your car, subject to your policy. Use this page to know your steps. For planned moves of a damaged car, tell us where it is and local operators quote you directly, free and without obligation.
At the scene
- Check for injuries and call emergency services first if anyone is hurt.
- Switch on your hazards and put out a warning triangle well behind the car.
- Stand off the road, behind the barrier if there is one.
- Take photos of the vehicles, the scene and the other driver's details.
- Call your insurer's line before agreeing to any tow.
Accident chasers and tow slips
Trucks that arrive without being called, often called accident chasers, are a known problem in South African cities. Some are honest, some are not. Before the car is hooked up, ask who sent the truck, get the operator's name and the truck's details, and have the destination and the storage rate per day written on the slip. Never sign a blank tow slip or authority. Take a photo of the truck and of the signed slip. If you feel pressured, say you are waiting for your insurer.
Storage and release
If the car goes to a private yard, storage is charged per day and rates vary widely, so ask first. The longer the claim takes, the bigger the bill. Ask the insurer to move the car to their approved panel beater or assessor quickly. To release the car you will usually need proof of ownership, identity and settlement of the tow and storage fees, so get an invoice that shows each.
What accident towing costs
The tow itself is often quoted at about R1,000 to R3,000, with storage charged per day on top. Damaged cars usually go on a flatbed, and winching from a ditch adds to the price; see vehicle recovery. If your insurer covers the tow, their operator should bill them directly. Check your policy before you pay anything yourself. Keep every invoice and slip together for the claim.
What to include in your request
- Vehicle type and the damage
- Where the car is now: scene, yard or home
- Destination: panel beater, assessor or home
- Your insurer and claim number if you have one
- Whether it rolls or needs winching
Accident Towing for different clients
- Motorists and families: a damaged family car moved from a tow yard to the insurer's approved panel beater
- Company fleets and rental firms: company cars after minor collisions moved to the fleet's chosen repairer on account
- Truckers, buses and logistics: a crashed taxi or delivery van carried flat to the assessor and then the repairer
- Farmers and 4x4 owners: a bakkie that hit livestock on a rural road towed to a panel beater in town
- Dealers, panel beaters and workshops: panel beaters and assessors arranging collection of damaged cars from yards
- Construction, mining and plant hire: a site vehicle damaged in a collision on site moved to the plant yard for assessment
- Caravan, boat and bike owners: a car and caravan combination recovered and moved after a crash on a holiday route
- Municipalities, estates and schools: municipal and security vehicles towed after collisions to the council workshop
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the tow truck that arrives first at an accident?
How are vehicle storage fees charged after an accident?
What should be on an accident tow slip?
Can I request an accident tow through this site?
Accident Towing by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg