Adelaide’s accident towing roster, in plain terms
South Australia runs an accident towing roster across greater metropolitan Adelaide, an area that reaches from about the Gawler Bypass in the north to Yankalilla in the south, and east to the Mount Bold and Kangaroo Creek reservoirs. The state splits it into 15 zones for cars and light vehicles, plus one zone for vehicles over 2,500 kg.
After a crash in that area, you or the police ring the roster line on (08) 8116 9209. The operator sends the next truck on that zone’s roster, and the Motor Vehicles Act bars any other tow operator from attending the scene for the job.
The roster driver has to give you an Authority to Tow form, and the destination you write on it is your choice, even if you can’t pay on the spot.
Moving a car out of the holding yard
Plenty of crash-damaged cars land in the roster operator’s yard first. To move the car from there, the Act asks for a written direction from you as the owner, on the Registrar’s form, naming where it goes next. Pay the yard’s lawful towing and storage fees and they must hand the car over.
Tell us the yard and the destination when you call. Storage charges build for each day the car sits there, so move it once you’ve chosen a repairer.
Repairer, assessor, home or wrecker
The usual next stop is a smash repairer for a quote, or your insurer’s assessment centre. If the insurer writes it off, it goes to a wrecker or salvage yard.
Some insurers book each tow themselves, and others leave it to you and pay you back. Check your policy before you book anyone, us included. If you’re paying, keep the invoice so you can claim it back.
After a crash in the country
The roster stops at the metro boundary. Outside it, the state’s driver handbook says you can call any available tow truck operator.
SA Best Towing doesn’t attend crash scenes, in the city or the country. Once the car is off the road and sitting in a country yard or workshop, we can bring it back to your repairer, your insurer’s assessor or your home in Adelaide.
