Can Main Roads WA force me to use their tow truck?

Only to move your vehicle out of a live traffic lane to the nearest safe location. They cannot force you to use a specific company for the final tow to a mechanic or your home.

Is the Main Roads tow free?

The initial clearance tow to a safe spot off the freeway is often covered by Main Roads as part of their incident management service. The subsequent commercial tow is your responsibility.

A tow driver said he is the 'Main Roads approved' operator. Is that true?

No. This is a common tactic. While Main Roads has contractors for clearing hazards, they do not have 'approved' public operators. You are free to choose any licensed tow company.

What should I do after Main Roads moves my car to an emergency lane?

Once you are in a safe location, you should call your insurer or a trusted tow provider like InstaTow to arrange for your vehicle to be towed to your final destination.

Does Main Roads have any say in how much I pay for my tow?

None whatsoever. Their role is strictly related to road safety and traffic flow. Pricing and payment are a commercial matter between you and your chosen tow operator.

What Main Roads WA Can and Cannot Force You to Do

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When you break down or have an accident on a major Perth freeway or highway, a Main Roads WA Incident Response Service (IRS) vehicle may be the first to arrive. Their role is specific and limited: to keep traffic moving safely. They are not there to choose your tow truck or dictate your costs.

Main Roads' Sole Priority is Traffic Flow

The primary function of the Main Roads IRS is to clear incidents that pose a danger or a significant blockage to traffic. Their authority is tied directly to road safety. They can and will:

Set up temporary traffic management and cones.
Provide a safety barrier between your vehicle and live traffic.
Order the immediate removal of a vehicle that is blocking a live lane.

When Main Roads Can Order a Tow

Main Roads can only compel you to be towed under one condition: your vehicle is an immediate and serious hazard to other road users. This applies almost exclusively to vehicles stopped in live traffic lanes on freeways and major highways like:

Mitchell Freeway
Kwinana Freeway
Graham Farmer Freeway
Tonkin and Roe Highways

In this situation, they will use their own authorised tow contractor to move your vehicle to the nearest safe place, such as an emergency lane or the next exit ramp. This is a clearance tow, not a commercial tow.

They Cannot Choose Your Commercial Tow

Once your vehicle is in a safe location (e.g., in an emergency stopping bay), Main Roads' authority ends. From that point, you are free to arrange your own tow to your chosen destination.

A Main Roads officer cannot:

Force you to use a specific tow company for your final destination.
Endorse or recommend any particular operator.
Involve themselves in the price or payment of your chosen tow.

Do not let a tow operator claim they are the “official Main Roads tow.” Main Roads uses contractors for clearance, but they do not have preferred providers for the general public.

Confirm Your Rights on Scene

If a Main Roads officer is present, you can clarify the situation with a simple question:

“Now that the vehicle is in a safe location, am I free to call my own tow truck?”

The answer will be yes. This confirms your right to choose and prevents any opportunistic tow driver from claiming they have been authorised by Main Roads.

Their job is to clear the road. Your job is to make a smart, un-pressured decision about who tows your car. Call InstaTow for a clear price and a verified driver, free from roadside politics.