Should I ever sign a blank form from a tow truck driver?

Never. A blank or incomplete form is a blank cheque. Only sign once the final price and destination are clearly written on it.

What if the driver says I have to sign for them to start work?

Tell them you will only sign after they have filled in the total price and destination. If they refuse, you refuse the tow. It's a classic pressure tactic.

Is a roadside signature legally binding if I was stressed?

In most cases, yes. Arguing that you were under duress is very difficult. This is why predatory operators use high-pressure tactics to get your signature.

What am I agreeing to when I sign a towing authorisation?

You are often agreeing to pay all charges, allow them to take the car to their yard, and grant them the right to hold your car until you pay. It's a powerful document.

How is InstaTow's authorisation process different?

It's fully digital. You consent to a fixed price and a chosen destination on your phone before the tow. This creates a clear, indisputable record that protects you.

Why Signing Anything at the Roadside Is a Mistake

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At a stressful accident scene in Western Australia, a tow operator will often present you with a form and a pen, saying, “Just sign here so we can get started.” Signing that piece of paper is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. It is not an acknowledgment. It is a blank cheque.

That form is a Towing Authorisation, and your signature gives the operator legal consent to take your vehicle. More importantly, it often binds you to their terms and conditions—terms you have not read and are in no state to understand.

What You Are Actually Signing

When you sign that form, you are often agreeing to:

Pay whatever price they decide to bill you later.
Allow them to take your vehicle to a storage yard of their choice.
Be liable for all towing, recovery, and storage fees.
Grant them a lien over your vehicle, allowing them to hold it until you pay.

The operator will use your signature as undeniable proof of your consent when they are chasing you for an inflated bill. They will tell your insurer, debt collectors, and even a magistrate that you “authorised the work.”

"I Didn't Know What I Was Signing" Is Not a Defence

Arguing that you were stressed, shaken, or didn't read the fine print rarely holds up. A signature is considered a binding acceptance of a contract. Predatory operators rely on this. They create a high-pressure environment to get your signature, knowing it will be almost impossible for you to retract your consent later.

The Only Time You Should Sign

You should only ever sign a towing authorisation form after three conditions have been met:

You have been given a clear, final, all-inclusive price.
That price has been written onto the form itself.
The specific destination address has been written onto the form.

If any of these details are blank, do not sign. If the operator refuses to fill them in, refuse the service. An empty form is a weapon they will use against you.

The InstaTow Way: Digital, Transparent Consent

Our platform eliminates this entire problem. With InstaTow, your consent is digital. You agree to the fixed price and the destination on your own phone screen before a driver is even dispatched. There is no paper, no pens, and no pressure.

The job confirmation in the app serves as your digital authorisation, with all the terms and costs clearly recorded. It protects you and the operator equally.

Do not sign away your rights on the side of the road. Use a service where consent is clear, informed, and digital.