The towing industry gets a bad rap when it comes to pricing. Unfortunately, it’s the usual story where the dodgy few are the ones that ruin it for the rest of us.
What you may not realise is the industry is heavily regulated and this applies to pricing as well. Even if a company wanted to overcharge for a tow truck service, there are laws that determine how much they can charge.
In this short article we’re going to cover how Rudd’s Towing prices work and what the law says about Brisbane towing costs in general. Knowledge is power and we want you to be as informed as possible before you order a tow truck.
We’re all about trying to change the image in this industry. The better we can educate, the more people can identify the handful of questionable providers out there.
How towing prices work at Rudd’s
We want to keep pricing as simple and predictable as possible for everyone involved. There are a few variables here, but generally, it works like this.
-
- $99 for up to 15 km
- $3.30 per km after that (up to 200 km where it changes to an hourly rate)
Here’s a quick snapshot of what a typical Rudd’s tow truck costs in Brisbane.
| Brisbane Tow Distance (Regular Car) | Tow Truck Cost |
|---|---|
| 15 km | $99.00 |
| 20 km | $115.50 |
| 30 km | $148.50 |
| 40 km | $181.50 |
| 50 km | $214.50 |
Note that these prices are for a standard 4 tonne truck which will cover most jobs. If you have an oversized load or special circumstances, give us a call at 0418 460 548. We can determine exactly which truck will work for you and if the cost will change.
In case you’re wondering, the reason we switch the pricing to hourly after 200 km is to keep the price down. The gouging stereotypes just aren’t true for reputable providers like Rudd’s!
What the QLD Government’s Tow Truck Act sets out for costs
In 2017, the Queensland Government commissioned an independent investigation into the industry. It was in response to rising complaints and so, to their credit, they addressed it and made amendments to the Tow Truck Act 1973 and Tow Truck Regulation 2009.
You can check out all the details of this scheme, along with regulations around maximum towing costs. To save you some reading, here are the basic pricing limitations.
Crash towing maximum regulated towing fee (for a standard tow):
$375.95 for the first 50 km
$7.45 for each kilometer over 50 km.
Private parking towing maximum regulated fees (for a standard tow):
$260.25 for release from the holding yard,
$156.15 for the onsite release of the vehicle after it is secured ready for towing,
$26.00 per day for storing a private property towed vehicle in the holding yard.
You can refer back to this post or the government regulations if you ever feel as though you’re being overcharged. These regulations are taken very seriously.
It’s also important to note that a callout fee cannot be charged, among other things. A complete breakdown of other prohibited costs are also included in the link above.
All in all, you’d be surprised at just how low the cost of our Brisbane towing services are. People often overestimate just how far 15km is, too.
If you want to get an idea of what a tow truck should cost to move your vehicle, take a look at Google Maps! You might be pleasantly surprised.