Towing of Motor Vehicles Scheme

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for financial assistance or reimbursement for the costs of the initial tow and limited storage for the recovery of a stolen vehicle, an individual must:

• be a resident of Queensland, and
• have an active stolen vehicle complaint with the Queensland Police Service (QPS) (i.e., the complaint has not been withdrawn), and
• the vehicle must meet the definition of a motor vehicle under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, and
• the vehicle must not be registered to a business, company, or organisation and must be registered in the name of an individual for private use only.

Financial assistance may apply to individuals in the following circumstances:

• a vehicle is uninsured; or
• a vehicle is insured, but:
  -  an insurance claim is not approved, or
  -  an individual does not proceed with a claim.

Special Circumstances

In some cases, QPS may consider providing additional financial assistance for vehicle recovery. Special circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

• Distance related costs: Costs incurred when your vehicle is recovered from a location significantly far from your residence or designated storage facility, resulting in higher towing expenses; or
• Special equipment requirements: Costs incurred when specialised equipment or techniques are required to recover your vehicle from a difficult or inaccessible location, such as an underground car park or hazardous area.
• Please refer to the "Financial Reimbursement" section for details on how to submit your application and the required documentation.

How the Scheme works

Individuals will be provided financial assistance for the initial tow and limited storage costs, through either:

• a tow provider invoicing the QPS directly;
• if insurance applies, a tow provider invoicing the insurance company directly; or
• an application in writing for reimbursement to the QPS, if a payment has been made directly to a tow provider (see below section ‘financial reimbursement’).

What the Scheme Does Not Cover

The scheme does not cover:

• storage fees incurred beyond two business days after the vehicle has been released from police hold.
• costs generally covered by vehicle insurance, such as breakdown towing fees or compensation for any damage to a stolen vehicle.
• situations where you have already been compensated for the costs of towing and storage by insurance or any other third party.
• reimbursement for special circumstances where compensation has already been provided by another source.
• financial losses resulting from a police officer exercising their powers (you may apply in writing for assessment and compensation where applicable).
• vehicles registered in a business name.

This scheme covers the initial tow and limited storage fees. In special circumstances, it may also provide assistance where the recovery of the vehicle is directly impacted by factors beyond the owner's control, provided no other compensation has been received for the vehicle’s recovery.

Financial Reimbursement

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to financial reimbursement if you paid a tow provider directly for towing and storage.

Note: The maximum fees recoverable are outlined in the Tow Truck Regulation 2024  published on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website. This scheme does not replace the existing towing arrangements between providers and the QPS.

All applications for financial reimbursement must include the following documentation:

• Vehicle details: year, make, model and registration number
• Invoice and payment receipt
• Bank details: account name, BSB and account number
• Statutory declaration confirming that no financial benefit has been received from a third party (e.g., from an insurance company)
• Deed of Indemnity or Release and Discharge (if applicable)

Provide this information by email to: Towing.State@police.qld.gov.au. We require sufficient information in your application to determine your entitlement for reimbursement. We may need to ask for more information.

Incomplete documentation or inadequate information may delay application processing.

Contact details

For further inquiries, please email: towing.state@police.qld.gov.au. 

For more detailed information about the scheme, please refer to the Towing of Motor Vehicles Scheme FAQs.

Towing of Motor Vehicles Scheme FAQs