What to do if your car is not driveable
Short answer
What do I do if my car cannot be driven after an accident?
Arrange a tow and make sure you know exactly where your vehicle is being taken and what it costs to store it there. You choose where your vehicle goes, not the first tow operator who arrives. Then tell your insurer the location, and sort out how you will get around while the vehicle is off the road.
Is it actually undriveable?
Do not drive a vehicle you are unsure about. Obvious signs it should be towed:
- Fluid pooling under the car — coolant, oil, fuel or brake fluid
- A tyre that is flat, shredded, or sitting at an odd angle
- Bodywork or a panel touching a wheel
- Headlights, brake lights or indicators not working
- Steering pulling hard, or a brake pedal that feels wrong
- Anything dragging, or a bonnet or boot that will not latch
- Airbag deployment
A car that starts and moves is not necessarily safe. If in doubt, tow it. The cost of a tow is trivial compared with a second accident caused by a failed brake line.
Towing: the part people get caught by
Tow operators often arrive quickly and unrequested. Before you sign anything, ask four questions:
- Where exactly are you taking my vehicle — name and address?
- What is the towing fee, and what is the daily storage fee?
- Am I signing an authority to tow only, or also an authority to repair?
- What does it cost to release the vehicle if I move it elsewhere?
You are entitled to decide where your vehicle goes. Storage fees accrue daily and can become significant if the vehicle sits somewhere while an assessment is arranged, so knowing the address and the rate on day one matters.
Tell your insurer where it is
Your insurer needs the location to arrange an assessment. Give them the yard name, address and any reference number from the tow docket, and keep the docket itself.
Getting around in the meantime
Do not leave this until the repair timeline is confirmed — assessments and parts can take weeks. Your options usually include a hire car benefit in your own policy, a specialist accident replacement vehicle if another party was responsible, or arranging your own transport and claiming the cost if it is recoverable.
If you use the vehicle for work, say so early. A trade ute or a rideshare vehicle off the road is a direct loss of income, and it changes what is reasonable to arrange.
Common questions
Who pays for the tow?
It depends on your cover and on fault. Many comprehensive policies include towing to a repairer or holding yard. If another party was responsible, towing is usually part of what is recovered. Keep the receipt either way.
Can I have it towed to a repairer of my choice?
Generally yes, though your policy may affect which repairer does the work. Tell the tow operator where you want it taken rather than accepting their default yard.
Sources
Crash Guide checks state rules against primary government and regulator sources. If something below has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
- General Insurance Code of Practice — Insurance Council of AustraliaChecked 10 September 2026
- Car insurance — Moneysmart — ASIC MoneysmartChecked 10 September 2026