Australia’s towing industry is influenced by a range of factors, including vehicle ownership, road crashes, breakdowns and freight activity.
This article brings together the latest statistics to examine the trends shaping towing demand across Australia.
Australian Towing Industry: Key Statistics (2026)
Before exploring each topic in detail, here are some of the most significant statistics shaping Australia’s towing and vehicle recovery industry.
- Australia’s registered vehicle fleet continues to grow, increasing the number of vehicles that may eventually require roadside assistance, accident recovery or transport.
- The average age of Australia’s registered vehicle fleet reached 11.54 years in January 2025. As vehicles remain on the road for longer, the likelihood of age-related mechanical failures also increases.
- RACV attended more than 865,000 emergency roadside assistance callouts during the 2024–25 financial year, demonstrating the ongoing demand for breakdown and recovery services.
- Australia continues to record more than one thousand road deaths annually, with thousands more serious injuries resulting from crashes that often require professional vehicle recovery.
- Average Australian motor insurance claim costs increased by 42% between 2019 and 2024, reflecting the growing cost and complexity of repairing modern vehicles.
- Australia recorded more than 1.2 million new vehicle sales during 2025, with SUVs and light commercial vehicles continuing to dominate the market. These larger vehicles often require different recovery equipment than traditional passenger cars.
- Australia has 794,345 registered recreational vehicles, contributing to seasonal towing demand across highways, regional roads and tourist destinations.
Taken together, these statistics show that towing demand is influenced by far more than accidents alone.
Fleet growth, ageing vehicles, increasing travel, changing vehicle technology and expanding freight activity all contribute to the ongoing need for professional recovery services.
Australia's Growing Vehicle Fleet Continues to Increase Demand for Towing Services
The size of Australia’s vehicle fleet is one of the strongest indicators of long-term towing demand.
Every additional registered vehicle increases the likelihood of future roadside breakdowns, accident recoveries, transport requirements and mechanical failures.
According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), Australia’s registered vehicle fleet continued to grow in January 2025 across passenger vehicles, motorcycles, light commercial vehicles and heavy vehicles, with detailed figures available for every state and territory.
This growth has been consistent over many years. Historical data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Australia’s registered vehicle fleet has steadily expanded over previous decades, providing important context for today’s larger transport network.
For towing operators, a growing fleet also means greater diversity. Modern recovery work extends well beyond standard passenger cars and increasingly includes:
- SUVs and dual-cab utes
- Electric and hybrid vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Light commercial vans
- Trucks and commercial fleets
- Caravans and trailers
- Light machinery and specialised equipment
Each vehicle type has different recovery requirements, making specialised equipment and experienced operators increasingly important.
We, at Underground Towing & Salvage, see this first-hand across Canberra, Queanbeyan and Tasmania, where a single day may involve roadside breakdowns, accident recoveries, machinery transport and restricted-access vehicle extractions.
Older Vehicles Continue to Drive Breakdown and Recovery Demand
Vehicle age is another important indicator of towing demand.
BITRE reports that the average age of Australia’s registered vehicle fleet increased to 11.54 years in January 2025, up from 11.40 years a year earlier. Passenger vehicles averaged approximately 11.3 years, showing Australians are keeping their vehicles longer before replacing them.
As vehicles age, components such as batteries, cooling systems, electrical systems and driveline parts become more susceptible to failure.
While regular servicing improves reliability, older vehicles are generally more likely to require roadside assistance or towing than newer models.
Vehicle age also varies considerably across Australia. Tasmania has the country’s oldest registered fleet, averaging 13.7 years, while the ACT has the youngest at 10.7 years. These differences help explain why recovery work can vary significantly between metropolitan and regional areas.
Combined with continued growth in vehicle registrations, Australia’s ageing fleet suggests that demand for professional towing and vehicle recovery services is likely to remain strong for years to come.
Australians Continue to Travel Further Every Year
Vehicle usage is another major driver of towing demand. The more kilometres travelled, the greater the likelihood of breakdowns, collisions and roadside incidents.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ final Survey of Motor Vehicle Use estimated that Australian vehicles travelled 238,499 million kilometres during the 12 months to June 2020, with the average registered vehicle travelling around 12,100 kilometres. Although the survey has since ceased, it highlights the scale of vehicle use across Australia and how higher vehicle usage increases exposure to breakdowns, tyre failures and road accidents.
Commercial transport accounted for a significant share of that activity. Freight vehicles represented approximately 20.4% of Australia’s registered fleet, including 3,412,459 light commercial vehicles, 521,255 rigid trucks and 104,442 articulated trucks. Collectively, these vehicles moved an estimated 223,949 million tonne-kilometres of freight during the same period.
Freight demand is expected to keep growing. The Australian Government projects the domestic freight task will increase from 756 billion tonne-kilometres in 2020 to 964 billion by 2050, with total freight volumes forecast to grow by 26%. More commercial vehicles on the road means greater demand for breakdown recovery and heavy vehicle towing.
Roadside Assistance Continues to Prevent Many Tows, but Recovery Demand Remains High
Roadside assistance resolves many incidents before a tow is required, but recovery demand remains substantial.
RACV attended more than 865,000 emergency roadside assistance callouts during 2024–25.
Around 80% were repaired on-site, while vehicles that could not be safely repaired were transported to a repairer or another destination. Common callouts included flat batteries, punctures, fuel shortages, lockouts and EVs running out of charge.
RACQ responded to more than 735,000 roadside jobs during FY2025, repairing approximately 91% of vehicles at the roadside and averaging a 35-minute response time. These figures show that while many issues are resolved immediately, hundreds of thousands of vehicles still require professional recovery each year.
Road Trauma Remains a Significant Driver of Accident Towing Across Australia
Crashes remain one of the biggest sources of towing demand.
BITRE reports that Australia continues to record more than 1,000 road deaths annually, with thousands more people seriously injured. Many of these crashes leave vehicles unsafe to drive and requiring recovery.
BITRE’s Fatal Road Crash Database and monthly road death bulletins show road trauma remains a consistent issue across every state and territory. While fatal crashes represent only a small share of all collisions, many non-fatal crashes still require damaged vehicles to be removed from the scene.
Insurance Claims Continue to Increase the Complexity of Vehicle Recovery
Modern vehicles are becoming more expensive and more complex to repair.
The Insurance Council of Australia reports that approximately one in seven Australian motor insurance policyholders makes a claim each year. Many collision claims require vehicles to be transported to repairers or assessment centres.
Average motor insurance claim costs increased by 42% between 2019 and 2024, reflecting higher repair costs, advanced safety systems and more expensive vehicle components. As repair costs increase, correct recovery procedures become more important to avoid additional damage.
Commercial Vehicles, Freight Growth and Business Transport Continue to Expand Recovery Requirements
Commercial recovery is an increasingly important part of Australia’s towing industry.
The transport, postal and warehousing industry contributed approximately 4.6% of Australia’s GDP during 2023–24 and employed around 297,000 people.
As freight volumes continue growing, so does demand for commercial vehicle recovery. Today’s towing operators regularly recover delivery vans, work utes, trailers, trucks and light machinery, helping minimise downtime and keep businesses operating.
SUVs, Utes and Electric Vehicles Are Changing the Way Vehicles Are Recovered
Australia’s vehicle fleet is changing, and towing operators are adapting with it.
More than 1.2 million new vehicles were sold in Australia during 2025. SUVs accounted for 60.7% of all sales, while 22.6% were light commercial vehicles. SUV sales increased by 5.5% to 733,831 vehicles, while traditional passenger vehicle sales fell by 22.6%. Larger, heavier vehicles often require different loading techniques and recovery equipment than smaller passenger cars.
Electric and hybrid vehicles are also becoming more common. In January 2026, battery electric vehicles represented 8.4% of new vehicle sales, hybrids accounted for 17.4%, and plug-in hybrid sales increased 170.5% year-on-year to represent 5.9% of the market.
Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, introduced in 2025, is expected to accelerate the transition towards lower-emission vehicles over the coming years.
For towing operators, these changes mean recovery procedures continue evolving. Electric vehicles often require manufacturer-approved transport methods, while heavier SUVs, dual-cab utes and commercial vehicles place greater demands on recovery equipment.
Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Travel Continues to Create Seasonal Towing Demand
Australia has one of the world’s largest caravan and camping communities.
There were 794,345 registered recreational vehicles across Australia in 2024, while local manufacturers produced 25,185 caravans and motorhomes during the year. Australians also took approximately 15.2 million caravan and camping trips, generating 57.1 million visitor nights and around $10.6 billion in visitor expenditure.
Long-distance travel places additional demands on vehicles, caravans and trailers, particularly across regional highways where assistance may be further away. Mechanical failures, tyre issues and towing incidents often occur far from repair facilities, increasing the need for professional recovery services.
Canberra Statistics: What the Data Says About Towing Demand
Canberra’s vehicle fleet continues to grow while maintaining one of the youngest average fleet ages in Australia.
BITRE reports that the ACT has the country’s youngest registered vehicle fleet, averaging 10.7 years in January 2025, up from 10.4 years the previous year. The Territory also recorded 16,917 new vehicle sales during 2025.
Road safety data shows demand for accident recovery remains consistent. ACT road casualties increased from 525 in 2021 to 603 in 2022, while fatalities rose from 11 to 18 over the same period. Casualty crashes involving vulnerable road users declined from 201 injuries to 148 injuries, demonstrating improvements in some areas despite fluctuating overall crash numbers.
The ACT Government also maintains spatial crash data covering reported incidents between 2015 and 2025, providing valuable insight into crash locations and road safety trends.
Travel patterns reinforce the importance of vehicle recovery services. The ACT recorded the strongest labour force growth in Australia between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses, increasing by 27.2%, while only 6.1% of employed residents travelled to work using active transport, indicating continued reliance on motor vehicles.
Motor accident injury claims are also tracked through the ACT Motor Accident Injuries Scheme, providing ongoing data on insurer-reported road crash claims across the Territory.
For motorists needing roadside recovery, breakdown assistance or vehicle transport across the ACT, Underground Towing & Salvage provides professional Towing Canberra services.
Tasmania Statistics Show Unique Recovery Challenges
Tasmania presents a different recovery environment from mainland Australia.
BITRE reports that Tasmania has Australia’s oldest registered vehicle fleet, averaging 13.7 years in January 2025. Older vehicles, combined with long travel distances and regional roads, contribute to different recovery requirements than those typically seen in metropolitan areas.
Tourism also influences vehicle movements. Tasmania welcomed approximately 1.385 million visitors during the year ending December 2025, generating $3.71 billion in visitor expenditure. The visitor economy supported around 50,800 jobs, while holiday travellers accounted for 52% of visitors and 70% of visitor spending.
Caravan travel remains particularly strong. Around 60% of caravan and motorhome visitors travelled with a partner, 69% of those bringing their own vehicle had visited Tasmania previously, and 65% of fly-drive caravan visitors were visiting for the first time.
Combined with Tasmania’s extensive regional road network, these factors contribute to ongoing demand for roadside assistance, accident recovery and long-distance vehicle transport.
If you need a dedicated Tasmania towing service for breakdowns, accidents or interstate transport, Underground Towing & Salvage can help.
Australia's Towing Industry Continues to Evolve
Modern towing involves far more than transporting broken-down vehicles.
Larger SUVs, electric vehicles, hybrids, commercial fleets and caravans all require different recovery methods. Vehicle technology continues evolving, while operators must comply with state-based licensing, inspection and safety requirements.
For businesses such as Underground Towing & Salvage, this means investing in specialised equipment, ongoing operator training and recovery procedures suited to modern vehicles rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
What These Statistics Mean for Australian Drivers and Businesses
The data points to one clear trend: demand for professional towing services is being driven by a combination of fleet growth, ageing vehicles, increasing freight activity, changing vehicle technology and continued road trauma.
Australia’s vehicle fleet continues expanding, vehicles are staying on the road longer, commercial transport volumes are increasing, and newer vehicles are becoming larger and more complex.
At the same time, roadside assistance organisations continue responding to hundreds of thousands of breakdowns each year, while crashes and insurance claims create ongoing demand for accident recovery and vehicle transport.
For motorists, these trends highlight the importance of having access to experienced towing operators when breakdowns or accidents occur. For businesses and fleet operators, reliable recovery services remain an important part of minimising downtime and keeping vehicles moving safely.
Although Australia does not publish a single measure of towing industry size, the available data clearly shows that professional vehicle recovery will remain an essential part of the country’s transport network for years to come.
About Underground Towing & Salvage
Underground Towing & Salvage provides professional towing, roadside assistance and vehicle recovery services across Canberra, Queanbeyan and Tasmania.
From accident recoveries and roadside breakdowns to underground car park towing, interstate vehicle transport and light machinery relocation, our team works with motorists, businesses and insurers to deliver safe, reliable recovery solutions.
The statistics throughout this article reflect many of the trends we see firsthand, from Australia’s ageing vehicle fleet and increasing roadside breakdowns to the growing demand for specialised vehicle recovery services.