FAQs

Impounds Stolen Vehicles Accidents Unattended Cars - Motorway Towing Law Unauthorised Parking Heavy Combination Loads

Summary:

Southern Districts Towing stands as a premier vehicle recovery operator, strategically situated near the Takanini off-ramp and the Takanini train station on Oakleigh Ave, Takanini. Our expansive facility accommodates up to 450 vehicles, encompassing mopeds, cars, light and heavy trucks, and machinery. With a steadfast commitment to security, our yard is vigilantly monitored, routinely accessed by New Zealand Police and esteemed assessors from leading insurance companies on weekdays.

Operating hours for our office are from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, with closures on Saturdays and Sundays also public holidays. To streamline your experience, we kindly request contacting our office prior to your arrival to confirm the availability of property retrieval from your vehicle. Adhering to strict procedures and criteria, we ensure responsible and efficient property release to authorized individuals. Due to our status as a secure Police facility and in adherence to our rigorous health and safety protocols, our storage yard is not accessible to the public.

Impounds

Help - Why was my car impounded?

Taken from the NZ Transport Agency website:

The vehicle you're driving will be impounded if you're caught driving when:

• you've been disqualified from holding or getting a driver licence
• your driver licence has been suspended or revoked
• you don't hold (or have never held) a driver licence or your licence has expired, and you have been forbidden to drive by a police officer until you have a new or renewed licence
• you have to reinstate your licence and have been forbidden to drive by a police officer until you do
• you commit a drink-drive offence and have two previous drink-drive convictions in the last four years
• if the vehicle is used by a transport service operator:
  • who has been disqualified from holding or getting a transport service licence
  • whose transport service licence has been suspended or revoked
  • who does not (or has never) held a transport service licence and has previously been forbidden to operate the service.

Your vehicle can also be impounded if:

• you're caught racing (eg drag racing)
• you're caught performing street car stunts (eg wheel spins)
• you've broken a bylaw that prohibits cruising
• you've failed to stop when requested by the police (eg you've sped off and weren't immediately apprehended)
• you have an alcohol interlock licence and the vehicle doesn't have an alcohol interlock device fitted.

What happens if the driver isn’t the registered person?

Taken from the NZ Transport website:

The person registered in respect of the vehicle has an obligation to make sure that only licensed drivers use their vehicles, and that drivers use their vehicles responsibly. However, there are some circumstances where the registered person can appeal against a roadside vehicle impoundment.

When can I make an appeal?

Taken from the NZ Transport website:

As the registered person, you can make an appeal only on the grounds that:

• the impounded vehicle was stolen or converted at the time it was impounded (converted means the vehicle was taken or used dishonestly and without claim of right)
• the police officer didn't have reasonable grounds or didn't follow proper procedures to impound the vehicle
• you didn't know, and couldn't reasonably have been expected to know, that the driver was unlicensed or disqualified
• you took all reasonable steps to prevent the unlicensed driver from driving
• you didn't know, and couldn't reasonably have been expected to know, that the driver would race the vehicle or perform street car stunts
• you took all reasonable steps to prevent the driver from racing or performing street car stunts
• the driver drove in a serious medical emergency (which includes carrying a person about to give birth)
• you didn't know, and couldn't reasonably be expected to know, that the operator of the transport service was disqualified
• you didn't know, and couldn't reasonably be expected to know, that the relevant transport service licence was suspended or revoked
• you didn't know, and couldn't reasonably be expected to know, that the operator didn't hold a transport service licence and had previously been forbidden to operate.

How can I make an appeal?

Taken from the NZ Transport website:

As the registered person for the vehicle, you may appeal to the Commissioner of Police within 14 days. If that appeal is unsuccessful, you can appeal to a district court.

If your appeal is successful, the vehicle will be returned. You don't have to pay the costs of the impoundment IF it's shown that the police didn't have reasonable grounds to impound the vehicle or didn't follow the correct procedure.

If the vehicle was stolen or converted, you don't have to pay the storage fee, but you must pay the towing fee.

What if I pay the impound fee upfront can I still get my car out?

Southern Districts Towing welcome full or part payment for your impounded vehicle, however we are not authorised to release this legally until the impoundment period is up. Please call Southern Districts Towing on 0800 008 111 to make arrangements to pre-pay the impound fee and uplift your vehicle at a later time.

Why do I have to show photo ID? Why can’t I pick up my relative’s car?

It is a requirement of Southern Districts Towing that all registered owners or authorised persons, produce photo ID as a form of identification to pick up your vehicle. This can be a NZ Driver licence, an 18+ card or a current passport. Southern Districts Towing will only release the vehicle to the registered owner at the time of impoundment. Should the registered owner not be available to pick up the vehicle, prior arrangements must be made with Southern Districts Towing and the correct ID and strict procedures must be met prior to releasing a vehicle to a authorised person. Please call our office for further clarification and if necessary to authorise the collection of your vehicle.

How much do I need to pay?

Impound fees are set by the current New Zealand legislation. Every vehicle tow is different depending on the size of the vehicle, the impound location and the time of day. The team at Southern Districts Towing aim to notify the registered owner, as per NZTA database, by letter within 14 days of the impoundment date. If you have not received notification and need to know how much is owed, please call 0800 008 111 who can give you the correct information.

What's a 6 month impound?

As of 1st March 2024, New Zealand Police introduced 6 month vehicle impound if a vehicle fails to stop (and remain stopped) when signalled by Police. Click here for more information around 6 month vehicle impound.

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Stolen Vehicles

My vehicle has been stolen and the police have told me it’s been towed to Southern Districts Towing. What happens next...

If your car has been stolen and recovered in the Counties Manukau Police District, it will be towed back to our yard by the New Zealand Police for forensic examination. Generally, is takes 24-48 hours to complete this process, however it is case by case. Once the forensic examination has been completed, you will be notified by the New Zealand Police who will also provide you with information regarding your vehicle. You may also receive notification from a staff member at Southern Districts Towing. If you have full comprehensive car insurance or third party fire and theft, please phone your insurance provider to inform them of your vehicle's location. If you have no insurance, it is in your best interest to uplift your vehicle as quickly as possible, as storage fees may be incurred. Please call our office if you require further assistance with this

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Accident vehicles

In the unfortunate event you have had an accident, check with your insurance provider whether your policy includes a towing service and whether the service will come to the scene of an accident. Southern Districts Towing is the preferred recovery company for most major insurance companies for accidents in Auckland and we will come to your rescue, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you aren't covered for this, you may need to pay for Southern Districts Towing to come and take your vehicle away. If you require urgent assistance, please call 0800 008 111 immediately

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Unattended cars towed off the motorway:

Stopping on the motorway is a big no-no and if you breakdown and leave your vehicle unattended on the motorway, the New Zealand Police will move/tow your vehicle to a place of safety or to the nearest National Recovery Alliance secure yard. If the police issue an infringement ticket and providing you uplift your car the same day there is no cost paid to the towing company to uplift your vehicle. Please refer to the New Zealand Police website for the latest information on how to pay for your infringement ticket.

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What law governs the towing & vehicle recovery industry?

We are required by law to adhere to the Transport Services Licensing Act 1989 and the Land Transport Act 1998 and any other relevant legislation. These are monitored by LTSA and New Zealand Police. Southern Districts Towing is also a MTA member and we abide by the MTA Code of Ethics.

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Unauthorised Parking Towaways:

Unauthorized parking occurs when a vehicle is parked on private property without consent from the property owner or tenant, or fails to adhere to displayed parking terms and conditions. In such instances and where our towaway signs are present, vehicles will be towed to our facility. To retrieve your vehicle, please provide photo identification and make payment. For confirmation of vehicle storage and total costs, kindly reach out to our team on 0800 008 111.

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Heavy Combination Loads:

Recently there have been changes to over-dimension permits. The result is a new set of permits designed specifically to enable the towing of combination loads within a safe set of parameters. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR TOWING PERMIT FACT SHEET.

Still have questions, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or if you require urgent assistance please call us now 0800 008 111

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Contact Us

Looking for a trusted towing service in Auckland?

Count on us for swift and reliable assistance. Save our contact information for your future car towing and roadside assistance needs in Auckland.

Available 24/7, our dedicated team is here to help whenever you need us. Get in touch today to discover more about our experienced staff and comprehensive services.

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Auckland's professional vehicle towing team

Southern Districts Towing is Auckland's reliable, efficient, vehicle towing team. Once you call, we immediately dispatch a driver to collect you and your vehicle, and take you wherever you need to go. We have a range of vehicles available, so we can handle a large number of vehicle types and sizes. Our large fleet also means that we always have someone on hand to help, no matter where you are or how late the hour.

Call Southern Districts Towing on 09 268 5555 or 0800 008 111 for immediate assistance.

Our 24/7 Services

Reliable Road Assistance in Auckland and Beyond
24-hour Accident & Breakdown Service in Auckland

In an ideal world, you'll never have to need our services. But unfortunately, car accidents and breakdowns do happen, so when it happens to you, you want an expert roadside assistance team on your side. Southern Districts Towing are trained and experienced, allowing for a smooth and hassle-free process. We can tow your vehicle at any time, around the clock, so don't hesitate to call us today.

From the moment you call Southern Districts Towing, youre in safe and capable hands. Were able to dispatch our operators promptly and get to your location quickly, to provide road assistance in Auckland and beyond any time you need it.

Southern Districts Towing has grown in reputation for reliability and a quick response to customer requirements. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, making Southern Districts Towing your one-stop transport associate.

Complete Towing Service

Our first priority is always to see if we can fix your problem on the spot, with towing often a last resort. The roadside assistance team at Southern Districts Towing consists of drivers who are very knowledgeable when it comes to automobile mechanics, so whether its simply to change a tyre, jump start your battery, or to fully inspect the engine, we promise to look after you. Our Auckland-based team can bring our road assistance skills to you, no matter where you are.

Professional Drivers

When you need an expert towing service with friendly and experienced drivers, then Southern Districts Towing is the team for you. We offer our customers a 24-hour, 7 days a week, door-to-door service, anywhere within the Auckland area, and we are committed to providing excellent customer service and professional care when you need it most. All of our staff are fully Health & Safety trained as well as Police checked. So, trust our highly trained professionals with our extensive fleet and call us today.

Heavy Haulage

Southern Districts Towing boasts a range of different Heavy Recovery Vehicles, specifically equipped to carry out various recoveries. With a fleet of 6 vehicles and with extensive experience in the industry, we have the capability to handle any rescue and recovery situation involving any type of vehicle.

Southern Districts Towing Heavy Haulage offers:

• A wide ranging fleet of heavy recovery units
• Vehicles fitted with modern equipment, bespoke built with under lifts which give the lowest boom height and longest reach in the industry, ensuring any vehicle can be lifted quickly and without damage
• Heavy units equipped with over booms and twin winches to give even greater versatility
• The capability to recover commercial, bus, coach, and plant vehicles
• The ability, knowledge, and experience to deal with various vehicles in accident situations
• Vehicles which are tracked, allowing us to provide accurate information on their location
• A 24/7 North Island service

About

Reliable vehicle towing in Auckland

We take pride in our friendly customer service, and are keen to help get your vehicle to where it needs to go!

Southern Districts Towing Ltd offer 24 hour reliable vehicle towing services when you need it. Whether you need to get a small car towed down the road, or a large vehicle moved across town, we offer both local and long distance towing services.

Our team of professionals take the utmost care when recovering vehicles, and guarantee a damage free recovery.

We can also provide undercover storage for your vehicle.

For more information or to arrange a tow, don't delay, call today.

Company background

Founded in 1978 by Evan Watson, Southern Districts Towing and Southern Districts Heavy Towing has over 30 years experience in the industry, and continues to be a leader in the NZ Vehicle Recovery Industry.

The company started with three trucks, and built on attracting work through local businesses, as well as government and corporate bodies. The reputation for legitimate and reasonable pricing remains and has served to enhance Southern Districts Towing within the industry. This continues to be a driving force for the team today.

In 2009 Evan lost his battle due to illness. His wife Pam Watson continues with the business currently.

We employ 30 staff, 17 of which are Recovery Operators, many of whom have long-standing service. Our staff are highly trained and have the expertise to respond quickly and take care of the many and varied needs of our customers.

Our focus has always been providing our customers a prompt, fair priced service.

We believe the above to be the key areas to our success and sustainability.

Southern Districts Towing Limited currently services over 300 customers in the greater Auckland area including major Insurers, Breakdown and Recovery for AA and First Assistance, Ministry of Justice, Auckland Transport formerly Manukau City Council to name a few, and many trade customers.

We are contracted to Counties Manukau Police, and have been for the past 20 years. We are also a preferred provider for Auckland Motorway Towing services for the NZ Police, and are a provider for Suburban Accident Rosters as well.

We operate our business with the highest integrity and align ourselves with like-minded professional organisations.

The companys mission is to: Lead Our Industry to a New Level of Professionalism.

Reliable

The Southern Districts Towing promise is that we'll be there for you in your time of need. When your car is at its least reliable, our team will take up the slack and provide vehicle towing to any destination you desire.

Contact us in Auckland any time you need us and one of our drivers will be with you before you know it.

Professional

Professionalism is the key to Southern Districts Towing's success. Our tow operators are highly trained and experienced, and have encountered a huge number of situations over the years. This means that whatever situation you find yourself in, our drivers can extract your vehicle safely, and in a way that keeps it damage-free.

Efficient

No one likes sitting around waiting, and this goes double when your car has broken down. Not only do Southern Districts Towing's vehicle towing experts respond quickly, wherever you are in Auckland or beyond, but the towing process itself is undertaken quickly and efficiently. This means less waiting for you, less hassle, and increased convenience.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is issued to all employees for specific tasks. 

We track and maintain our PPE.  

We log all issues of PPE, including the date of issue, and sign off employees for training theyve received, enabling them to correctly use the PPE.

Safety Expectations 

We have very clear health and safety expectations for all employees, and clear processes to follow when these expectations are breached.

Our health and safety expectations are that employees:

• Ensure that their actions or inactions do not cause harm to themselves or others
• Wear all PPE provided when required
• Report hazards
• Report all accidents, incidents, and near misses
• Debrief on finishing scene ensuring continuous improvement 

All recovery operators are trained to carry out the following checks and reporting procedures:

• Daily vehicle checks: Flower checks (fuel, lights, oil, water, electrics, and rubber)
• All vehicles are thoroughly checked daily
• Equipment Checks: All equipment must be in a serviceable condition, and may not be used unless the operator has received training in its use and is able to demonstrate competence in its use
• Defect Reporting: All defects are to be reported immediately to the employer who, along with the operator, is responsible for the condition of the vehicle and equipment used
• Records of defects shall be maintained and traceable to repair of such defects

Information, Training and Supervision

We provide our employees with health and safety information, training, and supervision to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to do their jobs safely. We check with our employees to ensure they have understood the information and training we provide.

Lead Our Industry to the Highest Level of Professionalism. 

Our 24/7 Services

When it comes to towing your car, motorbike, truck, caravan or bus, you can always rely on our expert Recovery Team in Auckland. No vehicle is too big or small for our team and we have extensive experience throughout Auckland in a range of jobs. If you need expert assistance in a hurry, call us now!