How to start a towing and recovery business

Towing and recovery is an essential service. This means that your services will always be in high demand.

There’s a lot to consider when planning to start a towing and recovery business. From finances and marketing to the different types of towing vehicles and recovery services you want to provide.

As a towing and recovery business owner, you will need to work unsociable hours and employ a team of qualified mechanics to provide roadside rescue.

Firstly, however, you must ensure that your towing and recovery business is all above board and legally registered.

How do I start a towing and recovery business?

The first thing to do when starting a towing and recovery business is to register your company with HMRC. Doing so will ensure that your business is compliant with UK law.

As part of this process, you’ll also need to choose the structure of your towing and recovery business.

You’ll need to decide whether to set up as a sole trader or a limited company. Setting up as a sole trader is generally simpler as there’s far less paperwork involved.

Sole traders, however, don’t enjoy the same financial security as limited companies.

Have a read of our guide on the difference between sole trader and limited companies for more detailed information.

Insurance for your towing and recovery business

Insurance is essential for any business. And motor insurance often tops the list of insurance responsibilities.

Insurance considerations you’ll need to make when setting up a towing and recovery business include:

• Public liability insurance – covers claims made against you by members of the public and pays out compensation for personal injuries, loss or damage to property
• Road and vehicle insurance – protects against traffic accidents and damage to a car while being towed
• Tools insurance – replacement costs of equipment through loss or theft caused by theft, fire, or flooding

Once your towing and recovery business is set up and insured, you can start thinking about what you’ll need to carry out professional towing and recovery services.

What do I need to start a towing and recovery business?

If you’re planning to start a towing and recovery business, you’ll probably already have a good idea of what’s involved and what equipment you’ll need.

Some essential towing and recovery tools and materials include:

• Light bars for emergency vehicles
• Cones
• Floodlights
• Tow ropes
• Mechanics toolbox containing all the necessary tools

Most importantly of all, you’re going to need a tow truck.

What are the best types of tow truck?

There are several types of tow trucks to choose from when setting up a towing and recovery business.

Each model has a slightly different use and capacity. The most popular tow trucks are:

• Flatbed tow truck – powered by hydraulics, these trucks can support a car or van on a raised platform and are used for immobile or severely damaged vehicles.
• Hook and chain tow truck – using a hook, chain, and pulley system, this truck lifts the front end of a vehicle and pulls it along with the rear wheels still in use.
• Wheel lift tow truck – working in a similar way as the hook and chain truck but with a hydraulic hoist to raise the front of the vehicle.
• Integrated tow truck – using an integrated super strong lifting system, these trucks are used to carry larger vehicles such as lorries and buses.

Now that you know more about the different types of towing and recovery vehicles, you need to get your business known.

Marketing ideas for your towing and recovery business

Marketing your towing and recovery business can involve both traditional and digital marketing.

If you use digital and traditional marketing, you’re likely to have more business success.

Traditional marketing for your towing and recovery business

Traditional marketing involves any business promotion and advertising that is not done on the internet. It can include:

• Sending brochures and leaflets by mail
• Creating signs and logos for your vans and workwear
• Using your brand to sponsor local events
• Advertising in local magazines and newspapers
• Posting your services on community bulletin boards
• Using word of mouth to grow your customer base

Traditional marketing is a great way to promote your towing and recovery business and build your brand.

Digital marketing for your towing and recovery business

Digital marketing includes all the work you do online to promote your business.

This could include:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
• PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising
• Social media
• E-mail marketing

It’s important to remember that your online identity should be consistent. Anything you post on social media, for example, should be carefully aligned with the information on your website.

Want to find out more about marketing your towing and recovery business? Join Checkatrade today!

Build a towing and recovery business website

Having a business website is essential. All your customers will use the internet. If you can raise awareness about your services in your local area, you’ll soon start attracting new customers.

Creating a website may appear difficult. With a bit of knowledge, however, you’ll soon have a stylish and user-friendly website to promote your towing and recovery company.

Whether you decide to build it yourself or hire a web designer, the more you know about the process, the higher chances of success.

Decide if you need a website

You may not need a website for your business. You may want to instead consider getting a Checkatrade profile, which can act as your website.

As long as you pass our checks you’ll be able to get yourself a bespoke Checkatrade profile for your new business. Not only that, but we’ll send customers your way.

Find out more about becoming a Checkatrade member and creating a Checkatrade profile.

What should you include in your towing and recovery business website?

Your towing and recovery business website should be clear and user-friendly. It should contain all the essential information that your customers want to know.

This could include:

• Your business name and logo
• Your address and contact details
• Information about the towing and recovery services you provide
• The areas you serve
• Any positive customer testimonials
• Information about your timescales for responding

Once your website is set up and live, it’s time to do some marketing to help you to win more customers for your towing and recovery business.

Working with national breakdown companies

When you really want to see your towing and recovery business thrive, you could register your services with one of the well-known UK roadside rescue companies.

The AA, RAC, and Green Flag often sub-contract work on a local level. By registering your business as a sub-contractor, you’re certain to gain more work.

You could also partner with local garages. If they have a customer who needs a vehicle towing, the garage will then contact you to bring the vehicle to them.

Become a Checkatrade-approved towing and recovery specialist

Perhaps the most important part of starting a towing and recovery business is joining an online trade database, like Checkatrade.

As a Checkatrade member, you become part of the UK’s largest database of registered traders. And the place where millions of customers go to find and hire quality trades in their local area.

In 2024, there were over 38,000 searches for towing/transportation jobs on Checkatrade.* This equates to a lot of work coming your way when you sign up!

Becoming a Checkatrade member is a great way to grow your towing and recovery business and build customer trust.

* Internal search data from users of the Checkatrade.com website between 1st January and 31st December 2024