The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has warned motorists who fail to subscribe to the mandatory towing service that their vehicles could be auctioned if they refuse to pay charges incurred when their broken-down vehicles are removed from dangerous locations.
NRSA Director-General Abraham Amaliba said the Authority would remove vehicles posing a risk to other road users, regardless of whether their owners had signed up for the towing service.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, he explained that owners would be surcharged for the removal and traced through their registration details at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
He said motorists would be given 21 days after being contacted to settle the charges. Failure to comply would result in the vehicle being advertised for sale and subsequently auctioned.
Mr Amaliba’s warning comes as the government prepares to implement a road safety policy under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at addressing the dangers posed by broken-down vehicles.
He also announced plans to introduce a mobile application that would connect stranded motorists to the nearest available towing company.
According to him, the platform would operate like ride-hailing applications, allowing drivers to obtain assistance from nearby operators rather than wait for their registered towing companies to travel long distances.
He said towing companies would be responsible for resolving payment arrangements among themselves when an operator other than the motorist’s subscribed provider responds to a call.
The proposed policy also requires motorists in major city centres to arrange towing within 30 minutes of a breakdown, in an effort to reduce congestion and prevent accidents caused by stationary vehicles.
