As of today, insurers, motoring clubs and assistance platforms are failing to comply with Royal Decree-Law 3/22 of 1 March on passing fuel price increases on to prices.
The National Roadside Assistance Alliance has warned, once again, of the possibility of protests or service stoppages if the current situation in the sector continues. It is important to know this figure: while insurers earned 2,662 million euros in the first half of 2022 (9.3 % more), 63 % of assistance companies are making losses at this point in the year. Closures and insolvency proceedings are expected among tow-truck companies (if fuel costs are not recovered). In many cases, rates have been frozen for a decade.
In September, negotiations – which began last July – resumed with insurers, motoring clubs and travel assistance platforms. The aim is to respond to the sector's demands, bringing assistance contracts into line with current law, so that at the very least the expenses involved in maintaining a 24h/365-day service are covered.
A service as essential as it is poorly recognised, according to the Alliance that represents the sector. Xavier Martí, the Alliance's spokesperson, has continued in this vein to call "on insurers and intermediaries to act responsibly and comply strictly with current law, to avoid an escalation of conflict in the sector".
Seville as the setting for decision-making
On 22 September in Seville, as part of the 4th edition of FIRECA, the International Rescue, Assistance and Emergencies Fair, the Alliance and its member organisations have called a sector assembly under the slogan "ON THE 22ND THE TOW TRUCKS DECIDE". Decisions will be taken there for this autumn, which could include the total or partial suspension of assistance and travel assistance services in Spain.
The problems this sector is suffering, with the squeeze on tow-truck companies' profit margins, are the direct responsibility of insurers and intermediaries. They have still not generally revised their rate tables in line with fuel price increases, thereby jeopardising the normal provision of the activity.
Progressive deterioration of roadside assistance
Compliance with the law by the providers of roadside assistance services is the priority of the National Roadside Assistance Alliance – which is fighting for the viability of tow-truck companies – in order to prevent the progressive deterioration of the service in Spain.
The Alliance denounces the impossibility of hiring operators to cover 24/365 services, as well as the relentless rise in costs, which represent an insurmountable economic obstacle to maintaining assistance companies' road coverage network. This could have the fatal consequence of a lack of service and, consequently, a reduction in road safety.
The National Roadside Assistance Alliance is made up of the following regional and national associations and business organisations: ABEAC (Balearic Islands), ABEAC (Basque Country), ASCA (Catalonia), AMEAC (Madrid), ANESAV (National), ASCALEAC, (Castile and León), ASEDA (Andalusia), ASEGA (Galicia), AGRUAXA (Salamanca), ASEXTEAC (Extremadura), GRUPO CARTER (National), CEPAS (National), FEGRUAL (National Federation) AGREGA-GRÚAS and REAC (National Group).