Overview: Towing Services
A tow truck is what you call when the car can't move itself. That might be a breakdown on the shoulder, a crash, a car in the ditch after a storm, or one the police or the city ordered moved. Wheel-lift trucks carry one axle, flatbeds carry the whole car, and heavy rigs take trucks and motorhomes. All-wheel drive cars and most EVs belong on a flatbed.
Winter is the busy season and the rough one. Waits stretch when a storm hits, and pulling a car out of a snowbank is winching, which is priced apart from the tow. Check your roadside cover before you call anyone. A CAA membership caps the service calls you get each year, and the free tow distance depends on your level and your club.
Rules differ by province. Ontario certifies tow operators, drivers and storage yards. Unless police directed the tow, the operator needs your written consent on a form that lists its maximum rates, and it has to take credit, debit or cash. Wherever you are, ask where the car is going and when storage charges start. Take photos before the truck leaves.
Our listings show what each operator states on its own website about hours, emergency calls and the trucks it runs. A tow comes to you, so use the province and city lists to find operators whose trucks cover your area.
Cost of towing in Canada
Give the pickup point, destination and vehicle condition before asking for a price. A cheap hook-up fee is only one part of a tow. Customer-requested passenger-vehicle tows. Accident, police-directed and heavy commercial jobs need separate quotes.
| Service | Budget estimate | Scope and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local tow: 10 km | Starting prices CA$95–200per tow | Standard passenger vehicle, accessible pickup, normal service hours.Published entry prices; equipment, recovery and severe conditions can raise the total. |
| Distance charge, where billed | Starting prices CA$3.50–5per billable kilometre | Ask how many kilometres are included and where mileage starts.This is an extra rate, not the full tow price. |
| Winching or difficult recovery | Get an itemized quoteper recovery | Ditch, snow, blocked wheels or restricted-access parking.Specify vehicle condition and access; ask about equipment, included time and overtime. |
| Storage, if the vehicle goes to a yard | Get an itemized quoteper day and release | Confirm the destination, release hours and when each storage day begins.Get storage, administration and release charges before agreeing to yard delivery. |
What changes the price
- Distance and vehicle-compatible towing equipment
- Access, locked wheels and recovery work
- Time of day, weather and any storage
Ask before you book
- What is the written total to my chosen destination, including all fees and tax?
- Is the quoted equipment suitable for my drivetrain, clearance and vehicle condition?
- If the destination is closed, what storage or second-tow charges would apply?
Comparing offers
Do not add every row automatically. Confirm which extras are already included in the total and when you must approve a change.
Starting prices are entry prices for the stated scope, not a ceiling on the final quote. Ask whether taxes are included.
Frequently asked questions
Does my roadside assistance cover the tow?
Often, but only up to a point. A CAA membership comes with a yearly limit on service calls, and how far you get towed depends on your membership level and your club. Go past that distance and you pay for the extra kilometres. Some insurers and new-car warranties include roadside help too. If you call an operator yourself, get the total price first and say whether the car's all-wheel drive or electric.
What must a tow operator tell me before towing?
Ontario spells it out. Unless police directed the tow, the operator needs your written consent first, on a form showing its certificate numbers, the destination you picked and its maximum rates. It has to accept credit, debit or cash, and give you an itemized invoice before you pay. It also has to disclose any interest in a yard or repair shop it sends you to. Elsewhere, ask for the same anyway.
Why do storage charges add up so fast?
Because they run by the day, often from the day the car arrives, and many yards only release cars in office hours. A Friday night tow can sit all weekend piling up charges. In Ontario, the storage operator has to let you get your belongings out of the car for free during regular hours. Before the truck pulls away, get the yard's address and release hours in writing.
What is a rotation tow?
It's a tow the police chose for you. Many police services keep a list of approved operators and call them in turn after crashes or for blocked lanes, so you don't pick the company or the yard. Cities tow too. In Montreal, a car in the way of snow removal usually gets moved to a nearby street and the owner gets a fine. The city's online towing lookup shows where it went.
Can a tow damage my car?
It can, and cold makes it likelier. Brakes freeze to the rotors, tires stick to ice, and plastic bumper covers crack in the cold instead of flexing. Add the classic mistakes: hooks on the wrong points bend a subframe, and a driven axle dragged along the road hurts the differential. Ask the driver where the hooks go. Photograph every side before loading, because damage found the next morning is hard to argue.
