Towing, Roadside & Transport
Roadside assistance & battery boost near you
Roadside assistance that comes to you: a battery boost, a flat changed to the spare, fuel delivered or a locked door opened, with a battery test.
- Time at the shop
- 30 min
- about
- Mobile service
- Mobile only
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 1
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
1 shop in Canada does this
Towing, Roadside & Transport
What roadside assistance & battery boost is
Roadside assistance is a technician who fixes a small problem where the vehicle stands, so you avoid a tow. The most common call is a dead battery: the technician connects a jump pack or cables, starts the engine, then tests the battery and alternator to find out why it failed. Other calls are a flat tire swapped for the spare, a few litres of fuel delivered and a locked door opened. The visit itself usually takes under half an hour.
A boost is a stopgap, not a repair. Lights left on, an old battery, corroded terminals or an alternator that is not charging all produce the same dead battery, and cold weather exposes a weak one first. Electric and hybrid vehicles have a small 12-volt battery that can go flat too, with specific jump points, so tell the operator what you drive.
- For cars, EVs, motorcycles, vans, trucks, RVs and trailers
- Takes about 30 min
- Done at your address
What does roadside assistance & battery boost cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
1 shop across Canada does roadside assistance & battery boost.
What to expect
Roadside assistance & battery boost, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Technician sent to your location with a jump pack, a jack and tools
- Battery boosted with a jump pack or cables, using the correct jump points on hybrids and EVs
- Battery strength, starting system and alternator output tested after the boost
- Flat tire changed to your spare, with the lug nuts torqued and the spare’s pressure checked
- Enough fuel delivered to reach a station, with the fuel charged separately
- Lockout opened without damage, using a wedge and a long-reach tool
- Advice on whether you can drive on or should call for a tow
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Ask what the fee covers and whether the battery test after the boost is included
- 02Say if the vehicle is a hybrid, an EV, a diesel or a start-stop model, so the right equipment and jump points are used
- 03For a flat, make sure the spare holds air and that you can find the key for any locking wheel nuts
- 04If there is no spare, ask whether the operator can inflate or plug the tire, or whether a tow is the only option
- 05Give an exact location, and say if it is a highway shoulder, an underground garage or a steep or icy driveway
- 06Ask about night and holiday surcharges before the technician is sent
Signs
When you need it
- The engine cranks slowly, clicks or does nothing when you turn the key
- A door or a light was left on overnight and now the dash stays dark
- A tire is flat and you have a spare, but no way to change it
- You ran out of gas or diesel short of a station
- The keys are locked inside and nobody with a spare can reach you soon
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get roadside assistance & battery boost done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Auto Electrical
Battery replacement & testing
Car battery replacement with the battery and charging system tested first, a matching battery fitted, registered if needed and the old one recycled.
Auto Electrical
Alternator repair & replacement
Alternator replacement or repair once a charging test confirms it, with a new or remanufactured unit fitted and the belt and battery checked too.
Towing
A towing service sends a tow truck for a vehicle that cannot be driven and delivers it to the shop, home or scrapyard you choose, by flatbed or wheel-lift.
Tires & Wheels
Flat tire repair
Flat tire repair from the inside: the tire comes off the rim and a patch-plug seals the puncture, or it is replaced if beyond repair, at a shop or on site.
Keys & Locksmith
Automotive locksmith
An automotive locksmith opens locked vehicles without damage, extracts broken keys and repairs or replaces worn ignition cylinders and door locks.
Questions
Questions about roadside assistance & battery boost
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Why did my battery die, and will it happen again?
The usual causes are lights or a door left on, a battery several years old, corroded terminals, a charging system that has stopped charging and repeated short trips. Cold weather multiplies the effect. A load test after the boost shows whether the battery holds a charge, and an alternator check shows whether it is being recharged; if either fails, the boost is only a temporary fix.
How long should I drive after a jump start?
Drive for at least 20 to 30 minutes without switching the engine off, ideally at steady road speed rather than in stop-and-go traffic, so the alternator can put charge back into the battery. Turn off the heated seats, rear defroster and stereo where you can. If the vehicle will not restart afterwards, the battery or the alternator needs testing, not another boost.
Can roadside assistance boost an electric or hybrid vehicle?
Yes, but only the small 12-volt battery, which runs the computers, locks and contactors. It is boosted through designated jump points, sometimes under a panel or in the fuse box, so the operator needs to know your model. Most manufacturers advise against using an EV to jump-start another vehicle. If the large high-voltage battery is empty, it needs a tow or a charge, not a jump.
What if I have no spare tire, or the wheel lock key is missing?
The operator can sometimes inflate or plug a small puncture as a temporary fix, but a damaged sidewall or a missing key usually means a tow to a tire shop. Many newer vehicles carry no spare at all, only an inflator kit or run-flat tires, and a locking wheel nut needs its special key. Tell the dispatcher what you have so the right help is sent.
Can a roadside technician replace my battery on the spot?
Some can. If a load test shows the battery has failed, the operator installs a replacement carried on the truck and removes the old one for recycling. The new battery is billed on top of the service fee, and its price depends on size and type. Vehicles with start-stop systems, or a battery under the seat or in the trunk, may need a special type, so mention it when you book.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
Ready when you areTell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsFor towing and roadside operators
Sign up as a business
Towing and roadside operators across Canada: drivers post their Towing, Roadside & Transport requests here. Publish your weekly flyer, open the appointment windows you can take and bid on the jobs near you. Free while we launch, no commission.