Towing, Roadside & Transport
Towing near you
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.
- Time at the shop
- 60 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 towing is
A tow moves a vehicle that cannot safely be driven: an engine that will not run, an overheating warning, failed brakes, collision damage or a car stuck in a ditch or snowbank. The driver loads it on a flatbed, or lifts the drive wheels with a wheel-lift, secures it with straps or chains and delivers it to the shop, your home or a scrapyard. You can usually ride in the cab, and a local tow takes about an hour from hook-up to drop-off.
A tow only moves the problem to where it can be fixed, so settle the destination first: a shop that is open, or your driveway if a mobile mechanic will take over. The price is a hook-up fee plus a rate per kilometre beyond the first few. Tell the dispatcher your exact location, the vehicle and its drive type, and say whether the keys are with you and the wheels turn.
- For cars, EVs, motorcycles, vans, trucks, RVs and trailers
- Takes about 60 min
- Done at your address
What does towing 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 towing.
What to expect
Towing, 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
- Truck and driver sent to your location within the booked window
- Vehicle loaded onto a flatbed, or lifted with a wheel-lift and dollies where suitable
- Vehicle secured with straps or chains at approved tie-down points
- Delivery to the shop, home, dealership or scrapyard you name, within the agreed distance
- Vehicle unloaded at the destination, or left in the shop’s lot if you arranged an after-hours drop
- Ride in the cab for you and one passenger where the truck has room
- Written invoice showing the hook-up fee, the distance and any extras
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Ask for the hook-up fee, the rate per kilometre after the included distance and any night or holiday surcharge
- 02Say if the vehicle is electric, all-wheel drive or lowered; it should go on a flatbed, and the price may differ
- 03Tell the dispatcher if the vehicle is in an underground garage or a tight spot; low ceilings limit which truck can reach it
- 04Confirm the destination shop is open, or how the vehicle will be left after hours, before the driver drops it
- 05Ask what proof of ownership the driver needs and whether someone must be present to sign the authorization
- 06Check your insurance, auto club and credit card for towing coverage before you pay
Signs
When you need it
- The engine will not start and a boost or roadside fix has not worked
- A warning light or gauge shows overheating, low oil pressure or brake trouble
- The vehicle was damaged in a collision and is unsafe to drive
- It is stuck in a ditch, snowbank or soft ground and cannot drive out
- A vehicle that will not run needs to reach a shop, your home or a scrapyard
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get towing 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
Roadside assistance & battery boost
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.
Mechanical Repair
General auto repair
General auto repair for a noise, leak, pull or warning light: the vehicle is inspected and road-tested, then repaired once you approve a written estimate.
Mechanical Repair
Engine diagnostics
Engine diagnostics for a check engine light or rough running: a technician reads the fault codes, tests live data and reports the cause and the fix.
Collision & Body Work
Collision repair
Collision repair at a body shop: damage estimated, structure straightened, panels refinished in matched paint and driver-assist sensors checked.
Mobile Mechanics
Mobile mechanic
A mobile mechanic comes to your driveway, workplace or parking spot with tools, a scan tool and common parts to diagnose, service or repair your vehicle.
Questions
Questions about towing
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Should my vehicle be towed on a flatbed or a wheel-lift truck?
A flatbed is the safest choice for almost any vehicle and is required for many. All-wheel-drive vehicles, most electric vehicles and cars with a damaged drivetrain or a low front end should ride with all four wheels off the road. A wheel-lift truck can handle a short tow of many front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars, but ask for a flatbed if you are unsure.
How long will I wait for a tow truck?
In most Canadian cities it is commonly 30 to 60 minutes outside rush hour, and longer during snowstorms, on holiday weekends and at the first cold snap, when calls spike. Pick the earliest window a merchant offers, keep your phone charged and stay somewhere safe while you wait.
Do I have to be there when the tow truck arrives?
Usually someone must be present to hand over the keys and sign the tow authorization, and the driver may ask to see proof of ownership. If you cannot be there, arrange it in advance: name an authorized person, say where the keys are and tell the shop the vehicle is coming. Photograph the vehicle before it is loaded, so any later damage claim is easier.
Can a tow truck take my car to the scrapyard?
Yes. A flatbed can carry a vehicle that is not worth repairing straight to a wrecker or auto recycler, and some recyclers pay for the vehicle or include the tow. Bring your ownership papers and empty the vehicle of personal items. Ask the recycler what it needs for the plates and the vehicle permit, and keep your insurance until the vehicle has been handed over.
Can I choose where my car is towed after an accident?
At a collision scene you can normally ask for your own tow operator and choose the destination, such as your own shop or home, instead of accepting a truck that simply turned up. The exception is when police need the road cleared quickly and direct where the vehicle goes. Ask for the rates before you agree, and note where the vehicle is being taken.
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.