Tow Truck Consumer Rights
The City of Vaughan’s Licensing By-law, posted in the By-law Library, regulates how tow truck operators can conduct business in Vaughan and what information they must provide to citizens in need of a tow.
As of 2024, the Province of Ontario will be managing all aspects of tow truck licensing, with tow truck and storage operators required to have provincial certification. Learn more on the Province of Ontario website.
The Province of Ontario will manage towing and storage as of January 2024
In line with the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act which comes into force on July 1st, 2023:
- The Province of Ontario will be managing all aspects of tow truck licensing, with tow truck and storage operators required to have provincial certification by 2024. Learn more here.
- As of 2024, tow truck brokerages, owners and operators will no longer require a City of Vaughan licence.
- The City of Vaughan will continue to enforce and licence tow truck brokerages, owners and drivers until December 31st, 2023. If your licence expires before that, you will need to renew your licence at a reduced fee.
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you need the assistance of a tow truck in the event of motor-vehicle collision.
After a collision
Here are the steps to take:
- Call police at 9-1-1 if the accident involves any of the situations listed on York Regional Police's collision reporting webpage.
- Remove vehicles from the roadway, if it is safe to do so.
- Exchange information with the other involved parties, including independent witnesses (names, addresses, telephone numbers, insurance companies and vehicle information, etc.).
- Call your insurance provider.
- They will recommend a preferred automotive repair facility. A tow truck operator should not recommend a repair facility as it may not be approved by your insurance provider. This may result in unauthorized fees and potential liens on your vehicle.
- Ask your insurance provider if towing and storage fees are covered in your automobile insurance policy.
How to identify licensed tow trucks
- All Vaughan-licensed tow trucks must display a decal on the side of their vehicle. The decal has the letter “V” and up to four digits.
- All Vaughan-licensed tow truck operators must have a licence photo identification document.
Know your rights
As a customer, you are entitled to:
- decide who will tow your vehicle.
- decide if and where your vehicle will be towed, including to your residence.
- contact your insurance company to determine where the vehicle is to be towed prior to signing the towing agreement.
- see the towing rate sheet before the vehicle is towed.
- receive a copy of the towing authorization form containing contact details of the tow truck operator.
- review all details and costs before signing the towing authorization form and ask for clarification if you do not understand what you have been asked to sign. Confirm you are signing a towing authorization form to avoid any confusion.
- ask the tow truck operator how payment is to be made prior to signing the towing authorization form.
- request an itemized invoice prior to payment.
- be towed by the most direct route.
- refuse to accept a tow for any reason.
Regulated tow truck operator rates
Tow truck rates from collision scenes are regulated by the City of Vaughan to protect the public from excessive charges at a time when people are vulnerable.
Tow truck drivers are to provide customers with an estimate of the total cost of towing or any other additional services prior to providing service. If the towing/service charges are higher than originally estimated, the final cost of towing shall be no more than 10 per cent than the initially provided estimate.
Tow truck services not exceeding 2,271 KG
| Service | Maximum Charge for SErvice |
|---|---|
| Towing (a flat-rate fee) | $280 |
| Off-road recovery | $100 |
| Use of dollies | $45 |
| Use of a second truck | $150 |
| Winching | $45 per ¼ hour |
| Tarping | $20 |
| Provision of a bag of absorbent material (oil dry) | $10 |
| Towing outside of City | $3.58/km |
| Waiting at a Collision Reporting Centre | $68 for the first hour or part thereof, and $17 for each 15 minutes thereafter |
| Storage inside | $60 per day |
| Storage outside | $55 per day |
Tow truck services between 2,271 KG and 11,794 KG
| Service | Maximum Charge For Service |
|---|---|
| Towing (a flat-rate fee) | $373 |
| Off-road recovery | $100 |
| Driveshaft pulling | $75 |
| Use of second Truck | $250 |
| Winching | $75 per ¼ hour |
| Tarping | $20 |
| Provision of a bag of absorbent material (oil dry) | $10 |
| Towing outside of the City | $3.58/km |
| Waiting at a Collision Reporting Centre | $68 for the first hour or part thereof, and $17 for each additional 15 minutes |
| Storage inside | $60 per day |
| Storage outside | $55 per day |