Broke down in a GTA tow zone? Here's who to call

By Brent Meadows, Hollingsworth Meadows Cavaliere LLP · November 2026

For years, crashes on the GTA's busiest highways drew a swarm of tow trucks racing to be first on scene. Drivers in shock were sometimes pressured into tows and storage bills they didn't understand. Ontario's answer was restricted tow zones: on certain stretches of highway, only one authorized company can tow.

Where the zones are on the 401

Restricted zones cover the 401 from the Milton area through Toronto to Highway 412 in Durham, along with parts of Highways 400, 403, 404, 409, 410 and 427 and the QEW. Signs mark the zones, and the full list and current companies are on the province's Tow Zone Program page. Our towing section lists the 401 zones.

Who to call

• 911 if it's an emergency or you're stuck in a travelled lane and can't move.
• 511 if you're safely on the shoulder in a restricted zone and need a tow. Choose the Tow Zone Program option and an authorized truck will be sent.
• Your roadside assistance provider (such as CAA) is also an option for a personal vehicle, if you're safely on the shoulder.
• Heavy vehicles over 4,500 kg GVWR, including commercial trucks, should call 511 (or 911 in an emergency), not a roadside assistance provider.
• Outside the zones, call a towing company directly.

If your vehicle has to be stored, it goes to an approved storage yard. You can find those yards on Ontario 511.

Your rights with any tow truck in Ontario

Since January 1, 2024, tow operators, tow truck drivers and vehicle storage operators all need a provincial certificate. Wherever you break down:

• The truck must display the company's name and certificate number. You can ask to see the certificate.
• You decide who tows your vehicle and where, unless police direct otherwise.
• The driver needs your written consent before towing.
• The driver can't steer you to a repair shop, lawyer or clinic unless you ask, and must tell you if they'd get paid for the referral.
• You're entitled to an itemized invoice and can pay by credit card.

This article is general information about Ontario law and programs as of November 2026. It isn't legal advice. Your situation may have exceptions or different deadlines.