Ontario Towing Laws 2026: Your Rights as a Driver

For years, Ontario’s towing industry operated under a patchwork of municipal bylaws — some strict, some nonexistent. In Kitchener and across the province, stories of predatory towing were common: tow trucks arriving uninvited at accident scenes, charging inflated rates, refusing to release vehicles without cash payment, and taking cars to storage lots chosen for kickback arrangements rather than proximity. The Ontario towing law landscape changed dramatically on January 1, 2024, when the province’s Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) took full effect.

The TSSEA is the first province-wide regulation of towing in Ontario’s history. It requires every tow operator, tow truck driver, and vehicle storage operator to be certified, follow a standardized code of conduct, and respect specific consumer protection rules. For drivers in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, this means you now have clear, enforceable rights every time you interact with a tow truck — whether it’s after an accident, a breakdown, or a parking enforcement tow.

This guide breaks down the Ontario towing law rules that matter most to you as a driver: your right to choose, consent requirements, pricing transparency, storage rules, and how to file a complaint if something goes wrong. For a TSSEA-compliant tow in Kitchener, call Kitchener Towing at (226) 476-0477.

Right #1: You Choose Who Tows Your Vehicle

Under the TSSEA, you have the right to choose your own towing provider. No one at an accident scene, breakdown site, or parking lot can force you to use a specific tow company. This right applies even when:

• A tow truck arrives uninvited — some tow trucks monitor police scanners and arrive at accident scenes without being called. You are not obligated to use them.
• Police are on scene — law enforcement can require that a vehicle be moved for safety, but they cannot dictate which tow company moves it.
• You’re in a parking lot or on private property — property owners can authorize towing of illegally parked vehicles, but the choice of tow company for your call is always yours.

Right #2: Written Consent Before Any Tow

The TSSEA requires every tow operator to obtain documented written consent before towing your vehicle. This is one of the most important consumer protections in the law. Before signing, the consent form must include:

The only exception to the consent rule is towing performed under a pre-existing membership or roadside assistance contract — like CAA membership or an insurance roadside add-on. In those cases, your membership agreement serves as standing consent. For more on roadside coverage options, see our guide on how car insurance covers emergency towing.

Right #3: Upfront, Transparent Pricing

Under the TSSEA, every tow operator must publish a maximum rate schedule with the Ministry of Transportation and cannot exceed those rates. As of November 2025, Ontario introduced three distinct towing categories with separate rate structures:

You have the right to request a free estimate before agreeing to any tow. The operator must share their rate schedule if asked. If the final charge exceeds what was quoted, you can dispute the amount and file a complaint. For current pricing in the Kitchener area, see our Kitchener towing rates guide or use the cost estimator.

Right #4: Itemized Invoices and Proper Receipts

The TSSEA requires tow operators to provide you with an itemized invoice before requesting payment and a proper receipt once you pay. The invoice must break down every charge individually — no lump-sum “towing fee” that bundles hidden costs.

Additionally, tow operators must accept multiple payment methods including commonly used credit cards, debit cards, and cash. An operator who demands cash-only payment is violating the TSSEA. Operators also cannot request payment before providing a proper invoice.

If an operator charges more than the maximum rates filed with the Ministry of Transportation, they are required to refund the excess amount. Keep your receipt — it’s your proof if you need to dispute a charge later.

Right #5: Personal Belongings and Vehicle Storage

If your vehicle has been towed to a storage lot, the TSSEA gives you specific rights regarding access to your belongings and how storage fees work:

• Free retrieval of personal property — storage operators must allow you to retrieve personal items from your vehicle at no charge during business hours or at pre-arranged times.
• Rate schedule published — vehicle storage operators must also submit their maximum rates to the Ministry and cannot exceed them.
• Certification required — every storage lot operator in Ontario must hold a valid TSSEA certificate, just like tow operators.
• EV storage rates — as of the November 2025 amendments, storage of damaged electric vehicles has its own billable category, acknowledging the additional safety measures required.

Storage fees add up quickly — $30–$60 per day is typical in the Kitchener area. If your vehicle is in storage after an accident, get it moved to your preferred shop as soon as possible. Our insurance towing service helps coordinate secondary tows from storage lots to body shops, and our insurance adjuster guide covers how to minimize storage costs during the claims process.

How to Spot a TSSEA-Compliant Tow Company

A legitimate, law-abiding tow company in Ontario will exhibit all of these characteristics:

1. Certificate displayed on the truck — every tow truck must clearly display the operator’s legal name, operating name, and TSSEA certificate number.
2. Consent form provided before hooking up — a compliant operator will never touch your vehicle before you sign the consent form.
3. Rate schedule available on request — they should be willing and able to show you their filed rates.
4. Multiple payment methods accepted — credit card, debit, and cash. Cash-only operators are violating the law.
5. Itemized invoice provided before payment — every charge broken out individually, not a single lump sum.
6. No pressure tactics — a compliant operator will give you time to read the consent form and won’t rush you into signing.

For tips on finding a reliable, fairly-priced tow, read our affordable towing guide. At Kitchener Towing, our TSSEA certificate is displayed on every truck, consent forms are standard on every call, and pricing is confirmed before dispatch — always. Browse our full services including flatbed towing, emergency towing, roadside assistance, and 24-hour towing.

How to File a Towing Complaint in Ontario

If a tow operator or vehicle storage operator has violated your rights under the TSSEA, you can file a formal complaint with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation:

1. Gather your evidence — keep your consent form (or note that none was provided), invoice, receipt, photos of the tow truck (including the certificate number), and any text messages or phone call records.
2. Visit the MTO complaint portal — the Ontario towing and vehicle storage page has a consumer complaint portal where you can submit your complaint online.
3. The Director of Towing investigates — the provincial Director of Towing and Vehicle Storage Standards has authority to investigate complaints and take enforcement action.
4. Consequences for operators — the Director can issue warnings, suspend or cancel a tow operator’s TSSEA certificate, or impose conditions. Serious violations can result in fines and loss of the ability to operate.

Common reasons to file a complaint include: charging above maximum rates, failing to provide a consent form, refusing to accept credit/debit cards, taking a vehicle to an unauthorized storage lot, refusing to release personal belongings, or adding charges that were not on the original consent form. For understanding your insurance rights alongside towing rights, see our post on what to document at the scene.

What Changed in 2025–2026?

The TSSEA has been evolving since its initial implementation. Here are the most significant recent updates under Ontario towing law:

• Three-category rate structure (November 2025) — towing is now classified as Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced, each with its own set of billable items and rate caps. This replaces the previous single-category approach.
• Consent procedure enhancements — new restrictions limit what tow operators can include in the consent form for non-towing services, preventing operators from bundling unnecessary add-ons.
• Mandatory photographs — tow operators must now take photographs for specific types of tows, creating a visual record of the vehicle’s condition at pickup.
• Certificate fee freeze — annual fee increases for all TSSEA certificates have been deferred until July 1, 2026, giving operators financial relief during the transition.
• Run sheet requirements — tow truck drivers must now maintain detailed run sheets during their shifts, documenting every job, rate charged, and service performed.
• Wrecker permit requirement — all tow trucks now need a special “wrecker” permit under the Highway Traffic Act to operate legally in Ontario.

These changes strengthen consumer protection and make it easier to hold bad actors accountable. For the latest on regulatory requirements, visit the Ontario towing and vehicle storage requirements page. For response time expectations when calling for a tow, see our emergency response guide.

Frequently Asked Questions