Published · MyTow
1. Get out of traffic if you can
As soon as you notice a problem, signal and move as far onto the right shoulder as possible. On a city street, pull into a parking lot or side street if the vehicle can still move.
2. Make yourself visible
- Turn on your hazard lights
- At night, keep interior lights on
- Place warning triangles behind the vehicle only if it's safe to do so
3. Decide whether to stay in the vehicle
On high-speed highways, staying buckled in with hazards on is often safer than standing on the shoulder. If there is smoke, fire or a risk of being struck, exit on the side away from traffic and move behind a barrier.
4. Pinpoint your location
Note the highway, direction of travel, nearest exit or kilometre marker, or a nearby intersection. This is the single most useful detail for any tow operator.
5. Request help
Submit a request with your location, vehicle details and what happened. If anyone is injured or the vehicle is blocking a live lane, call 911 first.
Need towing or roadside assistance in the GTA?
Depending on your situation, explore emergency towing, breakdown towing, roadside assistance. MyTow is a digital app where you can request a tow or roadside assistance in less than one minute. This is the time to submit your request, not a truck arrival estimate. Arrival depends on your location, traffic and dispatch coverage.
Review towing and roadside assistance pricing factors and how MyTow’s online request process works.
This guide is general information, not legal or mechanical advice. In an emergency, call 911.
