Consent towing means you agree to the tow. Non consent towing means police or an authorized official orders the tow without your agreement. Consent towing vs non consent towing in Ontario also decides who pays and which paperwork you receive in 2026.
The Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021 (TSSEA) governs towing and vehicle storage in Ontario. The Act took effect on January 1, 2024. Oversight moved from municipalities to the Province of Ontario on that date.
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) now certifies operators and handles complaints. Drivers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) deal with 400 series highways, restricted tow zones, and dense private parking lots.
What Is Consent Towing in Ontario?
Consent towing is a tow you authorize before the driver moves your vehicle. You call a tow company or sign a consent form at the scene. Examples include a dead battery in a Scarborough driveway and a collision tow you request on Highway 401. A scrap car pickup you book online also counts.
You choose the tow company and the destination. The only exceptions are restricted tow zones on some GTA highways and tows that police direct. A driver who skips the consent form cannot charge you for towing services.
Choose a certified provider before an emergency. For example, GTA Towing & Scrap Cars lists 24/7 North York towing for emergency calls on North York roads.
Drivers must take the most direct route to your chosen destination. Drivers must also photograph your vehicle when the job goes beyond a basic tow. The photos serve record keeping, so drivers do not owe you copies.
What Must a Consent to Tow Form Include?
A consent to tow form lists 3 details: the operator’s name, the driver’s certificate number, and your destination. The driver gives you the form before towing begins or immediately after.
The driver also hands you the company’s maximum rate schedule and your customer rights list before moving your vehicle. Read every field before you sign. Never sign a blank form. The operator cannot change the agreement after you sign.
Which Tows Skip the Consent Form?
Free tows and prepaid tows skip the consent form and the invoice requirements. Examples include automobile club tows through a CAA membership and tows bundled with a vehicle purchase or lease. The same exemption covers towing that costs you nothing.
Roadside assistance services, such as tire changes and battery boosts, fall outside the towing rules. Ask your insurer which tows your auto policy covers before you need one.
What Is Non Consent Towing in Ontario?
Non consent towing is a tow that police or an authorized official starts without asking you. Consent towing vs non consent towing in Ontario separates on 1 point: who starts the tow. Ontario.ca states that consent is required unless police or an authorized official initiates the tow. Illegal parking is the standard example.
The tow operator still needs a TSSEA certificate, and the driver still carries a tow driver certificate. Ontario’s Tow Zone Pilot Program also sets restricted tow zones on some GTA highways. In those zones, you cannot pick your tow company.
When Can Police or an Authorized Official Order a Tow?
Police or an authorized official can order a tow without your consent when you park illegally. In these tows, police can direct which company tows your vehicle and where the vehicle goes. Police can also restrict your access to the vehicle.
Ask the officer on scene to name the tow company and the destination. Write both details down before the truck leaves. Both details help you locate your vehicle and challenge any wrongful charge later.
What Rules Cover Private Property Towing in Ontario Cities?
Municipal by-laws and the Trespass to Property Act control towing from private parking lots. Oakville By-law 2024-187 shows how strict a local rule can be. The by-law took effect on February 28, 2025, and covers private and municipal land.
Oakville authorizes 4 parties to order a tow without owner consent:
- A Mobile Compliance Officer (MCO) employed by the Town of Oakville
- A Municipal Law Enforcement Officer (MLEO) appointed by the Town
- The Director of Municipal Enforcement Services or a designate
- A police officer
An MLEO or MCO must issue a penalty notice and wait 30 minutes before authorizing the tow. The wait discourages predatory towing. Exceptions include signed fire routes, accessible parking spaces, and construction zones.
Properties that use towing need permanent signs at all public entrances. Each sign carries 5 items, including the tow away graphic and the property owner’s contact details.
Check the by-law in Toronto, Mississauga, or Vaughan, because municipal rules differ. In Oakville, officers notify Halton Regional Police Service before every tow, so call that service to locate your vehicle.
Consent Towing vs Non Consent Towing in Ontario: 5 Key Differences
Consent towing vs non consent towing in Ontario differs in 5 ways: authority, choice, paperwork, charges, and typical examples.
- Authority: You approve a consent tow, while police or an authorized official orders a non consent tow.
- Choice: You pick the company and destination in a consent tow. Police can direct both in a non consent tow.
- Paperwork: A consent tow requires a signed consent form, while a police or official tow does not require your consent.
- Charges: Operators cannot exceed their maximum rates in either tow type. A missing consent form blocks charges in a consent tow.
- Examples: Breakdown tows and booked scrap car pickups count as consent tows. Illegal parking tows count as non consent tows.
What Rights Apply in Consent Towing vs Non Consent Towing in Ontario?
You have 7 core rights during an Ontario tow. Each right applies from the first call to the final payment.
- The right to choose the tow company and destination, except in restricted tow zones or when police direct otherwise
- The right to see the operator’s certificate and the driver’s certificate
- The right to receive an itemized invoice before payment and a receipt after payment
- The right to pay by cash, credit card, or debit card
- The right to a direct route to your chosen destination
- The right to retrieve personal belongings from your vehicle at no charge
- The right to file a complaint with the MTO
What Can Tow Operators Not Do in Ontario?
Tow operators cannot charge fuel surcharges, solicit unrequested services, or make false statements. Ontario’s code of conduct bars 5 specific practices:
- Offer services under another business name or different contact information.
- Solicit services you never requested.
- Make false, misleading, or deceptive statements.
- Charge above the maximum rate, add a fuel surcharge, or bill storage after you tried to retrieve your vehicle.
- Refer you to a business without disclosing a financial interest in that business.
What Can a Tow Operator Charge You in Ontario?
Consent towing vs non consent towing in Ontario both cap charges at the operator’s maximum rates. Ask for the rate schedule early, because the schedule sets your price ceiling.
What Are the Maximum Rate and Invoice Rules?
Every operator must give you a maximum rate schedule before providing service. The operator cannot charge above that schedule, although operators can charge less depending on the services you need. Operators must also post rates at their office, on their website, and at the storage location.
An itemized invoice must reach you before the operator asks for payment. The invoice lists each service, the cost of each service, and the total cost. You receive a receipt after you pay.
Check any operator’s maximum rates and certificate status on the MTO published rates portal. Review those rates before you file an overcharge complaint. Keep the consent form, the invoice, and the receipt together, because those documents serve as evidence.
What Happens If a Storage Lot Waits 15 Days to Notify You?
In most cases, you owe only the towing and storage costs for those first 15 days. The limit applies when the storage operator fails to notify you within 15 days after receiving your vehicle.
The storage operator must tell you the lot address, the retrieval steps, and a contact number. Written notice can arrive by email, in person, by mail, or by courier.
The Repair and Storage Liens Act gives the operator a lien. The operator can hold your vehicle until you pay. Releases outside business hours can carry additional fees.
In Ottawa, a resident reported a demand for more than $5,000 for 1 week of storage. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) later charged 2 towing companies, including for charging or demanding payment without consent.
How to Check a Tow Operator’s Certificate and Rates in Ontario
To check a tow operator’s certificate and rates in Ontario, complete these 4 steps:
- Ask the driver for the tow driver certificate, which drivers must present on request.
- Read the company name and certificate number on the truck, the consent form, and the invoice.
- Search the operator on the MTO published rates portal.
- Compare the portal’s maximum rates with the schedule the driver gives you.
How to Respond When a Tow Truck Arrives Without Your Consent
To respond when a tow truck arrives without your consent, follow these 5 steps:
- Ask who authorized the tow, such as police, a municipal officer, or a property owner.
- Request the driver’s certificate and the company’s maximum rate schedule.
- Refuse to sign a blank consent form.
- Photograph your vehicle, the truck, and any nearby parking signs.
- Record the company name, the truck’s certificate number, and the driver’s name.
Stay in your vehicle if an uninvited tow chaser approaches you at a crash scene. Agree to nothing until your chosen company or the police arrive. On a 400 series highway, police can require immediate removal. Ask the driver to move your vehicle to the nearest safe location.
How to File a Towing Complaint With the Ministry of Transportation
To file a towing complaint with the MTO, submit the online complaint form as soon as the incident happens. The MTO handles only events on or after January 1, 2024.
Include 4 items in your complaint:
- Date: the day the incident occurred.
- Operator details: company name, the name on the truck, certificate number, driver name, and Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) number.
- Event details: what happened, where, and in what order.
- Evidence: photos, invoices, consent forms, dashcam video, and collision reports.
Call 416-246-7166, call toll-free 1-800-387-7736 within Ontario, or email towing@ontario.ca with questions about your rights.
Quick Reference Table: Tasks to Complete During an Ontario Tow
Use the table to apply consent towing vs non consent towing in Ontario rules. Each row lists the timing, method, and difficulty.
| Task | Timing | Method | Difficulty |
| Read the consent to tow form | Before towing starts or immediately after | Check operator name, driver certificate number, and destination | Easy |
| Request the maximum rate schedule | Before service begins | Ask the driver | Easy |
| Check certificate and rates | Before you sign | Search the MTO published rates portal | Easy |
| Photograph the vehicle and scene | During the tow | Use your phone camera | Easy |
| Request an itemized invoice | Before payment | Ask the operator | Easy |
| Retrieve personal belongings | Regular operating hours | Visit the storage lot | Easy |
| Dispute a private property tow | After the tow | Contact the property owner listed on the sign and the local police | Medium |
| File a complaint | As soon as the incident ends | Submit the MTO online form | Medium |
Does Scrap Car Removal Include Free Consent Towing in the GTA?
Yes, GTA Towing & Scrap Cars lists free towing with scrap car removal across the GTA. You book the pickup, so the tow is a consent tow. A booked pickup shows consent towing vs non consent towing in Ontario clearly. Ontario.ca also exempts towing that costs you nothing from the consent form and invoice rules.
The service area pages list cash offers of $200 to $800+ for most vehicles. Heavier vehicles, such as trucks, SUVs, and vans, command more. Weight, condition, and current commodity prices set the final number.
Review the scrap car removal Newmarket page for the York Region offer range. The service area pages also list same-day pickup in most cases and a price locked from the first call.
Paid towing for a running vehicle follows the maximum rate rules. Ask for the schedule before you agree to any paid tow. Ask any provider for its TSSEA certificate number before you book.
Consent Towing vs Non Consent Towing in Ontario FAQs
Can a tow truck driver tow my vehicle without my consent in Ontario?
Yes, but only when police or an authorized official initiates the tow. Every other tow requires your consent first.
Do I pay for a tow when the driver skipped the consent form?
No, a driver who failed to get required consent cannot charge you for towing services. Police and official tows need no consent, so ask the officer which charges apply.
Does CAA roadside assistance need a consent to tow form?
No. Consent and invoice requirements do not apply to prepaid tows, such as an automobile club membership.
Does GTA Towing & Scrap Cars charge for towing a scrap car?
No. The company’s service area pages list free towing and cash offers of $200 to $800+ for most vehicles.
Can I retrieve my belongings from a towed vehicle for free?
Yes. The storage facility must let you access the vehicle during regular operating hours at no charge, unless police direct otherwise.
Choose Your Tow Operator Before You Need One
Consent towing vs non consent towing in Ontario turns on 1 question: who authorized the tow? You control a consent tow, including the company, the destination, and the paperwork.
Police or an authorized official controls a non consent tow. Maximum rates, certificates, and complaint rights still protect you in 2026.
Save a certified operator’s number in your phone today. Call GTA Towing & Scrap Cars at +1 647-473-6322. Visit the scrap car removal Vaughan page to book a free scrap vehicle tow across York Region.
