Wheel-lift towing lifts the front or rear wheels off the ground while the other pair stays on the road; flatbed towing places the entire vehicle on a flat-deck trailer with no ground contact. Wheel-lift is faster and more economical for cars and SUVs in good mechanical condition. Flatbed is required for all-wheel-drive vehicles, lowered vehicles, luxury cars, and any vehicle with existing damage. The operator decides which method based on your vehicle make, model and condition.
Core Services
Heavy and Recovery
Specialty Vehicles
Roadside Services
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Coverage Areas
Light-Duty Towing · London
Sedans, Crossovers & Pickups Under 1 Ton Get London Tow Truck in 20–45 Minutes
Your car won't start, your transmission slipped, your engine overheated. A light-duty tow truck rolls out from the closest London station with wheel-lift or flatbed ready. Tell us your vehicle type and what went wrong; we confirm the rate and arrival window before the rig leaves the yard.
- Wheel-lift or flatbed sent
- AWD-safe loading every time
- Free quote locked before arrival
Loading Methods
Wheel-Lift Versus Flatbed Towing: Which Rig Protects Your Vehicle?
Wheel-lift is the go-to for most London calls. The tow truck lifts either the front or rear axle, leaving the other pair of wheels rolling on the pavement. It's quick, economical, and safe for standard sedans, mid-size SUVs and light pickups in working order. A short haul from a residential street to a nearby repair shop is textbook wheel-lift work.
Flatbed is the protective choice when wheel-lift poses a risk. All-wheel-drive vehicles suffer transfer-case damage from wheel-lift; lowered cars scrape the ground; luxury sedans risk rocker-panel gouges; any vehicle with front-end or suspension damage needs the full-deck approach. Flatbed towing in London places your entire vehicle on a flat-deck trailer with zero ground contact. The operator assesses your make, model and condition on the phone and sends the right rig the first time.
Tow Truck Workflow
From Breakdown to Delivery: How London Towing Unfolds in Real Time.
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You call in
Phone (613) 324-9141 and describe your vehicle, the failure mode, and your location. If you're on a highway, note the exit or kilometre marker.
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Rate is quoted
The operator gives you a price range and estimated arrival time. No hidden fees, no surprises. You authorize or decline before any truck moves.
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Tow truck arrives
The closest available rig pulls up. The driver checks your vehicle's drivetrain and condition, then hooks up with wheel-lift or flatbed as appropriate.
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Delivery and handoff
Your car reaches your home, your trusted shop, or the impound. Keys, paperwork and payment finalized before the operator leaves the scene.
Service Territory
Where London Tow Calls Happen Most Often.
Breakdowns cluster on residential streets and mid-traffic arterials as much as on the major highways. A dead battery in a driveway on a Saturday morning, a seized brake caliper on a weekday lunch hour, a failed alternator outside a shopping centre on a Wednesday afternoon, these everyday failures keep local tow operators busy between rush-hour peaks. The operator routes from whichever London station has the closest available rig.
Residential tows dominate the call volume inside the London core. Wheel-lift handles the bulk of cars, SUVs and pickups under one ton; heavy-duty towing in London takes over for larger trucks and motorhomes. Coverage spans London and London, st. Thomas, Strathroy, Woodstock and Ingersoll on the same phone line. For city-by-city details, check the London service area map. Wrecker service handles collision recovery and scene-safe loading.
Beyond Standard Towing
When Your Vehicle Needs Specialized Tow Truck Service.
Standard wheel-lift or flatbed covers most calls. When your vehicle is larger, damaged, or headed far away, specialized towing steps in. Browse the full London towing services list.
Flatbed Towing
For AWD vehicles, lowered cars, luxury sedans, or any vehicle with existing damage that wheel-lift would worsen.
Learn moreHeavy-Duty Towing
For vehicles over one ton. Class 8 semis, motorhomes, fleet trucks, and recovery rigs need specialized equipment.
Learn moreAccident Recovery
For collision scenes. Police coordination, scene-safe loading, and insurance-direct billing handled on arrival.
Learn moreLong-Distance Towing
For destinations over 80 km away. Flat-rate pricing beats per-kilometre on long hauls across Ontario.
Learn moreFrequently asked
London Tow Truck Service Questions Answered.
Wheel-lift versus flatbed, pricing breakdowns, automatic transmission safety, highway emergencies, and destination choice.
London standard towing typically involves a hook-up fee of $80 to $150 plus a per-kilometre charge of $3 to $6 for the actual distance driven. After-hours premiums of $20 to $50 apply to overnight, weekend and holiday calls. Wheel-lift sits at the lower end of the range; flatbed transport may carry a small premium. Always ask for a free quote on the call before authorizing a tow.
Yes, with the right method. Automatic transmission vehicles need either rear-wheel wheel-lift technique (where the drive wheels are off the ground) or full flatbed towing, never a wheel-lift on the drive wheels. Tell the operator whether your car is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. AWD vehicles always require flatbed; the transfer case can be damaged by even a short wheel-lift on AWD.
If your car dies on a London highway like Highway 401, Highway 402, Highway 4, Highway 2, Highway 7, your first move is the right shoulder. Pull as far right as the shoulder allows, activate your hazard lights, and stay in the vehicle with your seatbelt on. Note the closest exit number or kilometre marker, that single piece of information shaves time off the routing. For collision-related breakdowns, dial 911 first. Call (613) 324-9141 once you're stopped and safe.
Yes, destination is your call. When you phone in, tell the operator the shop name and address (or your home address). The driver confirms the destination on scene before loading and confirms again before unloading. If the shop is more than 80 kilometres away, the operator quotes a long-distance flat rate; for shorter runs, the per-kilometre rate applies.
★★★★★
Sunday afternoon, my Ford Escape lost transmission engagement in my driveway. Wouldn't shift into drive at all. The operator routed a flatbed because wheel-lift would have finished the transmission.
London · Suburb
★★★★★
Brake calipers seized just off a major arterial during my Wednesday lunch break. Pulled into a side street and called in. Local rig on scene mid-rush, hooked up wheel-lift since.
London · Inner city
★★★★★
Headed home on the highway when the alternator gauge dropped. Made it to a gas station outside town. Called London Tow Truck because my regular shop is in London.
st. Thomas
★★★★★
Daughter's first car had a starter motor failure on a Saturday morning at our place. Wouldn't crank at all. Towed straight to a shop in the London neighbourhood we trust.
Strathroy
Towing Guide
London Driver's Guide: Wheel-Lift, Flatbed & Pricing Reads.
Articles for London drivers on when wheel-lift makes sense versus flatbed, what towing actually costs in dollar ranges, and what your daily-driver vehicle needs from the operator on the call.
Tow truck needed
Your Car Broke Down. London Tow Truck Is 20 Minutes Away.
Stranded in a driveway, broken down on a busy arterial, or stuck on the way home from Strathroy? One call connects you with the closest local tow operator. Wheel-lift or flatbed chosen based on your vehicle type. Free quote and arrival window confirmed before the rig leaves the yard.
A local London tow operator will call you back with an arrival window and a free quote. Wheel-lift or flatbed confirmed before pickup. No obligation.