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.
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Standard Towing · Montreal
Sedans, Crossovers & Pickups Need Tow Truck Service Fast
Your car won't start, your SUV's transmission slipped, your light pickup broke down on the way home. Montreal tow truck operators roll with wheel-lift for most calls, flatbed when your vehicle needs it. One phone call gets you a free quote, an arrival window, and the right rig headed your way.
- Wheel-lift or flatbed sent
- AWD-safe loading every time
- Free quote locked before arrival
Loading Methods
Wheel-Lift or Flatbed Towing? How the Operator Chooses.
When you call in, the operator asks three questions: what's your vehicle make and model, what failed, and where are you. Those answers determine whether a wheel-lift rig or a flatbed rig rolls out. Wheel-lift is the standard choice for sedans, hatchbacks, mid-size SUVs and light pickups in working condition. The rig lifts one axle (front or rear) while the other stays on the pavement, making the tow faster and cheaper than flatbed.
Flatbed becomes the only safe choice for all-wheel-drive vehicles, because wheel-lift on an AWD transfer case causes internal damage that costs thousands to repair. Lowered cars, luxury vehicles with low rocker panels, and any car already damaged from a collision also need flatbed. Flatbed towing in Montreal costs slightly more but protects your vehicle. The operator makes this call based on your vehicle specs, so you get the right method on the first arrival.
Tow Call Walkthrough
From Breakdown to Delivery: How Towing Works in 4 Phases.
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You call the line
Phone (438) 797-8620 and tell the operator your vehicle year/make/model, what went wrong, and your location. If you're on a highway, mention the exit or kilometre marker.
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Operator quotes the rate
You hear the hook-up fee, per-kilometre rate, and estimated arrival window before anything moves. The quote is locked in; no surprises on the invoice.
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Driver arrives and loads
The closest available tow truck pulls up. The driver inspects your vehicle, confirms it's safe for wheel-lift or decides flatbed is needed, then secures and loads your car.
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Tow to your destination
Your vehicle goes to your repair shop, your home, or wherever you specify. The driver confirms the address before leaving the scene and again before unloading.
Service Footprint
Where Tow Truck Calls Happen Across Montreal.
Breakdowns don't follow a schedule or a map. A dead battery in a residential driveway on Sunday morning, a seized brake caliper on a busy arterial during lunch, a failed alternator outside a shopping centre on a weekday afternoon, these are the calls that fill the tow truck queue. Montreal operators work from multiple bases so the closest rig is always the one rolling out, whether you're in the core or the suburbs.
Standard towing covers sedans and light pickups across Montreal and Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard and saint-laurent. When your vehicle is heavier or the job is more complex, heavy-duty towing in Montreal takes over for motorhomes, fleet trucks and larger rigs. For exact coverage in your neighbourhood, check the towing service area map. Same phone line, same 24/7 availability, same wheel-lift or flatbed decision logic across all zones.
Beyond Standard
When Your Breakdown Needs Specialized Towing.
Standard wheel-lift and flatbed handle most calls, but some situations demand heavy-duty rigs, accident recovery expertise, or long-distance flat rates. Explore the full towing services menu.
Flatbed Towing
For AWD vehicles, lowered cars, luxury front ends, and any vehicle with collision damage.
Learn moreHeavy-Duty Towing
Motorhomes, Class 8 semis, fleet trucks, and recovery vehicles over one ton.
Learn moreAccident Recovery
Collision scene management, police coordination, and insurance-direct billing.
Learn moreLong-Distance Towing
Flat-rate pricing for runs over 80 km beats per-kilometre on long hauls.
Learn moreDriver Questions
Tow Truck Service Questions Answered.
What separates wheel-lift from flatbed, how much you'll pay, whether your automatic transmission is safe, what to do on a highway, and whether you can pick your destination.
Montreal 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 Montreal highway like Highway 40, Highway 20, Highway 15, Highway 25, Highway 13, 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 (438) 797-8620 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.
Montreal · 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.
Montreal · Inner city
★★★★★
Headed home on the highway when the alternator gauge dropped. Made it to a gas station outside town. Called Montreal Tow Truck because my regular shop is in Montreal.
Laval
★★★★★
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 Montreal neighbourhood we trust.
Longueuil
Driver Resources
Montreal Towing Guide: Wheel-Lift, Flatbed & Cost Breakdowns.
Read about 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.
Breakdown Right Now
Your Car Needs a Tow Truck Today?
Stuck in a Montreal driveway, broken down on a major arterial, or stranded on the way home from a Longueuil visit? One call connects you with the closest local tow operator. Wheel-lift or flatbed sent based on your vehicle make and model. Free quote and arrival window before any wheels turn.
A local Montreal tow operator will call you back with an arrival window and a free quote. Wheel-lift or flatbed confirmed before pickup. No obligation.