Tow Truck Licensing Application Requirements

Licensing fees are charged on a yearly basis and have an expiry date of June 30 each year. Please refer to the Annual Budgets page for the most current licensing fees.

Every person who applies for a licence requires a policy of insurance endorsed to the effect that the town shall be given at least ten days’ notice in writing of the cancellation or expiration of the policy or policies, and insurance for each tow truck/heavy tow truck in at least the following amounts:

1. current valid Ontario automobile liability insurance to the limit of at least $2,000,000 exclusive of interest and costs, against liability resulting from bodily injury to or the death of one or more persons and loss of or damage to property;
2. insurance in the amount of at least $100,000 against legal liability for damage to customers’ motor vehicles while being towed or while in the care, custody or control of the licensee, caused by collision, theft or all perils damage;
3. comprehensive general liability insurance of $2,000,000;
4. in respect of any one claim, cargo liability insurance in the amount of at least $50,000 to indemnify the licensee against loss by reason of his or her legal liability for direct physical loss or damage to motor vehicles and other items of property accepted by the licensee for towing or conveyance.

Owners are required to agree to a declaration, provided by the town through online services, confirming that they have the following information. 

Tow truck drivers

For each tow truck driver who drives for the company:

• A police records check current within one year of June 30 each year
• A current and valid Class A, B, C, D, E, F or G driver’s licence issued by the Province of Ontario. Graduated driver’s licences will not be accepted
• A driver’s abstract current within one year of June 30 each year

Tow trucks:

For each tow truck to be licensed:

• An original copy of the Provincial motor vehicle registration for each tow truck, where the name and address match the applicant’s. If the applicant is a partnership or corporation, the motor vehicle ownership must be registered to the partnership or corporation
• A safety standards certificate for each tow truck issued by an approved Ministry of Transportation Vehicle Inspection Centre, current within one year of June 30 each year

Note: If a tow truck accumulates more than 50,000 kilometres in a licensing period, a second safety standards certificate issued by an approved Ministry of Transportation Vehicle Inspection Centre is required. The tow truck owner shall obtain the second safety standards certificate when the tow truck is no more than 2,500 kilometres over the 50,000 kilometre threshold

Tow truck company owner

For the tow truck owner:

• A police record check current to within one year of June 30 each year
• A CVOR current to within one year of June 30 each year
• A run sheet on the applicant’s letterhead, containing all information required by Section 12 of the Tow Truck By-law
• That the equipment required by subsection 5 (2) of Schedule 1 to the Tow Truck By-law is on or in every tow truck owned by him or her 
• A list of leases if the applicant leases his or her tow truck(s)
• Authorization from the owner or agent of the motor vehicle storage yard used by the tow truck owner to store motor vehicles that have been towed by the tow truck owner or tow truck driver

Required information for tow truck company licensing

On the online application:

• Applicant’s information.
• A list of all tow trucks operated by that tow truck owner including: the year, make, model, type of tow truck, mileage and Ontario licence plate number.
• A list of all tow truck drivers who operate tow trucks on behalf of the tow truck owner including: the full name, date of birth, address, phone number, and date(s) of employment of the tow truck driver.  If the tow truck owner will also operate his or her own tow truck, the owner must include his or her name on the list of tow truck drivers.
• Full information of any interest either directly or indirectly that the applicant has in any motor vehicle pound, yard, public garage or any other type of premises used for the storage, impounding, repair or servicing of motor vehicles; including the location and size of such premises, the facilities provided in the premises, the kind and extent of any interest in the premises, and full particulars of any contract, arrangement, agreement or understanding giving the applicant such interest.
• Where an applicant resides or has its head office or any other business office outside of the boundaries of the Town of Oakville or owns or has an interest in any type of premises named above that is located outside of the boundaries of the town, the applicant shall provide the number and type of any licences issued by any other municipality or licensing authority.

Documentation to be filed with the online application:

• If the applicant is a corporation, proof that the corporation is legally entitled to conduct business in Ontario, including but not limited to: Article of Incorporation or other incorporating documents, duly certified by the proper government official or department of the Province of Ontario or of the Government of Canada.
• If the applicant is a partnership, the names and addresses of each member of the partnership as well as the name under which the partnership intends to carry on business.
• An original certificate(s) of insurance as set out below for each vehicle to be licensed as a tow truck, as well as a Schedule 1 to the certificate naming the tow truck drivers who are insured.
• Statement of rates for each towing service provided.

Owners are required to sign a statutory declaration, provided by the town, confirming that they have the following information. The owner’s signature on the declaration must be witnessed by a commissioner for taking affidavits. If the owner submits the licence application in person, enforcement services staff will commission the owner’s signature free of charge.

For each heavy tow truck driver:

•  A police records check current within one year of June 30, 2020.                                                
• A current and valid Class A, B, C, D, E, F or G driver’s licence issued by the Province of Ontario. Graduated driver’s licences will not be accepted. 
• A driver’s abstract current within one year of June 30, 2020.

For the heavy tow truck owner:

• A police records check current to within one year of June 30, 2020.

Heavy Tow Truck - Information to be provided on/with the application form

On the application form:

• Applicant’s information.
• A list of all heavy tow trucks operated by that heavy tow truck owner including the year, make, model, mileage and Ontario licence plate number.
• A list of all tow truck drivers who operate heavy tow trucks on behalf of the heavy tow truck owner, including: the full name, date of birth, address, phone number and date(s) of employment of the tow truck driver.  If the heavy tow truck owner will also operate his or her own tow truck, the owner shall include his or her name on the list of tow truck drivers.
• Full information of any interest either directly or indirectly that the applicant has in any motor vehicle pound, yard, public garage or any other type of premises used for the storage, impounding, repair or servicing of motor vehicles; including the location and size of such premises, the facilities provided in the premises, the kind and extent of any interest in the premises, and full particulars of any contract, arrangement, agreement or understanding giving the applicant such interest.
• Where an applicant resides or has its head office or any other business office outside of the boundaries of the Town of Oakville or owns or has an interest in any type of premises named above that is located outside of the boundaries of the town, the applicant shall provide the number and type of any licenses issued by any other municipality or licensing authority.

Documentation to be filed with the application form:

• A list of services provided by the heavy tow truck owner.
• A statement of the rates to be charged for each of its heavy towing services, including towing from a private parking lot.
• An original certificate(s) of insurance as set out below for each vehicle to be licensed as a heavy tow truck, as well as a Schedule 1 to the certificate naming the tow truck drivers who are insured.
• Sworn declaration.

Tow Truck:

• Power brakes or boosted hydraulic brakes
• A two-way radio which will enable the tow truck to be dispatched
• A recognized lock-out tool set
• Two wheel chocks (rubber and/or metal)
• A debris container with a five-gallon capacity
• Manufacturer’s dual rear wheels (ie. no single rear wheel pick-up trucks)
• Have and maintain in proper working order an automatic audible warning device for reversing, which is not subject to manual override
• Reflective winch cable markers
• Emergency flares (30 minutes each)/or reflective triangles
• Tire jack
• Working flashlight
• 30 kg bag of “Absorb-All”  or equivalent and container
• Two-way radio or cellular phone

Light Duty Tow Truck:

• A tow apparatus consisting of a wheel lift with a minimum of one conventional wrecker. The wheel lift shall have a minimum capacity of 1,590 kilograms and the tow capacity shall be a minimum of  2,500 kilograms
• Any conventional wrecker must be equipped with a hydraulic or manual boom with a minimum load capacity of 3,600 kilograms for winching or recovery service
• A hydraulic or mechanical operated winch with a minimum load capacity of 3,600 kilograms
• Winch cable with the minimum of 100 feet of 3/8 inch diameter fibre core wrap cable, six bundle, 19 strand
• A minimum of one anchor ring mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle must also be equipped with one snatch block and the manufacturer's specification shall be a minimum four ton capacity
• Two hook-up chains, minimum 5/16 inches in diameter of grade seven steel or grade eight alloy, six feet in length, including "J" hooks, "T" hooks and grab hooks
• Safety chains, minimum 5/16 inches in diameter of grade seven steel or grade eight alloy consisting of one or two pieces with a total length of twenty
• A swivel type mounted tow sling
• A trailer hitch with assorted ball sizes

Flatbed Tow Truck:

• A hydraulic operated winch with a minimum load capacity of 3,600 kilograms
• A winch cable with a minimum length of 25 feet, 3/8 inch diameter fibre core wrap cable, six  bundle, 19 strand;
• One hook-up bridle equipped with a minimum of 5/16 inch diameter, grade seven steel or grade eight alloy chain or web straps with two "J" hooks, manufacturer's tested minimum strength of two ton capacity
• Two tie down chains, minimum 5/16 inches in diameter of grade seven steel or grade eight alloy, six feet in length, with "J" hooks, "T" hooks and grab hooks
• Two chain binders, minimum 5/16 inches in diameter of grade seven steel or grade eight alloy or two ratchet straps, manufacturer's tested minimum strength of two ton capacity
• Safety chains, minimum 5/16 inches in diameter of grade seven steel or grade eight alloy. Each safety chain shall be one piece, with a total length of 10 feet

The following forms are required to be provided to the customer as follows:

Towing without the consent of an owner

The Towing Consumers Bill of Rights must be provided to all customers upon pick up of their vehicle at a motor storage vehicle yard.

Consent tows

For tows where consent is provided by a vehicle operator or authorized agent, the tow truck driver must have a Permission to Tow form signed by the vehicle operator authorizing the tow. A Towing Consumer Bill of Rights must be provided to the customer in addition to a copy of the Permission to Tow form prior to the vehicle being lifted and towed.

All tow companies and motor vehicle storage yards must provide their drivers or staff the following forms to ensure the requirements noted above are met:

• Permission to Tow Form (pdf)
• Towing Consumers Bill of Rights (pdf)

Please note: the Permission to Tow Form must be copied onto the tow truck company's letterhead.