After a collision in Ottawa, towing is usually one of the first costs that comes up. The question most drivers ask, does insurance cover towing after an accident in Ontario, has a straightforward core answer but several important conditions around it.
Getting those conditions wrong at the accident scene can result in paying out of pocket for a tow that should have been covered.
SMC Towing Group handles collision and accident towing Ottawa calls every day and regularly speaks with drivers who were unsure how to handle the insurance question at the scene. This guide explains exactly how Ontario’s coverage framework works, which policy types cover accident towing, and what to do in the first minutes after a collision to protect that coverage.
How Ontario’s Insurance System Works After an Accident
Ontario operates under a direct compensation property damage system, commonly referred to as DCPD. Under this system, each driver deals with their own insurance company for property damage claims after a collision, rather than pursuing the other driver’s insurer. This applies to towing costs too.
Even if the other driver was entirely at fault, the process is to contact your own insurer and file the claim through your own policy. Your insurer then handles the recovery of costs from the at-fault driver’s insurer through an internal settlement process. Drivers do not need to navigate the other party’s insurer directly for towing costs.
The January 2024 DCPD Change Every Ottawa Driver Should Know
As of January 1, 2024, DCPD coverage became optional in Ontario. Drivers can now remove it from their policy using the OPCF 49 endorsement, in exchange for a premium reduction. If a driver signed OPCF 49 and removed DCPD, their insurer will not compensate them for vehicle damage or towing costs after a collision, even in a not-at-fault situation.
This change is consequential. Many Ottawa drivers renewed their policies in 2024 or 2025 and accepted policy changes without fully reviewing what was removed. If a policy was recently renewed and the premium dropped, checking whether DCPD was removed as part of that renewal is worth doing before the next time it is needed.
Which Coverage Types Pay for Accident Towing
Ontario auto insurance policies include several coverage types. Not all of them cover towing after a collision. Understanding which ones do, and what conditions apply, removes the uncertainty from the post-accident decision.
Collision Coverage
If a policy includes collision coverage, towing costs after an accident are covered as part of the overall collision claim. Towing is treated as a reasonable and necessary expense connected to the collision, so it does not require a separate endorsement or add-on. The vehicle simply needs to be towed from the accident scene to a repair facility.
The deductible applies. A typical Ontario collision deductible runs between $500 and $1,000. That deductible applies to the full collision claim, which includes both the repair costs and the towing. If the total claim exceeds the deductible, the towing cost is effectively covered within it. If the total claim is smaller than the deductible, the driver pays out of pocket.
Collision coverage is optional in Ontario but is typically required by lenders and leasing companies for financed or leased vehicles. Most Ottawa drivers with a relatively new vehicle carry it. Drivers in areas with higher accident frequency, including the Riverside Drive corridor near towing service in Mooney’s Bay Ottawa, benefit particularly from confirming collision coverage is active before an incident occurs. Most drivers with an older paid-off vehicle may not carry it.
Direct Compensation Property Damage (DCPD)
If a policy includes DCPD and the driver is not at fault, towing costs are covered through the driver’s own insurer under the DCPD claim. This operates similarly to collision coverage for the purposes of towing. The insurer handles the claim and the towing company can often bill directly, depending on the insurer and the towing company.
As noted, DCPD became optional in 2024. Drivers who retained it are in the same position they were before. Drivers who removed it via OPCF 49 have lost this protection.
All-Perils Coverage
All-perils coverage combines collision and comprehensive coverage into a single package. It covers a wide range of loss scenarios including collisions, theft, fire, vandalism, and weather events. If a vehicle needs to be towed because of an insured peril, towing costs are included. This is the broadest coverage option and the one least likely to leave gaps.
What Does NOT Cover Towing
Basic Ontario auto insurance, meaning third-party liability only, does not cover towing under any circumstances. Accident benefits (SABS) cover medical costs after an accident, not vehicle towing. Uninsured automobile coverage protects drivers hit by an uninsured driver but does not directly cover towing costs. If a policy contains only the mandatory minimums, towing after an accident is an out-of-pocket cost.
What OPCF 35 Roadside Assistance Actually Covers
OPCF 35 is the standard roadside assistance endorsement in Ontario. It is an optional add-on that covers towing for breakdowns, flat tires, dead batteries, lockouts, and emergency fuel delivery. It typically costs between $20 and $60 per year to add to a policy.
There are two important things Ottawa drivers need to understand about OPCF 35.
First, it covers breakdowns and non-collision situations. If the vehicle breaks down mechanically, a flat tire leaves it stranded, or the battery dies in a parking lot, OPCF 35 is the coverage that applies. It does not replace collision coverage for accident towing. Both serve different purposes and both can exist on the same policy at the same time.
Second, the reimbursement limit under OPCF 35 is $50 per incident. The average cost of a tow in Ottawa in 2026 ranges from $150 to $350 depending on distance, vehicle size, and time of day. Drivers stranded in suburban neighbourhoods like Arlington Woods Ottawa or similar west-end areas often face tows of 15 kilometres or more to reach a repair facility, pushing costs well above the $50 reimbursement cap. A $50 reimbursement covers a portion of that cost. Drivers with OPCF 35 but without collision coverage who need an accident tow will still face a significant gap between what insurance reimburses and what the tow actually costs.
Some insurers offer enhanced roadside packages with higher limits than the standard OPCF 35. SMC Towing Group confirms coverage directly with the driver’s insurer on every accident call, so drivers know before the truck moves whether direct billing applies. Confirming the actual reimbursement limit on the specific policy, rather than assuming the standard $50 cap, is worth doing during a policy review.
What to Do at the Scene to Protect Your Towing Coverage
The decisions made at the accident scene directly affect whether towing is covered and how smoothly the claim processes. For the full step-by-step post-accident process, the what to do after a car accident in Ottawa guide covers everything from the first moments at the scene through to reporting. Towing coverage specifically requires four actions at the scene.
For towing coverage specifically, these four steps matter most.
Contact your insurer before the tow truck moves the vehicle. Many insurers require notification before a tow is initiated in order for the cost to be covered. Calling the claims line from the accident scene and confirming coverage before authorising the tow removes the risk of a denial based on lack of notification. Have the insurer’s claims number saved in the phone before it is ever needed.
Confirm the tow company. Some insurers have preferred towing vendors. Using a preferred vendor can simplify direct billing, meaning the driver pays nothing at the scene and the insurer is billed directly. Using a non-preferred company may require paying upfront and submitting receipts for reimbursement. Ask the insurer whether the company being used is on their preferred list before authorising the tow.
Ask where the vehicle is being taken. Coverage under most collision and DCPD policies applies to towing from the accident scene to a repair facility. Towing to a storage yard and then to a repair facility on a separate day may involve storage fees. These fees are often not covered or are covered only up to a limited amount. Directing the tow to a body shop immediately eliminates this risk.
Collect the towing invoice. The invoice should include the towing company name, TSSEA certificate number, vehicle condition at pickup, destination, date, time, and total charges. This documentation is required when filing the property damage claim.
Your Right to Choose Your Own Tow Company
Ontario’s Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, commonly called TSSEA, gives every driver the right to choose which towing company takes their vehicle and where it goes. No tow operator can override that choice, even if they arrived at the scene uninvited. The only exception is when police directly order a vehicle moved for immediate safety reasons.
Understanding this right matters in an insurance context because it intersects with how claims are processed. An insurer may suggest or prefer a specific tow company. That preference is just that: a preference. The driver is not obligated to use it. The practical consequence of using a non-preferred company is that direct billing may not be available, but the driver still has the right to use any TSSEA-licensed provider.
Tow operators who solicit business at accident scenes in Ontario are subject to penalties under TSSEA. If a tow truck arrives uninvited and the driver did not call them, that driver is under no obligation to use that truck. Declining is straightforward, and a preferred provider can be called instead. SMC Towing Group only dispatches when called by the driver or their insurer and never solicits at accident scenes. For a full breakdown of towing rights under Ontario law, the Ottawa towing laws guide covers the TSSEA framework in detail.
The FSRA standard auto insurance policy guide explains in plain language what each coverage type in an Ontario policy covers and excludes. Reading it alongside a current policy helps drivers confirm exactly what protection they carry before an accident occurs.
What Happens If You Have No Towing Coverage
Drivers who carry only mandatory minimum insurance in Ontario, meaning third-party liability only, have no insurance coverage for towing after an accident. The tow is a direct out-of-pocket cost.
The cost of a standard tow in Ottawa ranges from $150 to $350 for a typical passenger vehicle within the city. Longer distances, heavy-duty vehicles, off-road recovery, or after-hours calls add to that cost. Storage fees at a tow yard accumulate daily and are a separate cost that standard policies often do not cover even when towing is covered.
Drivers in this position still have rights under TSSEA. They can choose their own tow company, confirm the destination before the vehicle is loaded, and negotiate the tow destination directly. SMC Towing Group provides upfront pricing on all Ottawa towing calls, so drivers without coverage know the full cost before committing. Directing the vehicle to a body shop or a trusted repair facility immediately after the accident eliminates storage fees. Those fees build when a vehicle sits in a tow yard while insurance decisions are made.
Paying out of pocket for a tow also does not preclude filing a claim later for the vehicle repair costs, if any coverage applies to the damage. Keep all receipts and documentation from the tow, as these may be relevant to the overall claim even when towing itself is not covered.
Conclusion
The answer to whether insurance covers towing after an accident in Ontario is: usually yes, if the right coverage is in place, but not automatically. Collision coverage and DCPD are the two coverage types that apply to accident towing. DCPD became optional in Ontario in January 2024, meaning some drivers who renewed recently may have lost it without realising. OPCF 35 covers breakdowns, not accidents, and reimburses only $50 per incident regardless of the actual tow cost.
SMC Towing Group works with Ottawa drivers and their insurers on every accident tow call. Checking coverage with the insurer at the accident scene and choosing a tow destination that avoids storage fees are the two most important steps. Documenting everything at the scene protects drivers financially in the aftermath of a collision.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Ontario car insurance automatically cover towing after an accident?
No. Towing after an accident is covered if the policy includes collision coverage, DCPD, or all-perils coverage. Basic mandatory insurance in Ontario covers only third-party liability. It does not cover towing under any circumstances. OPCF 35 roadside assistance covers breakdowns but not accident towing, and reimburses only $50 per incident. Drivers should confirm which optional coverages are on their current policy before assuming towing will be covered after a collision.
2. What is DCPD and does it cover towing in Ontario?
DCPD stands for Direct Compensation Property Damage. It is the coverage that pays for damage to a driver’s own vehicle when another driver is at fault for a collision. It also covers towing costs in those not-at-fault situations. Since January 2024, DCPD has been optional in Ontario. Drivers can remove it using the OPCF 49 endorsement in exchange for a premium reduction. Drivers who removed DCPD have no coverage for vehicle damage or towing costs after a collision, even if the other driver was fully at fault.
3. How much does towing after an accident cost in Ottawa in 2026?
A standard tow in Ottawa in 2026 costs between $150 and $350 for a typical passenger vehicle within the city. Longer distances, after-hours calls, heavy-duty vehicles, and flatbed requirements add to that cost. Storage fees at a tow yard are charged separately and accumulate daily. Directing the vehicle to a repair facility immediately after the accident eliminates storage fees entirely. If towing is covered under a collision or DCPD claim, the tow cost is included in the overall claim subject to the applicable deductible.
4. Do I have to use the tow truck my insurer recommends?
No. Under Ontario’s Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, every driver has the right to choose their own tow company and destination. An insurer may suggest a preferred vendor, and using that vendor may simplify direct billing. But the choice remains with the driver. Using a non-preferred company may require paying upfront and submitting receipts for reimbursement rather than billing the insurer directly. Tow operators who arrive uninvited at accident scenes can be declined without any obligation on the driver’s part. SMC Towing Group only responds to direct calls from drivers or their insurers and never solicits at accident scenes.
5. Does OPCF 35 roadside assistance cover accident towing in Ontario?
No. OPCF 35 covers breakdowns and non-collision situations such as flat tires, dead batteries, lockouts, and emergency fuel delivery. It does not cover accident towing. For accident towing to be covered by insurance, the policy must include collision coverage, DCPD, or all-perils coverage. OPCF 35 reimburses a maximum of $50 per incident, which covers only a portion of the actual tow cost in Ottawa. Both OPCF 35 and collision coverage can exist on the same policy simultaneously, each covering different scenarios.
6. What should I do at the accident scene to make sure towing is covered?
Call your insurer from the scene before authorising the tow. Confirm the tow company is approved for direct billing or understand the reimbursement process. Ask where the vehicle will be taken and direct it to a repair facility to avoid storage fees. Collect the towing invoice at the scene, including the towing company name, TSSEA certificate number, vehicle condition, destination, date, and total charges. This documentation is required when filing the property damage claim. Doing all of this at the scene prevents coverage disputes and unnecessary costs after the fact.
