Part-time towing for garages and dispatchers
Take overflow and after-hours tow jobs from garages, body shops and dispatch companies using one used truck.
- C$25k-70k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
You run a single light-duty tow truck part-time and take jobs passed on by established tow companies, garages, dealerships and dispatch networks, rather than chasing every roadside call yourself.
Your first three steps
- Check provincial and municipal tow operator rules, and whether you can work under another company's licence or must hold your own
- Visit local garages, body shops and tow companies to ask whether they need overflow or after-hours help
- Get insurance quotes for a used light-duty flatbed or wheel-lift truck, and confirm the cover you need for subcontract work
Who pays
Tow companies, garages, body shops and dealerships that need extra capacity, and the motorists or insurers they work for.
How it makes money
Per-job rate agreed with the company sending the work, often a share of the job price, with higher pay for evening and weekend calls.
Skills that help
- Safe driving and vehicle loading
- Reliability when on call
- Building relationships with local businesses
- Basic record keeping
Watch out for
- Rules on subcontracting and who holds the licence vary by province and municipality, check before taking jobs
- Confirm your insurance covers you when towing for another company
- Check the driver's licence class and any commercial vehicle requirements for your truck
- Income depends on how much work partners send, and payment terms can be slow
- Winter driving and roadside work carry safety risks, plan your on-call hours carefully
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: part-time towing for garages and dispatchers
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start part-time towing in Canada?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $70,000, depending mainly on the light-duty truck you buy and what equipment and insurance you need. Confirm your insurance covers you when towing for another company.
How much can part-time subcontract towing earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how much work garages and dispatch partners send you. Payment terms can be slow, so allow for that in your cash flow.
What rules should I check before towing for other companies?
Check rules on subcontracting and who holds the licence, which vary by province and municipality. Also check your driver's licence class, any commercial vehicle requirements for your truck, and that your insurance covers towing for others.
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