Right after "what's this going to cost," the next question most drivers ask is "wait, isn't this covered by something?" Sometimes it is. The honest answer depends entirely on your own policy or membership — not on us — but here's how the common types of coverage actually work, so you know what to check before the tow truck even shows up.

The short answer: it depends on your coverage, not on the tow company

A tow company can't tell you what your insurance policy or membership covers — only your provider can confirm that. What we can tell you is how coverage typically works, how billing happens at the scene, and what questions get you a real answer instead of a guess. For the pricing side of a tow, our cost guide covers what drives the rate in the first place.

CAA and Canadian Tire Auto Club

Membership-based roadside programs like CAA and the Canadian Tire Auto Club are the most straightforward. Your membership level sets a covered distance (and sometimes a number of calls per year); within that limit, the tow is typically covered outright with no bill to you. Call your provider's dispatch line first, request Dynamic Towing by name, and they connect the job to us directly — we're a dispatch partner for both.

If your tow runs past your membership's covered distance, the extra kilometres are usually your responsibility, billed at the standard rate for the portion beyond the limit. Ask your provider what your specific tier covers before you assume the whole run is free.

Auto insurance roadside riders

Many auto insurance policies offer an optional roadside assistance endorsement — sometimes bundled in, sometimes an add-on you opted into at renewal. When it's active, it typically covers a tow to the nearest qualified repair shop, up to a set dollar amount or distance per incident.

The details vary a lot by insurer and policy, so we won't guess at specifics that aren't ours to promise. What's consistent across most policies: you'll need your policy number and the provider's roadside phone number (not your regular claims line) to confirm coverage before or during the call. Keep both somewhere easy to find — glovebox, phone notes, wallet — because digging for a policy number at 2 a.m. on the shoulder is the worst time to need it.

Credit card and manufacturer programs

Some premium and travel credit cards include roadside benefits as a card perk, and some new vehicles come with a manufacturer roadside program for a set number of years after purchase. Both can cover a tow, but — like insurance riders — the terms (distance limits, exclusions, whether it's direct-bill or reimbursement) are set entirely by the card issuer or manufacturer. Check your card's benefits guide or your vehicle's warranty paperwork rather than assuming either applies.

How billing actually works when we're called

Tell dispatch about any coverage when you call, before the truck is dispatched — not after the tow is done. From there, it generally goes one of two ways:

  • Direct billing. For CAA, Canadian Tire Auto Club, and a handful of insurance and program partners, we can bill the provider directly. You pay nothing, or only the portion above your coverage limit.
  • Pay and claim reimbursement. For coverage we don't direct-bill, you pay at the time of service and submit the receipt to your provider for reimbursement under your policy or program's terms.

Either way, ask for an itemized receipt — most insurers and programs require one to process a claim, and it's the easiest way to avoid a denied reimbursement over a missing detail.

What to ask your insurer before you need a tow

The best time to find this out is before you're stranded, not during. A few questions worth asking your provider now:

  • Is towing a separate endorsement on my policy, or bundled with roadside assistance generally?
  • What's the coverage limit — a dollar amount, a distance, or both — and per incident or per year?
  • Does coverage apply only to a tow, or does it also include roadside calls like a boost or a lockout? (Our roadside assistance guide breaks down what those calls typically involve.)
  • Is it direct-bill with specific partners, or reimbursement-only?
  • Does a tow to anywhere count, or only to the nearest repair shop?

A five-minute call to your provider now saves a confusing conversation on the shoulder later.

Who you're calling

Dynamic Towing has worked with drivers' coverage — not against it — since 1990, 24 hours a day, in English and French, as a dispatch partner for CAA, Canadian Tire Auto Club, Allstate, Assistenza, DAA, AAA, and Urgently. Whether your tow is covered, partly covered, or paid out of pocket, we quote it honestly either way. Get in touch and we'll sort out the details when we dispatch.