Spot bandit tows, cash-only operators, and overcharging before they catch you off guard.
Towing scams are unfortunately common in the IE, where heavy traffic and a high volume of breakdowns attract operators willing to take advantage of stranded drivers. Here's how to spot the warning signs and protect yourself.
If you didn't call for a tow and a truck shows up anyway, that's a red flag. Reputable companies wait to be dispatched. "Freeway chasers" who roll up at accident scenes often charge two or three times the going rate — and once your car is hooked up, you may be stuck paying it to get it back.
Ask the driver what company they're with, and confirm it matches the one you called. If you didn't call anyone, that's a problem — politely decline and call a company yourself. You can't legally be forced to use a tow operator you didn't authorize on a non-police-ordered tow.
Any honest tow operator will give you a real number before starting work. "We'll figure it out at the yard" is a major red flag — it almost always means a much bigger bill than you expected, plus daily storage fees if you can't pay on the spot.
Local tows in the Ontario area typically run reasonable rates depending on distance, vehicle size, and whether a winch is needed. Quotes that are wildly higher than that — or much lower as bait — should make you pause and call somewhere else.
Legitimate tow companies accept cards. Cash-only demands on the side of the road, especially with no receipt offered, almost always mean the operator doesn't want a paper trail.
The simplest protection: have a local tow company's number saved in your phone before you ever need it. When you're stressed on the side of the road, you don't want to be deciding between five Google ads. Save ours: (909) 991-3694.
One call dispatches the right truck to your location. Available 24/7 across the Inland Empire.
Call (909) 991-3694