Tow Truck Drivers

Please note, starting January 1, 2024, the City’s authority to licence the towing and vehicle storage sector will end and all of the provincial Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) provisions will come into effect. This means that starting January 1, tow truck drivers, tow truck owners and public garages that exclusively receive or store towed vehicles will no longer require licences from the City, but will require certification from the province.

During the transition period leading up to January 1, the City will continue to issue tow truck owner and driver licences and applicants will need to pay the $438.72 non-refundable application fee.

Renewal Information

The City will automatically renew licences that expire between October 1 to December 30, 2023.  A new licence that will expire on December 31, 2023 will be mailed to applicable licence holders.

Towing and Vehicle Storage Certificates

The province is now accepting applications for towing or vehicle storage certificates. To reduce an overlap in fees paid to both the province and municipalities, the province’s certificate fees are waived until July 2024.

Find out how to get a towing or vehicle storage certificate.

Background

In June 2021, the Ontario government passed the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA)  to establish a framework to transition municipal oversight of the towing and vehicle storage sectors to the province as of January 1, 2024.

The Transitioning Oversight of the Towing and Vehicle Storage Sector to the Province of Ontario staff report outlines recommendations to facilitate this transition including:

• the province’s new towing and vehicle storage oversight regime
• technical amendments to City bylaws to reflect new provincial oversight
• additional transitional matters related to the City’s current role in licensing towing and vehicle storage providers

Learn more about the province’s changes to tow and storage rules and the consultation and research results from the province’s towing task force.

Individuals.

Must hold valid G Class Province of Ontario driver’s licence.

Identification Requirements

Two pieces of government-issued identification:

• A valid G Class Province of Ontario driver’s licence

AND one of the following:

• Canadian Passport
• Canadian Birth Certificate
• Citizenship Card
• Permanent Resident Card
• SIN Card (Social Insurance Number)
• Valid Work Permit

Note:

• First and last names must match on all identification
• We do not accept Health Cards
• For sole proprietorship or individual applicants, one piece of ID must provide proof of work status.

Criminal Record & Judicial Matters Check

Applicants must provide an original Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check issued by a Canadian Police Service within 280 days prior to the application.

Driving Record Abstract

A copy of the applicant’s driving record abstract: a three year driving history recorded by the Ministry of Transportation.

The abstract should be less than 30 days old.

Applications for new tow truck licences need to be submitted online. You cannot apply for these licences in-person.

Apply online

Save yourself time and apply online. Please have all required documents ready to upload before starting the application, as it requires 10-15 minutes to complete and cannot be saved. Download a step by step guide on how to submit a new application. Licence application fees can be paid online or by sending a cheque.

Submit Application

If you have already submitted an application you may upload additional documents using your upload token.

Upload Documents for Existing Request

Picking up or dropping off plates

If you need to pick up or drop off plates in-person, you must book an appointment at the Licence and Permit Issuing Office, 850 Coxwell Avenue, 3rd Floor. Walk-ins will not be accepted. You must be the owner or custodian of the plate.

Book Appointment

Please arrive 10-15 mins early to check in and be on time for your appointment or you may be turned away and asked to re-book for another day and time, subject to availability.

A photo of the applicant must be submitted with all other required application documents. It is essential that the photo provided complies with the Licence Application Photo Requirements. Failure to do so may result in delayed or rejected applications.

ML&S shall deny an application for, or a renewal for any business, trade or calling for which a vehicle and it’s driver are licenced or required to be licenced by the City under this Chapter and for which a licencesee is required to hold a valid provincial driver’s licence under this Chapter where the licensee or applicant has:

1. 1. Been convicted at any time of a sexual offence against a minor or a person with a disability under any of sections 151 to 153.1 of the Criminal Code;
   2. Been convicted of any sexual offence under the Criminal Code in the preceding ten years;
   3. Been convicted of an offence under the following Criminal Code sections in the preceding five years:
      1. 84 to 117.15 (Firearms and Other Weapons);
      2. 264.1 to 286.1 (Offences Against the Person);
      3. 321 to 378 (Offences Against Rights of Property);
      4. 379 to 462 (Fraudulent Transactions, Wilful and Forbidden Acts of Certain Property, Offences Relating to Currency);
      5. 462.3 to 462.5 (Proceeds of Crime).
   4. Been convicted at any time of an offence under the following Criminal Code sections:
      1. 83.01 to 83.33 (Terrorism);
      2. 219 to 248 (Major Offences Against the Person);
      3. 267, 268, 270.01, 272, 273 (Major Assaults or Major Sexual Assaults).
   5. Been convicted of an offence under the following Controlled Drugs and Substances Act sections in the preceding ten years:
      1. 5 (Trafficking);
      2. 6 (Importing and exporting);
      3. 7 (Production);
      4. 7.1 (Possession for use in production or trafficking).
   6. Been convicted of any offence under section 4 (Possession or obtaining) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in the preceding five years;
   7. Been convicted of five or more offences under Chapter 545 or 546 of the Toronto Municipal Code in the preceding three years;
   8. Any overdue by-law fines, unless the applicant provides proof that such fines have been subsequently paid.
   9. Been convicted of any offence under sections 249, 252, or 253 of the Criminal Code or sections 320.13 to 320.18 (Offence Relating to Conveyances) (Motor Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft) in the preceding five years;
   10. Accumulated nine or more demerit points on his or her driving record abstract at the time the application for a licence or renewal is made;
   11. Been convicted of any of the following offences under the Highway Traffic Act in the preceding five years:
       1. Careless driving;
       2. Racing or stunt driving;
       3. Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/hour or more;
       4. Failing to stop for a school bus or when signaled or asked by a police officer;
       5. Failing to remain at the scene of a collision;
       6. Driving while licence suspended.

Despite these screening criteria, if a licence has been previously issued or renewed and the applicant’s or licensee’s record discloses no new breach of the screening criteria, the licence may be issued or renewed without the matter being referred to the Toronto Licensing Tribunal.

These screening criteria do not apply to any offence for which a licensee or applicant has been granted a criminal record suspension (i.e. a pardon) by the Parole Board of Canada.

Amended Date