If your car just died on Lougheed Highway or will not start in a tower garage, the first question is usually the same: how much is this going to cost? The honest answer is that a tow truck cost in Brentwood, Burnaby depends on a handful of things you can check in two minutes on the phone. This guide walks through them, gives you a provincial benchmark to compare against, and shows you how to get a price before anyone hooks up your car.
The short answer
Most local tows inside Burnaby are priced as a base hook-up charge plus distance. Extras get added when the job needs more equipment or more time. A good company tells you the full number before the truck is booked. At Rescue Towing we confirm the price on the call, and it does not change on site unless you change the plan. You can read more about how we work on our towing services page.
What sets the price of a tow in Brentwood
- Distance. A short tow from Gilmore Place to a shop on the same side of Burnaby costs less than a run out to the Fraser Valley. For longer trips, see long distance towing.
- The truck it needs. All-wheel drive cars, EVs and damaged vehicles ride on a flatbed. Many front-wheel drive cars can go on a wheel lift. Our flatbed towing page explains the diffrence.
- Where the car is parked. A car on a Brentwood Park street is quick to load. A car on P3 of a condo garage may need dollies or a low-clearance truck.
- Time and traffic. Rush hour on Lougheed and Willingdon slows every job down, and some companies add after-hours charges.
- Extra work. Winching a car out of a tight spot, cleaning up fluids after a crash, or waiting on site all take time.
A provincial benchmark you can check
B.C. does publish tow charges for one kind of tow: vehicles impounded under the Motor Vehicle Act. The Lien on Impounded Motor Vehicles Regulation sets a basic charge for a vehicle up to 3,000 kg of $110 plus $3.32 per kilometre, a 25 percent fuel surcharge on top, and $40 when dollies are used. Those numbers do not apply to a tow you book yourself, but they are a useful reality check. If a quote for a short local tow is wildly above that, ask why.
Costs people forget to ask about
Storage is the big one. If your car goes to a yard instead of straight to your mechanic, daily storage can add up fast. Ask where the car is going and whether there is any charge to keep it there. After a crash, check what your coverage includes with ICBC claims before you agree to extra stops. For crash tows we can take the car straight to the shop your claim needs; see ICBC towing.
Also ask about payment. Most companies take cards, but confirm it before the truck arrives so there is no surprise at the curb.
When you might not need a tow at all
A lot of calls in Brentwood turn out to be a dead battery or a flat. A battery boost or a tire change costs far less than a tow, and it gets you moving again on the spot. Our roadside assistance page lists every quick fix we do. If your car has been sitting for days in a cold garage, a boost is usually the first thing to try.
Underground and tower garages
Brentwood has more parkades than most of Burnaby, and they do change the price a little. Low ceilings, tight ramps and narrow stalls mean more setup time. We explain what changes and why in our guide to underground parkade towing. Tell us the building, the entrance and the level when you call and we can quote it properly the first time.
How to get a firm quote in two minutes
- Say where the car is: the street and nearest cross street, or the building, entrance and level.
- Give the make and model, and whether it is AWD, electric or damaged.
- Say where it needs to go: home, your mechanic, a dealer or a body shop.
- Ask for the total, including any extras, before you say yes.
That is it. You can call us or use the quote form on any page, and we call you back with the price. If you are wondering how fast the truck will get there, read how long a tow takes in Brentwood. Comparing companies? Our checklist for choosing a towing company covers what to look for. And if you are standing next to a broken-down car right now, start with what to do before the tow truck arrives.
The bottom line
A fair tow price in Brentwood is one you hear before the hook-up, with the extras named up front. Ask the right questions and you will not be suprised by the bill. Want to know who you are dealing with? You can read about Rescue Towing.