A breakdown is easier to discuss when you separate the immediate problem from the transport request. Tell the dispatcher whether the car is on a roadway, at home or at a workshop, then explain where you want it taken. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Start with a location the driver can identify
Give the address, direction of travel where relevant and a useful landmark or property entrance. For a parkade, mention the entrance height and parking level. At a commercial site, provide access hours and arrange permission for collection.
Then describe the vehicle: make and model, whether it rolls or steers, missing keys, collision damage and any loading restrictions. The team can assess suitable equipment; do not attempt an unsafe move just to make the car easier to reach.
Confirm costs and consent before the tow
Alberta’s Vehicle Towing and Storage Regulation guidance describes requirements effective April 1, 2026. For covered services, operators must obtain consent and provide a written estimate that can be retained before taking the vehicle. The guidance also requires an itemized invoice before payment and sets out destination and access requirements.
There are exemptions, including certain authority- or private-property-directed services and situations with no towing or storage charges. Check the official guidance for your circumstances. Ask which towing, recovery and storage costs apply, and keep the estimate and invoice.
Agree on the destination and arrival window
Confirm the repair shop or other receiving location before dispatch. Check whether it is open and whether someone must authorize the vehicle’s arrival. If storage may be needed, discuss the location and rates instead of leaving that decision until the truck has loaded the car.
An arrival estimate depends on active jobs, traffic, weather and the equipment required. Call for the current window rather than relying on a general same-day or 24-hour message.
Give roadside workers room
Follow the driver’s instructions and keep clear of loading equipment. For passing motorists, Alberta’s roadside worker safety rules require moving away from the closest lane when safe; if that is not possible, slow to 60 km/h or the posted limit, whichever is lower, when passing the covered stopped vehicles with flashing lights.
Towing a car you keep is different from selling it
Request standalone towing when you want the car transported. If you want to sell it instead, ask about a non-running vehicle purchase; towing is included with an accepted i-Tow purchase offer. Make that choice clear so the team quotes the right service.
Call 825-712-6191 with the pickup location, destination and condition to check current dispatch availability.