Coverage area
The *4141 roadside assistance service is now in effect on expressways on:
- The island of Montréal
- The island of Laval
- Sections of the North and South shores of Montréal
This service also covers bridges under provincial jurisdiction in the Montréal metropolitan area.
Map showing the area where the towing service is available
Accident reporting
Incidents may be reported by the victim or a witness. If the incident occurs on an expressway, it can also be detected by:
Expressway surveillance cameras
A road supervisor from the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable
An officer from the Sûreté du Québec
As soon as the incident is detected, the appropriate authorities are dispatched to the scene to protect and assist the driver.
If you are the victim of an accident
If you are on an expressway and your vehicle is still operational, you must take the nearest exit or move your vehicle to an emergency parking area or the shoulder. If you are unable to move your vehicle, remain inside the vehicle until help arrives. Exiting your vehicle puts you at a high risk of being hit.
You can then report your accident by calling *4141 toll-free from a cell phone or 310-4141 from any other phone.
If you witness an accident
When you witness an accident, you can report it by calling *4141 from a cell phone or 310-4141 from any other phone. As soon as the incident has been reported, the appropriate authorities will be dispatched to the scene.
Obligations and rights of the person whose vehicle is being towed
You are obligated to use the services of the designated towing company for the area in which you break down or have an accident. However, you are not required to use a garage recommended by the tow truck driver. You may select the towing service of your choice as soon as your vehicle has been removed from the exclusive coverage area.
Should the towing company be excessively busy, the response time may be extended for longer towing distances. In this case, your vehicle will be towed at no additional charge to the towing company's service centre, pending the availability of another tow truck.
Obligations of the exclusive towing company
In situations where the tow truck driver’s safety may be at risk, a protective vehicle will be required to secure the scene. For this reason, the tow truck driver may not immediately proceed with the towing process.
For the safety of everybody involved, the tow truck driver is required to wait for the protective vehicle to arrive.
Fees and payment methods
Exclusive towing service fees and descriptions are given in the fee schedule (PDF 146 Kb) established by the Ministère. These fees include towing within a 10 km radius and for a period of 60 minutes from the time the tow truck arrives on site.
As of August 1, 2023, the rate schedule is indexed every three months based on the index average established for the quarter 4 months prior to the date of indexation. The Ministère indexes the rates using the For-hire Motor Carrier Freight Services Price Index for the Truck Transportation category (484) compared with the average indices established for the months of April, May, and June 2022. If the calculated rate is lower than that of the previous year, the current rate is maintained.
Accepted payment methods include:
Cash
Debit card
Credit card
The use of other payment methods must be confirmed with the tow truck driver.
Last update: November 13, 2023
