OPP Tow Program

Almost all frequencies used by the Ontario Provincial Police have now been encrypted and are no longer available to be monitored by the public. There are however a few frequencies used by the OPP that are still available to those interested. The OPP does make the request for tow trucks on publicly available frequencies. This complies with an ongoing program on certain highways. The program is described below.

These frequencies will of course be most active during the poorer driving conditions of winter, when accidents are more prevalent. An audio link to listen to these frequencies can be found further down on this page.

Brief Summary of the OPP Tow Program

Since 2022 the Ontario Government has instituted a pilot project in an attempt prevent some towing companies from swooping in on drivers on the 400 highways who needed help and overcharging them for towing and storage fees. The stated goal of the project is to clear vehicles and crash sites sooner and more efficiently. It also outlines restrictions on which tow operators have access to these scenes. Under the new rules, each tow truck company must apply to the OPP to be considered and must be approved by a local commander. A good video description of the program can be found in this CTV News report.

All Tow and Storage Service Operators (TSSO) will need to provide information related to ownership, registration, license, vehicle, equipment, insurance and other details in an application to participate. A signed release authorizing the OPP to conduct a criminal history background check of the tow companies will also be required.

Highways covered under the program:

• Highway 400: Zone 3 between Highway 9 in King and Highway 401 in Toronto
• Highway 401: Zone 1 in Toronto between Highway 400 and Morningside Avenue, Zone 2 between Regional Road 25 in Milton and Highway 400 in Toronto
• Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW): Zone 4 between Brant Street in Burlington and Highway 427 in Toronto
• Highway 409: Zone 2 between Highways 427 and 401 in Toronto
• Highway 427: Zone 2 between Highways 401 and 427 in Toronto