When your car dies on the side of the road, the first thing you want to know is how long you will be waiting. The honest answer: it depends on where you are and when it happens.

In London, tow truck response time runs anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour. This guide breaks down what to expect and why the times vary.

Average Tow Truck Response Times in London

Here is a realistic breakdown for the London area:

These are honest estimates under normal conditions. If there is a major storm or a multi-vehicle pileup on the 401, everyone in the area is calling at once. Wait times go up.

What Affects How Fast a Tow Truck Gets to You

Distance

The most obvious factor. A truck staged in east London can reach a breakdown on Highbury Avenue in 10 minutes. That same truck reaching a farm road near Ilderton takes 40 minutes.

EMS Towing keeps trucks positioned across London and St. Thomas so we can cover the city quickly. We do not run one truck out of one location.

Traffic

Rush hour is real. Oxford Street, Wellington Road, and the 401 near Wonderland can back up badly between 7:30-9:00 AM and 4:30-6:30 PM. A 15-minute run in the middle of the day might take 30 minutes during peak hours.

That said, tow trucks can use the shoulder on highways when conditions require. On city streets, we navigate the same traffic everyone else does.

Weather

London winters mean ice storms, blizzards, and freezing rain. When the weather gets bad, call volume spikes and road speeds drop. A dispatch that normally takes 20 minutes can stretch to 45 during a significant snowfall.

The upside: we do not stop working when it snows. We have trucks running through every London winter storm, including the bad ones. Read our guide on what to do if your car breaks down on Highway 401 for winter-specific advice.

Time of Day

Overnight calls (midnight to 6 AM) are different from daytime calls. Traffic is lighter, so travel times improve. But there are also fewer trucks on the road. Overall, late night response times for EMS Towing are still within the ranges above because we run around the clock.

Type of Call

A simple breakdown on a city street is fast to get to. A rollover accident on the 401 that requires police clearance before we can access the vehicle takes longer -- not because we are slow to arrive, but because we cannot always get to the vehicle immediately. We stage nearby and move in when it is safe to do so.

How Many Trucks Are Available

On a busy Friday night in late fall when weather is turning, every towing company in London is running hard. If two of our trucks are on long-distance tows, response time to your call increases. We are transparent about this. When you call, we give you a real ETA based on actual availability, not a generic "30 minutes."

Highway 401 and 402: What to Expect

The 401 through London is one of the busiest stretches of road in Canada. Breakdowns and accidents happen daily. A few things specific to highway calls:

• OPP controls the scene. On highway incidents, the Ontario Provincial Police may restrict access until it is safe. We respond immediately but may have to wait for clearance before approaching your vehicle.
• Staging matters. EMS Towing has trucks that cover the 401 between Woodstock and Tilbury. For calls near the London exchanges (Highbury, Wellington, Wonderland), we typically arrive within 20-25 minutes.
• The 402 toward Sarnia is less congested but more spread out. Calls near Strathroy take longer than calls near the 401/402 interchange.
• Do not stand outside your vehicle on the highway shoulder while waiting. Get behind the guardrail if possible. See the safety section below.

For more on handling highway breakdowns, see our post on emergency towing in London Ontario.

What to Do While Waiting for the Tow Truck

The window between your call and our arrival matters. Here is how to use it safely.

Tell the Dispatcher Exactly Where You Are

A specific location gets you a faster response. "I'm on the 401" is not enough. "I'm on the 401 eastbound just past the Highbury exit, on the right shoulder" is what we need. Look for highway signs, exit numbers, and kilometer markers. In the city, give cross-streets or the name of a nearby business.

Know What You Need

When you call, be ready to tell us:

• Your vehicle make, model, and year
• Whether it is all-wheel drive (affects how we load it)
• Whether it is an electric vehicle (requires flatbed)
• Where you want the vehicle taken
• Whether anyone is injured (if so, call 911 first)

The more we know upfront, the faster and smoother the job goes.

Does Response Time Vary by Towing Company?

Yes, significantly. Here is why:

• National call centers take your call then dispatch whoever is closest. That might be a company based in Woodstock with no presence in London. Or it might be a one-truck operation with their truck already tied up.
• CAA and insurance roadside programs often have long wait windows -- sometimes two hours or more during busy periods -- because they are coordinating through third parties.
• Local companies with multiple trucks can usually respond faster because they are not routing calls through a middleman and they have vehicles already in your area.

EMS Towing is locally based in London. We are not a dispatch service or a franchise. When you call us, you are calling the actual company sending the truck.

EMS Towing's Response Commitment

We do not promise a specific number because conditions vary. What we do commit to:

• A live person answers your call, any hour of the day or night
• You get a real ETA based on current truck locations and traffic
• We update you if something changes -- traffic, delay, anything
• We prioritize highway and accident calls over non-urgent situations
• We do not keep you guessing

If there is a significant wait for any reason, we tell you upfront so you can make an informed decision.

How to Get the Fastest Response

A few things on your end help:

• Call instead of texting or using an app. A phone call gets a truck dispatched immediately. Apps and web forms add steps.
• Be precise about your location. The more specific you are, the less time our dispatcher spends pinning down where you are.
• Have your vehicle info ready. Make, model, drive type (AWD, FWD, RWD), and whether it is an EV.
• Know where you want the vehicle taken. If you have a preferred shop, tell us. If not, we can make a recommendation.
• Save our number now, before you need it. When you're stranded in the rain at 11 PM is not the time to be searching for a towing company.

Related: What Affects Towing Costs in London

Response time and cost are separate questions. A longer wait does not always mean a higher bill. For a full breakdown of what towing costs in London, see our 2026 towing cost estimates.

For information on what your insurance covers, check your policy's roadside assistance section. Most Ontario auto policies include at least basic towing coverage. We work with all major insurers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a tow truck in London, Ontario?

Inside London city limits, most calls are reached in 10 to 30 minutes under normal conditions. Rural areas in Middlesex County take 30 to 60 minutes. Highway 401 and 402 calls typically run 15 to 35 minutes depending on location and traffic.

Is response time faster during the day or at night?

It depends. Late-night calls face lighter traffic but sometimes reduced truck availability. During business hours, traffic can slow arrival. Overall, EMS Towing's response times stay within the same range day and night because we dispatch 24/7.

What is the fastest way to get a tow truck?

Call directly. Phone dispatch is faster than apps or web forms. Give a precise location. Have your vehicle details ready. EMS Towing: 226-476-4176.

Why do tow trucks sometimes take longer during snowstorms?

Two reasons: more calls coming in at once, and slower travel times on icy roads. During major London winter storms, we run all available trucks and prioritize highway and accident calls first.

Does calling CAA get a tow truck faster?

Not always. CAA dispatches through contractors. During busy periods, their estimated wait times can stretch past two hours. For time-sensitive situations, calling a local towing company directly is usually faster. See our guide on roadside assistance in London Ontario for a full comparison.

EMS Towing serves London, St. Thomas, and Middlesex County. We cover the 401/402 corridors 24/7. Call 226-476-4176 for immediate dispatch or visit emstowing.ca.