From: Towing (MTO) <Towing@ontario.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 11:02 AM
Subject: Regulatory Amendments to Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021 (TSSEA)
August 11, 2026
To support improved clarity and consistency across the towing sector, Ontario Regulation 167/23 under the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021 (TSSEA) has been amended to strengthen the qualifications and requirements for tow truck drivers, tow operators and vehicle storage operators and clarify key operational requirements. The attached appendix provides a summary of the changes.
This email and other guidance materials provided by the Ministry are intended for general information and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Please read the legislation and regulations to determine your legal obligations.
New as of July 1, 2026:
- Strengthened qualifications and requirements:
- Shareholders of a tow operator or vehicle storage business are now treated as related to an applicant or certificate holder
- Disqualifying record of convictions and charges has been expanded
- Other qualifications and requirements for a certificate have been expanded
- Updated Operational Requirements:
- Tow truck drivers are not required to take photos at an intermediate or advanced towing scene when directed by police not to take photos or to cease taking photos
- Updated requirements for tow truck markings
- Tow operators must not employ or engage a person to provide a towing service or attend a towing scene if the person has been refused a certificate or has had a cancelled or suspended certificate under TSSEA, unless the person subsequently obtained a valid certificate
- TSSEA Certificate Fee Increase Freeze: The annual fee adjustment for all TSSEA certificates is deferred until July 1, 2027.
For updated tow truck marking requirements, the ministry has encouraged our enforcement partners to take an education-first approach for 90 days, from July 1 to September 29, 2026. However, these changes came into effect on July 1, 2026, and law enforcement has discretion to enforce the law.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
For more information about towing and vehicle storage, please visit:
- Get a towing or vehicle storage certificate | ontario.ca
- Submit tow and vehicle storage rates | ontario.ca
- Towing and vehicle storage requirements | ontario.ca
- Know your rights when getting a tow | ontario.ca
- Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021, S.O. 2021, c. 26, Sched. 3 (ontario.ca)
Kind regards,
Towing and Vehicle Storage Team
Ministry of Transportation
