Accident Towing & Recovery in Calgary
After a collision, your first job is to stay safe — ours is to get your vehicle off the road and where it needs to go. RST Roadside Service & Towing provides accident towing and recovery across Calgary and the surrounding communities, 24/7.
What Accident Towing & Recovery Involves
An accident scene is rarely straightforward. A vehicle might be drivable but unsafe, blocking a lane, resting in a ditch, or sitting on its side after a rollover. Accident towing and recovery is the work of safely moving that vehicle — first out of harm's way, then on to a repair facility or wherever you need it to go. RST handles that process across Calgary and the surrounding communities with a fleet of four flatbed trucks and a wrecker, and a dispatcher available around the clock.
Every situation is assessed on arrival. The driver looks at how the vehicle came to rest, the damage it has, where it is, and what can be done safely before deciding how to proceed. We won't promise that every recovery is possible — that depends on the vehicle's condition, its location, how accessible it is, and whether the scene can be worked safely — but we'll tell you honestly what we can do once we see it.
The Accident Towing Process
- Make sure everyone is safe first — if anyone is injured, call 911 before anything else
- Call RST at (403) 458-6010 and describe the location, what happened, and the vehicle's condition
- Our driver assesses the scene on arrival and selects the right equipment
- The vehicle is recovered, loaded and secured for transport
- We transport it to a repair facility or another location you choose
Collision-Damaged Vehicle Towing
A vehicle that's been in a collision often can't be towed the same way as a simple breakdown. Bent panels, a damaged driveline, flat or seized wheels, or structural damage all change how the vehicle has to be lifted and carried. For collision-damaged vehicles, a flatbed is generally preferred because it carries the whole vehicle off the ground rather than rolling it on its own wheels. The driver confirms the right approach once they can see the damage.
Accident TowingFlatbed or Wrecker?
A flatbed is generally preferred for collision damage, AWD vehicles and driveline problems, while a wrecker suits many standard tows and basic recovery. Which one we use is decided on scene — if you're unsure, our dispatcher can talk it through with you.
About Flatbed TowingNeed It Towed Now?
If the vehicle is blocking traffic or the situation is urgent, our emergency towing service covers priority dispatch for breakdowns and collisions.
See Emergency TowingCollision, Ditch & Rollover Recovery
Recovery is the step before the tow — getting a vehicle back to a position where it can be loaded and transported. After an accident, that can mean pulling a car out of a ditch, uprighting or repositioning a vehicle that has rolled, or winching one free from snow, mud or an embankment. We bring the equipment and experience to handle these situations, and we're straight with you about what's realistic for your vehicle and location.
Ditch Recovery
Calgary's winters and spring thaw send plenty of vehicles into ditches and off road edges. For a car that's slid off the shoulder or into a ditch, we use winch-out equipment to draw it back onto stable ground before towing. How straightforward this is depends on how deep the vehicle is, the angle it came to rest, and whether we can reach it safely — so the more detail you can give us on the phone, the better we can prepare.
Rollover Recovery
A vehicle on its side or roof needs careful handling. Rollover recovery involves stabilising and repositioning the vehicle so it can be loaded without causing further damage or creating a hazard. These situations are assessed individually; whether a particular rollover can be recovered, and how, depends on the vehicle's condition, the location and what can be done safely at the scene.
Winch-Outs
Not every accident needs a full recovery operation. When a vehicle is simply stuck — off a driveway edge, against a curb, or bogged down in snow or mud — a winch-out is often all that's required to get it moving again. If a tow is also needed afterwards, we can handle both in the same visit.
A note on what we can and can't do
We don't promise that every recovery is possible — it depends on the vehicle's condition, location, accessibility and safety. We also cannot tow vehicles from underground or low-clearance parking facilities. If you're not sure whether we can help, call and describe the situation and we'll give you a straight answer.
In an Accident? Call Dispatch
Tell us the location and what happened, and we'll send the right truck. Available 24/7.
When a Flatbed or Wrecker Is Used
There's no single right tool for every accident — it comes down to the vehicle and the scene. Our drivers decide on the equipment after assessing the situation, and the choice usually comes down to a few practical factors.
When a Flatbed Makes Sense
A flatbed carries the entire vehicle off the ground, which is generally the safer choice for collision-damaged vehicles, all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles, and anything with driveline or wheel damage. It avoids rolling a damaged vehicle on wheels or a driveline that may be compromised.
When a Wrecker Makes Sense
A wrecker, or wheel-lift truck, uses a hydraulic boom to lift one end of the vehicle. It's well suited to many standard tows and to repositioning a vehicle — for example, pulling it forward off a curb or away from a barrier — before it's loaded or towed. For heavier recovery, we may use the wrecker alongside winch-out equipment.
If you're unsure which applies to your situation, you don't need to decide — describe it to our dispatcher and the driver will confirm on scene.
Wrecker Towing
Learn how our wrecker handles standard tows, repositioning and basic vehicle recovery situations.
About Wrecker TowingQuestions Before You Call?
If you'd rather send details in writing or arrange a non-urgent tow, you can reach us through our contact page.
Contact RSTAvailable Throughout
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you tow vehicles after a collision?
Yes. We provide collision-damaged vehicle towing in Calgary and the surrounding communities. Once we reach the scene, the driver assesses the vehicle and chooses the equipment best suited to the damage and location.
Can you recover a vehicle from a ditch or a rollover?
We provide ditch recovery, rollover recovery and winch-outs. Whether a specific recovery is possible depends on the vehicle's condition, its location, how accessible it is, and whether the scene can be worked safely. Describe the situation when you call so we can send the right equipment.
Will you use a flatbed or a wrecker for my accident?
It depends on the vehicle and the damage. A flatbed is generally preferred for collision damage, driveline problems and AWD vehicles, while a wrecker suits many standard tows and basic recovery. The driver confirms the right approach on scene.
Can you tow my vehicle from an underground parkade?
No. We cannot tow vehicles from underground or low-clearance parking facilities. If your vehicle is in one of these, call us and we can talk through the options.
Are you available 24/7 for accidents?
Yes. RST operates 24/7 across Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane and Okotoks. For accident towing and recovery, call (403) 458-6010.