Costs
London's Highway 401/402 Merge and What It Adds to a Tow Price
In London, Ontario, a tow price depends on how hard your car is to reach and how far it goes. Where the 402 merges into the 401, the highway grows to six lanes. West of Colonel Talbot Road, it is still four. Add interchange work on the 401 and lane closures on Wellington Road, and two tows a few kilometers apart can be very different jobs.
Where does the 402 join the 401 in London?
Highway 402 comes in from Sarnia. Inside London it meets Highway 4 south of Lambeth, then Wonderland Road. After that it merges into the 401 on the city's southwest side.
That merge is where the 401 gets bigger. Past it, the 401 runs at six lanes through the south end of London. Earlier work widened it to six lanes from the 402 to Wellington Road.
Go west instead, toward Windsor, and the road shrinks. Ontario's highway program lists a planned four to six lane widening of the 401 west of Colonel Talbot Road. That stretch is part of the London to Tilbury project. Until that work is done, it stays two lanes each way.
Why does the number of lanes change a tow job?
A stalled car on the shoulder of a four-lane road and one on a six-lane road look alike. For your driver, they are not the same setup.
- How close traffic is. On two lanes each way, passing cars may have less room to move away from the truck. Your driver may need more time to set up before they can work.
- Which shoulder you are on. On a wide road, a car that drifts to the left shoulder sits beside the fast lane. Getting the truck to it, and back out, is harder than a stop on the right.
- The merge itself. Traffic from the 402 is still finding its lane as it joins the 401. A stall right in that zone means more cars changing lanes near your driver.
- Which way you were heading. A truck on the wrong side has to reach the next interchange and come back. On the 401, that loop adds road.
None of this makes a job bad. It just means the price matches the real job. That's why we ask you exact questions before we text a price.
What work is going on along the 401 through London?
Ontario's 2025 to 2028 highway program lists two big jobs on the 401 in or next to London. Both are marked as underway, with a target finish of 2027.
- Colonel Talbot Road. At Highway 4, which is Colonel Talbot Road, the province is replacing bridges and improving the interchange. That includes the Highway 4 underpass and the Glanworth Drive underpass.
- The Highbury Avenue area. The province is replacing bridges and improving the interchange at the CNR overhead, the Pond Mills overpass and the Highbury Avenue underpass.
Work zones can mean narrow shoulders, barriers and changed ramps. A stalled car boxed in by concrete takes more care to load. A closed ramp can send your driver the long way. Check Ontario 511 for closures before you drive, or dial 511 for the hands-free line.
What should I tell you if I stall near one of these?
Say the highway and your direction first: "401 westbound." Then name the last road you passed, like Colonel Talbot, Wonderland, Wellington or Highbury. Say if you are in a work zone or beside a barrier. If you came off the 402, say so. Those details tell your driver how to reach you.
Does Wellington Road construction change the job?
It can. Wellington Road links the 401 to downtown, past White Oaks Mall and Victoria Hospital. The City of London is widening about 6 km of it for rapid transit lanes. The project is called the Wellington Gateway.
Starting August 31, 2026, the City closed one lane each way between Frank Place and Wellington Court. Wellington Road stays open, but traffic shifts as the work moves. The City says access to Victoria Hospital and local businesses will stay open. It expects work north of Whetter Avenue through 2027, then south toward Base Line Road East. This phase runs through 2029.
A stall in a single lane with no shoulder blocks everyone behind you. If you can roll into a side street or a lot, do it. A car in a parking lot is an easier pickup than one stopped in a coned-off lane.
What else changes the price of a London tow?
The roads are the local part. These count everywhere:
- Where your car goes. A shop near Lambeth, a dealer by Masonville or your driveway in St. Thomas are different trips. Pick the spot before you call.
- What you drive. A small car is a quick hookup. An all-wheel-drive SUV or a light pickup may need a flatbed.
- What went wrong. If the car just won't start after a cold night, a jump start may get you going with no tow at all.
- Where it's stuck. A ditch off the 402, a parking garage near Western or a snowy side street each need a different setup.
One tip: if the car can't be fixed tonight, a shop on your side of the 401 may be the simpler trip. You can move it later.
What does Ontario say about tow rates?
Ontario has clear rules on what a tow operator can charge. The province's tow rights page lists them:
- Rates come first. Before your car moves, the operator must give you their maximum rate schedule and a list of your rights.
- Rates are posted. Operators must post their rates at their place of business, on their website if they have one, and at the lot where cars are stored.
- No charging above the maximum. They can't charge more than their maximum rate for a service. They also can't charge you for fuel surcharges.
- No changes after you agree. Once you give consent, they are not allowed to change the agreement.
- The direct route. Your driver must take the most direct route to the place you picked.
You can also look up an operator's maximum rates and certificate status in the province's published rates portal. The certificate number goes on every tow truck, so you can check it on the spot. Before you pay, you can ask to see an itemized invoice.
How does Sentinel set your price?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. You tell us where the car is, which way you were heading, what you drive and where it should go. We text your price before anyone is sent. That price is the most you pay for the job. If the job changes, we text a new price first, and you decide. Then we check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise, and you can track your truck on a map.
For the neighborhoods and towns around the city, see the London towing page. Need a car tow somewhere else in the province? Start at the Ontario page.
If anyone is hurt, or your car is stuck in a live lane, call 911 first. Sentinel is not an emergency service.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
London Tow Price Questions
Does it cost more to get towed on the 401 than in the city?
It can, because it's often a harder job. Fast traffic, a narrow shoulder or a work zone means more setup, and a wrong-way truck has to loop back. Your price is texted before dispatch, so you see it first.
Where does the 401 go from four lanes to six near London?
The 401 grows to six lanes where the 402 merges in on London's southwest side. West of Colonel Talbot Road, toward Windsor, it is still four lanes. Ontario plans to widen that stretch to six.
Can a tow company in Ontario charge me a fuel surcharge?
No. Ontario's tow rules say operators can't charge fuel surcharges. They also can't charge more than their published maximum rates. Ask for an itemized invoice before you pay.
Can my Sentinel price change after the truck shows up?
Not without your OK. Your price is locked by text before dispatch. If the job turns out different, we text a new price first, and you decide.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Ontario: your rights when getting a tow, Ontario Southern Highways Program 2025 to 2028, City of London: Wellington Gateway, Ontario 511, Ontario: winter driving.
