Costs
How a Tow Price Gets Set Near Moncton, New Brunswick
Near Moncton, a tow price mostly comes down to the route. Where is your car, and where should it go? The Petitcodiac River splits Moncton and Dieppe from Riverview, and two bridges join Moncton and Riverview. Wheeler Boulevard loops around the city with a traffic circle at each end. So a car that looks close on a map can still mean a longer drive for your driver.
Why does the river matter for a Moncton tow?
Look at a map and Riverview seems right next door. It is. But a tow truck can't cross the water anywhere it likes. It has to use a bridge.
These are the two bridges:
- The Gunningsville Bridge. It links Vaughan Harvey Boulevard in Moncton with Gunningsville Boulevard in Riverview. The Town of Riverview says five bridges by that name have joined the two since 1867. Today's opened in 2005.
- The Hon. Brenda Robertson Bridge. It also links Moncton and Riverview.
Here's how that plays out. Your car dies in a parking lot in Riverview. Your garage is in the north end of Moncton. The truck crosses the river to reach you, then crosses back with your car. Pick a garage on the Riverview side instead, and the trip gets a lot shorter.
Which bridge should I name when I call?
If you're stuck on or near a bridge, say which one. Then say which way you were crossing: into Moncton or into Riverview. Your driver has to come at you from the right side. Getting that wrong means a loop around and a longer job.
What makes Wheeler Boulevard a different job?
Wheeler Boulevard is Route 15. It starts at the north end of the Petitcodiac crossing and loops around Moncton toward Dieppe. Past Dieppe, Route 15 heads northeast to Shediac. Inside the city, Wheeler runs as an expressway, with a traffic circle at each end.
An expressway changes the job in three ways:
- Direction counts. A truck heading the wrong way can't just turn around. It has to go to the next exit or circle and come back.
- Traffic is fast. Your driver works next to moving cars. Setup takes more care than on a side street.
- Room is tight. On a narrow shoulder or a ramp, the truck needs space to park and load safely.
A car that quits on a side street off Mountain Road is a simpler pickup. A car on the Wheeler shoulder near a circle takes more planning. Same car, same garage, different job.
Who looks after Wheeler in winter?
Not the city. The City of Moncton says the province clears Wheeler Boulevard and the Trans-Canada. If you see a snow problem there, you can call New Brunswick's Department of Transportation and Infrastructure at 1-833-384-4111.
Does it cost more if I break down out on Route 2 or Route 15?
It's a longer trip, and the price follows the trip. Moncton sits on Route 2, the Trans-Canada. About 15 km west of town, Route 1 splits off toward Saint John. Route 15 runs out to Shediac.
Say you stall on Route 15 on the way home from the shore. Your garage is in Dieppe. That's one run. Now say your garage is in west Moncton, across town. The truck still drives out to you. Then it brings your car through Dieppe and around Wheeler to the far side. More road means a bigger job.
So ask one thing before you call. Does the car really need to go to your usual garage tonight? A shop closer to where you stopped may make more sense. You can always move it later.
What does New Brunswick law say about leaving a car on the road?
This ties right back to price. A car that sits too long can turn into a police matter, and that costs you more than a tow.
- Get off the lanes if you can. Section 192 of the Motor Vehicle Act covers roads outside a town or city. You can't leave a car on the main part of the road when you could move it off. The road must stay 5 meters clear beside it. Drivers need to see it from 60 meters each way. If the car broke down and you truly can't move it, the rule makes room for that.
- Bridges are special. If you leave a car alone on a bridge or causeway and it blocks traffic, police can take it. They can move it to the nearest garage or other safe place.
- The 24-hour limit. Section 196 says you can't leave a car within the limits of a highway for more than 24 hours. Police can take an abandoned car, or one that blocks traffic, into custody.
The simple fix: call for a tow while you're still with the car. If police have already taken it, Sentinel can't help with that part. We don't do impounds or police tows. Once you get it back, a car tow to a garage is something we can arrange.
What else changes the price of a Moncton tow?
The route is the local piece. These count everywhere, Moncton included:
- Where it goes. A garage, a dealer in Dieppe or your driveway in Riverview. Pick it before you call.
- What you drive. A small car loads quickly. An all-wheel-drive SUV or a light pickup may need a flatbed.
- What broke. If the car just won't start, a jump start might get you going with no tow.
- Where it's stuck. Slid into a snowbank on a side street? A winch-out may be needed before the car can roll or load.
Does Moncton snow make a tow harder?
It can. Environment Canada normals for the Moncton airport show about 19 days a year with 5 cm or more of new snow. On about 54 days, the snow on the ground is 20 cm deep or more. Deep snow can hide a ditch and bury a car's wheels. Tell us if your car is in snow, so the price covers the real job. For more on storms, read our nor'easter breakdown plan. Check New Brunswick 511 before a winter drive.
How do I stay safe while I wait?
If anyone is hurt, or your car is stuck in a live lane, call 911 first. Sentinel is not an emergency service.
Otherwise, hazards on. Stay buckled in the car if it's safe. On Wheeler or the Trans-Canada, cars pass close and fast. When your driver arrives, New Brunswick law helps. Section 168.1 treats a tow truck as a service vehicle. Passing drivers must slow to half the posted limit. On roads with two or more lanes their way, they must also move over when it's safe.
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 stay with you by text until help arrives. That's the Stay-With-You Promise.
For more on Moncton roads, nearby towns and winter, see the Moncton towing page.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Moncton Tow Price Questions
Is a tow from Riverview to Moncton a bigger job than one inside Riverview?
Usually, yes. The truck has to cross the Petitcodiac on a bridge, sometimes twice. A garage on the same side of the river as your car often means a shorter trip. You choose where it goes.
My car died near a Wheeler Boulevard traffic circle. What should I say when I call?
Say which circle you're near and which way you were going. Say if you're on the shoulder, a ramp or in the circle itself. That tells your driver how to reach you, and it keeps your price matched to the real job.
How long can I leave my car on the side of a New Brunswick highway?
No more than 24 hours, under section 196 of the Motor Vehicle Act. On a bridge or causeway, police can move an unattended car that blocks traffic. Call for a tow before you leave the car.
Can my 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: NB Motor Vehicle Act, City of Moncton: snow clearing, Town of Riverview: history, RCMP New Brunswick, New Brunswick 511, Environment Canada climate normals.
