Frequently Asked Questions

We provide 24/7 tow truck service across the entire Inland Empire from our base in Ontario, CA. That includes Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Upland, Chino, Chino Hills, Pomona, Montclair, Claremont, San Bernardino, Riverside, Corona, Diamond Bar, La Verne, San Dimas, Glendora, Covina, West Covina, Loma Linda, Redlands, Highland, Colton, Rialto, Bloomington, Grand Terrace, Norco, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and surrounding areas within roughly 30 miles.

Yes. P&L Towing & Transport operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Day, night, weekends, holidays — we answer the phone. Emergencies don't follow business hours, so neither do we.

Typical response time across the Inland Empire is 20–45 minutes depending on your exact location and current traffic. When you call, we'll give you a realistic estimate based on where you are.

Yes. P&L Towing & Transport is locally owned and operated, based in Ontario, CA. When you call, you reach us directly — not a national dispatch service or a lead-aggregator.

Yes. We are properly licensed and insured for tow truck operations in California. DOT 2713751 · CA 441876.

For tow service, calling is always fastest — we'll dispatch a truck immediately. We don't use online forms; everything goes through the phone so we can give you a real ETA and quote right away. Call (909) 991-3694.

Local light duty tows are priced based on distance, vehicle type, and any special equipment needed. We always provide an up-front quote before starting work — no hidden fees, no surprises at the yard.

A few factors affect price: distance traveled, type of vehicle (luxury and exotic cars need specialty equipment), whether a winch-out is needed, and how accessible the vehicle is. We explain pricing clearly when you call.

Yes. We accept major credit cards, debit cards, and cash. Payment is generally collected at the end of service.

Always. We provide up-front pricing before we start any work. You'll know exactly what to expect — no calling and asking for a price after the fact.

Our pricing is consistent around the clock. We don't slap a midnight or holiday markup on you just because you needed help at an inconvenient time.

Junk car removal pricing depends on the vehicle's condition, age, and metal content. In many cases we can pick up junk cars for free, and sometimes we'll pay you for the car. We quote it before we show up — call us with the year, make, model, and condition.

Three services: light duty towing (cars, SUVs, vans, light trucks), winch-out service (recovering stuck vehicles), and junk car removal (hauling away old or unwanted vehicles).

Our light duty service covers cars, SUVs, minivans, and light pickup trucks up to about 10,000 lbs gross weight. For larger commercial vehicles or heavy equipment, give us a call to discuss your specific needs.

Yes — we tow luxury vehicles and most low-clearance cars regularly. Our wheel-lift trucks are designed to handle a wide range of vehicles damage-free.

That's a winch-out. We use a powered cable from the tow truck to pull your vehicle out. We do winch-outs across the IE — from urban curbs to the river bottoms and off-road trails. Call us with your location and we'll let you know what's involved.

California requires the title or, in some cases, a release of liability form for vehicle removal. If you don't have the title, there are usually legal paths for older vehicles — we can walk you through it on the call.

Yes. We have the equipment to load and transport vehicles that don't roll, including those with flat tires, missing wheels, or seized brakes.

If you can, ease onto the shoulder and turn on your hazards immediately. Stay buckled inside the car if traffic is heavy — the shoulder of a busy freeway is dangerous. Then call us with your location (cross street, mile marker, or address) and we'll dispatch a truck.

On a busy freeway like the 10, 15, or 60, usually not. It's safer to stay inside with your seatbelt on and hazards flashing. If you do need to exit, use the side away from traffic.

Your exact location, the make/model/color of the car, whether it's drivable or needs a winch, and where you want it towed (home, repair shop, etc). Knowing these speeds up dispatch.

Politely decline and call a company of your choice. "Bandit" tows — operators who chase calls hoping to charge inflated rates — are unfortunately common in Southern California. You have the right to refuse and call who you want.

Yes — we can pick up vehicles from accident scenes and tow them to the repair shop, yard, or your home. If police are on-scene, they may have specific procedures; we can coordinate with them.

Our trucks are marked with P&L Towing & Transport, our DOT and CA license numbers, and our Ontario address. The driver will identify themselves when they arrive.

No. We use modern wheel-lift equipment with proper tie-downs to keep your vehicle damage-free. Our drivers are trained on damage-free towing techniques.

Generally yes, though laws and insurance vary — let us know when you call and we'll confirm. For longer tows or in some situations we may recommend a separate ride.

Anywhere within reasonable distance: your home, a repair shop, a body shop, a friend's place, our yard. Just let us know where you want it dropped off.

We can sometimes complete a tow without you on-scene if you've authorized it on the phone, but for most cases we'll wait for you or coordinate a meeting time. Junk car pick-ups are usually fine without you there if paperwork is sorted in advance.

Three big ones: check your battery before the summer (heat kills batteries fast), watch your tires (hot asphalt + underinflation = blowouts), and don't ignore your temperature gauge on long climbs like the 15 up to the Cajon Pass.

Yes — please do. Add a contact called "Tow Truck" with the number (909) 991-3694. It takes 15 seconds and means you won't be Googling for a tow on the side of the road someday. Tell your family to save it too.

Accepting help from the first tow truck that shows up, especially without confirming who they are and what they're going to charge. If you didn't call them, you don't have to use them.

Yes, especially in summer. A few bottles of water, a phone charger, and basic first aid take up almost no space in the trunk and can matter a lot if you're stuck for an hour on a 105°F afternoon.

Pull off as soon as it's safe. Don't keep driving — that's how engines get killed. Turn the heat on full blast (yes, in summer) to pull heat off the engine, get to the shoulder, shut it off, and wait. Then call us.