KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Light duty means passenger cars, small SUVs, minivans and small pickups.
- A guest's car in a River Drive visitor stall is towed when its owner or driver asks.
- A stranger's car in your stall is a strata matter, not a light duty call.
- Street pickups near the Tait waterfront parks need a safe spot for the truck.
- You hear the price on the phone before the wheel-lift or deck touches the car.
Light duty towing on River Drive: which vehicles it covers
Light duty towing is for everyday passenger vehicles, which is most of what River Drive residents and their visitors drive. Think of a two-door commuter car, a family minivan, a compact SUV or a small pickup without a heavy load. Our Bridgeport light duty page lists the full range, and anything larger is handled through our wider towing services in Bridgeport.
The truck we send depends on the drivetrain. A front-wheel-drive sedan can usually be lifted by the front wheels with a wheel-lift, which is quick in a tight visitor area. An AWD SUV or an electric car goes on a deck instead, so our River Drive flatbed service takes over. A Tesla parked on River Drive always rides on a flatbed.
- Sedans, coupes and hatchbacks
- Compact and mid-size SUVs and crossovers
- Minivans
- Small pickups without a trailer or heavy load
Light duty towing on River Drive from strata visitor stalls
A guest's car that dies in a River Drive visitor stall can be towed as soon as its owner or driver calls us. Visitor parking in a strata building is shared, so it helps to tell the building's caretaker or property manager that a tow is coming, and to have someone let the driver through any gate. For guests unfamiliar with the area, our car towing on River Drive page explains building numbers and access, and our guide to getting a towed car back helps if a car has already been moved by someone else.
If the problem is a stranger's car sitting in your assigned stall, that is not a light duty call from us. Zip Towing tows a vehicle when its owner or driver asks. Unauthorised parking in a strata building is handled by the strata council or property manager under the building's own bylaws. Take a photo, report it to them, and read our hidden towing fees guide if you later need to recover a car of your own.
| Situation | Who acts | What we need |
|---|---|---|
| Your guest's car won't start in a visitor stall | Owner or driver calls Zip Towing | Stall location, gate access, keys |
| Your own car broke down in your stall | You call Zip Towing | Level, stall number, how to open the gate |
| Unknown car in your assigned stall | Strata council or property manager | Not a call for us |
| Your car was moved without you | Call your building first | Then see our guide to getting it back |
Light duty towing on River Drive from the street
Street breakdowns on River Drive are usually simple tows, as long as the truck has room to stop safely. The east end of the street got busier in 2022, when the City opened Tait Riverfront Community Park at 10255 River Drive with a basketball court, playground and skateboard elements. Families now walk and park along that block. Our driver stops clear of crossings and lifts the car from the curb side, a habit shared with our light duty crews in Tait and across Bridgeport.
Tell us which way the car is facing and what it is parked near. A building number, the park entrance or the nearest cross street such as No. 4 Rd or McLennan Ave gets the truck lined up on the first pass. If you have already called and are waiting, our tow truck wait time notes cover what affects arrival, and you can reach us again if anything changes.
Getting the truck in for light duty towing on River Drive
Most light duty trucks reach River Drive from No. 4 Rd, which runs north to the river at Tait Waterfront Park. Richmond's Bridgeport area trail plan called for trail staging areas at the No. 4 Road and Shell Road ends of the dyke, and those road ends see people unloading bikes and walking dogs. Our driver slows right down there. For broader approach routes, see our Bridgeport Road breakdown guide and the Bridgeport towing hub.
Inside a complex, light duty trucks can sometimes enter a surface visitor lot that a flatbed could not. If your visitor parking is outdoors, say so, along with any height bar or gate at the entrance. Where the stalls are underground, the vehicle is brought up first by our River Drive underground towing team. Either way, about Zip Towing explains how our drivers handle shared spaces.
Light duty towing on River Drive, or a quick fix instead
Many light duty calls on River Drive end without a tow. A visitor who left the lights on may only need a boost, and a driver who ran the tank too low can get fuel delivered on River Drive. Keys locked inside a guest's car are handled by our River Drive lockout service, and a flat with a usable spare can be swapped through mobile tire change on River Drive. Describe the symptoms when you call, and we will suggest the smallest fix that gets the car moving before we send a truck.
If the car is headed somewhere far from Richmond, a light duty tow is not the right booking. Ask about long distance hauling from River Drive instead. For a car going to a local Richmond shop, a standard light duty tow does the job, and our Bridgeport tow cost guide explains what goes into the price.
Light Duty Towing on River Drive: questions drivers ask
Can you tow a car parked in someone else's stall at my building?
No. We tow vehicles at the request of their owner or driver. Unauthorised parking in a strata building is handled by the strata council or property manager.
Is a minivan a light duty tow?
Yes. Minivans, sedans, small SUVs and small pickups are all light duty. Tell us the model so the right truck comes.
My guest's car broke down in visitor parking. Who should call?
The car's owner or driver should call, since they will hand over the keys and choose the destination. You can help by letting the driver through the gate.
How is light duty towing on River Drive priced?
It depends on the vehicle, where it is parked and where it is going. The driver will not hook up until you have agreed the price on the phone.