KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A low-profile truck and wheel dollies reach cars that tall trucks can't.
- Tell us the ceiling height and ramp shape if you know them.
- Check your strata's visitor and loading rules before the truck arrives.
- Have your fob or gate code ready so we can get in and out.
- Your car can go home, to your mechanic, or to a dealer.
What is underground towing and when do you need it?
Underground towing is any tow that starts below street level: a condo parkade, an office garage or a covered lot with a low roof. A standard tow truck with a raised boom often can't clear the entrance, and a full-size flatbed can't turn on a tight ramp.
You need it when your car won't start, has a flat you can't change in the space, or has a locked wheel or seized brake. It also helps when a car has been parked so long that the tires are soft and it won't roll easily.
Can a tow truck get into an underground parkade?
A regular light-duty truck usually can't, but a low-profile truck can. It sits lower and shorter, so it can drive under most parkade ceilings and work in the space between pillars. Where even that won't fit, we use wheel dollies: small wheeled frames that slide under your tires so the car can be rolled and steered by hand.
Once the car is up the ramp, we move it onto a flatbed at street level for the rest of the trip. That keeps the hardest part of the car towing job short and controlled.
Common parkade problems and how we handle them
Every building is laid out a little differently. This table covers the situations we see most often and the tool we usually reach for. When you call us, describe what you see and we'll plan around it.
| Situation | What we usually do |
|---|---|
| Low ceiling at the entrance | Send the low-profile truck instead of a tall unit |
| Car boxed in by pillars or other cars | Wheel dollies to roll it sideways into the drive aisle |
| Tight or spiral ramp | Low-profile truck up the ramp, flatbed waiting outside |
| Flat or locked wheel | Dolly under that wheel so it doesn't drag |
| Electric or all-wheel-drive car | Lift or dolly all four wheels, never drag drive wheels |
| Car on a lower level with no truck access | Dollies and a careful push to the nearest reachable point |
What should you sort out with your building before an underground tow?
Most underground towing delays come from access, not the car. Strata buildings often have rules about visitor parking, loading areas and who can be in the garage. In BC, strata bylaws and rules apply to owners, tenants and visitors alike. A quick check with your building manager or concierge saves time for everyone.
If your building has a gate, we need a fob, a code or someone to meet us. When you get in touch, tell us which level and stall the car is in, and whether the parkade is shared with other buildings.
- Fob, gate code or a person who can open the door
- Level and stall number
- Approximate ceiling height, if it is posted at the entrance
- Any strata rules about trucks or loading times
- Car keys, so we can put it in neutral and unlock the steering
How underground towing works in Bridgeport, Richmond
You call Zip Towing and tell us where the car is and what's wrong. We confirm the price before we hook up, then send the right truck. At the building we check the route from your stall to the exit, set the dollies if needed and bring the car up slowly, watching the roof and ramp walls the whole way.
At street level the car goes onto a flatbed and heads to wherever you choose in Richmond, BC or nearby. For trips farther out of town, ask when you call.
Underground towing at River Drive and across Bridgeport, Richmond, BC
Along River Drive, most residents of Parc Riviera, a riverfront community built on former industrial land, park underground. Those garages have the low ceilings, tight ramps and strata visitor-parking rules that make underground towing a job for the right equipment. If your car dies on a lower level there, we plan the route out before we touch it.
Coming out of River Drive, the car heads onto River Rd past warehouses and yards, where industrial traffic is common. From there it's a short run along Bridgeport Rd to a mechanic in Richmond, or across the Knight Street Bridge if your dealer is in Vancouver.
If you live near the dyke trail and Tait Waterfront Park and aren't sure whether your parkade will fit a truck, call and describe it. We'll tell you what we'd bring for towing in Bridgeport.
Questions drivers ask
How low can the ceiling be for underground towing?
It depends on the parkade, so tell us the posted height if there is one. Where the low-profile truck can't fit, we use wheel dollies to bring the car to a spot it can reach.
Will wheel dollies damage my car?
No, when they're set properly. They hold the tires off the ground so nothing drags, and we move the car slowly with someone watching each side.
Do I need to be there for an underground tow?
It helps. If you can't be there, arrange for someone to open the gate and hand over the keys, and let your building know a tow is coming.
Can you tow an EV out of an underground parkade?
Yes. As with all our EV and Tesla towing, we keep the drive wheels off the ground with dollies or a lift, and we can take it to an EV service centre in Richmond or Vancouver.
Is underground towing priced differently?
The price depends on the car, the parkade and where it's going. We confirm it before we hook up, so there are no surprises.