Narrow streets, garages and driveways
The village is residential, with narrow, tree-lined streets. That affects how a tow truck works. A flatbed needs room behind it to tilt the deck to the ground; a wheel-lift truck is shorter but isn’t right for every car. Before a truck is sent, tell the dispatcher:
- whether the car is on the street, in a driveway or inside a garage, and the door height if you know it
- whether the driveway is shared, gated or tight to turn into
- whether branches or wires hang low over the driveway
- whether the car is AWD, 4x4 or electric, which usually calls for a flatbed
- whether the car rolls and steers, or the wheels are locked
If the car can’t be reached from the street, the operator may pull it out with a winch or dollies first.
A Toledo address in a separate village
Ottawa Hills homes use Toledo 43606 mailing addresses (Ottawa Hills Police), the same ZIP code as the University of Toledo’s Main Campus at 2801 W. Bancroft St. Say “Ottawa Hills” along with the street address so the driver doesn’t look for it elsewhere in 43606.
The village also has its own police: the Ottawa Hills Police Department at 2125 Richards Rd, with 12 full-time officers. For a crash with injuries or a car blocking a street, call 911.
Arrowhead Point and other landmarks
- Arrowhead Point: the five-way junction of Bancroft St, Secor Rd and Indian Rd, with Sculpture in the Park.
- The Ottawa River: the village is built on both sides of it, so say which side of the river you are on.
- Central Ave (US-20): the original village tract ran from Bancroft St and Indian Rd along the river to Central Ave.
- University of Toledo: next to the village. If you are on campus, you are in Toledo, not Ottawa Hills.
Common calls at home
| Situation | What to ask for |
|---|---|
| Car won’t start on a cold morning | A jump start; the winter battery guide explains why it happens |
| Keys locked inside, car in the driveway | Lockout help |
| Flat tire on a village street | Flat tire help |
| Car won’t run and needs a shop | A tow; a flatbed for AWD or electric cars |
| Slid off an icy street onto a lawn | A winch-out |
| Crash with injuries or a blocked street | 911 first, then an emergency tow |
Everything in that table except the tows falls under roadside assistance. For a breakdown on I-475 near exits 13, 16 or 17, give the direction and the last exit you passed. Nearby Sylvania has its own page.
Edgevale Rd work
The village posted project information on an Edgevale Rd reconstruction on June 19, 2026 (Village of Ottawa Hills). Road work can block the approach a truck would normally use, so if your car is on or near Edgevale, mention it and check the village website for the schedule. For the I-475 exits, OHGO shows current closures.
What to have ready
- The street address, plus “Ottawa Hills”
- Where the car sits: street, driveway or garage, and any access limits
- Year, make and model, and whether it is AWD or electric
- Whether you have the keys and whether the car rolls
- Where it is going, with an address
Then call (419) 329-4502 or send a request, and it goes to an independent provider serving Ottawa Hills. If the car is in a garage, open the door before the truck arrives if you can, so the driver can see how it sits, and ask for the price before it is hooked up.