Quick Answer: Your car needs a flatbed if it’s all-wheel drive, a low-clearance or sports car, has a seized or damaged drivetrain, has flat tires or damaged wheels, or was in a wreck. Front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars that roll freely can often use a wheel-lift tow, but a flatbed is always the safest choice. When in doubt, tell dispatch to send one.
Which Cars Always Need a Flatbed Tow?
AWD and 4WD vehicles always need a flatbed, and so do any cars that sit low or can’t roll freely. Dragging an AWD car on two wheels can wreck the center differential or transfer case, because the wheels still on the ground turn the drivetrain while the others are lifted.
Flatbed only:
- AWD and full-time 4WD vehicles. Subaru, Audi Quattro, most crossovers, and many trucks and SUVs.
- Low-clearance cars. Sports cars, lowered cars, and anything with a front lip or air dam a wheel-lift hook could crack.
- Electric vehicles. Tesla and most other EVs shouldn’t be dragged because the motors can generate current while spinning. Check the owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s tow instructions.
- Cars with a seized engine or transmission. If the wheels won’t turn, they can’t be dragged. See can a seized engine be towed safely.
- Cars with flat tires, broken axles, or bent wheels.
- Accident-damaged cars with frame, suspension, or steering damage.
How Do I Check Whether My Car Can Be Towed on Two Wheels?
Your owner’s manual settles this in under a minute, so look for the section called “Towing” or “Emergency Towing.” It states whether the car can be towed with two wheels down, and which wheels. A front-wheel-drive car is usually towed with the front wheels lifted. Rear-wheel-drive cars usually go rear wheels up.
If you don’t have the manual, check these:
- Drive type. Look for “AWD,” “4WD,” “Quattro,” “xDrive,” or “4MATIC” on the trunk or tailgate.
- Transmission. Many automatics have limits on towing with drive wheels on the ground. Some manual transmissions are more forgiving.
- Parking brake and steering lock. If the steering wheel is locked or the electronic parking brake is stuck on, a wheel-lift tow gets complicated.
- Ground clearance. Crouch and look at the front bumper. If a hook or sling would sit under plastic you can see cracking, ask for a flatbed.
Can I Just Ask for a Flatbed Every Time?
Yes, and for most breakdowns that’s the right call. A flatbed puts the whole car on the bed so nothing rolls, nothing drags, and nothing stresses the drivetrain. The tradeoff is price and availability: flatbeds can cost a bit more per mile and sometimes take longer to dispatch. For the real price gap in one market, see flatbed vs wheel lift in Phoenix.
If you’re paying out of pocket, wheel-lift can be fine for a short tow
Photo: Pexels
of a front-wheel-drive car that rolls freely. If you’re covered by a plan, check your limits first. Some plans cap towing distance but don’t care which truck shows up.
What Should I Tell the Tow Dispatcher?
Give dispatch the facts that decide the truck type so the right one arrives the first time. Sending the wrong truck means a second dispatch and a longer wait on the shoulder.
Tell them:
- Year, make, model. They’ll often know from this alone whether it’s AWD.
- Drive type. Say “AWD” or “all-wheel drive” outright.
- Whether it rolls. Say if the wheels won’t turn, the transmission won’t go into neutral, or tires are flat.
- Where it is. Name the highway and nearest exit or mile marker. If you’re stuck on a median or tight spot, say so. See broke down on an interstate median.
- Ground clearance. Mention if the car is lowered or a low-slung model.
What If the Tow Driver Shows Up With the Wrong Truck?
Don’t let them hook it. You’re allowed to refuse. A driver arriving with a wheel-lift for your AWD car should call for a flatbed, even if that means more waiting.
Take photos of the car and the hookup before it moves, and note any pre-existing damage. If it gets damaged anyway, here’s what happens if a tow truck damages your car. Staying visible and safe while you wait matters too: how long you can wait for a tow on the highway.
Photo: Pexels
Common Questions
Q: Can I tow an AWD car with just two wheels on the ground? A: Not safely. The drive system links all four wheels, so spinning the wheels left on the ground can damage the center differential or transfer case. Use a flatbed, or a dolly under all wheels that would turn.
Q: Do all-wheel-drive cars always need a flatbed? A: Almost always. A few have a manual-specified method, but flatbed is the safe default. Check your owner’s manual, and when in doubt, ask for the flatbed.
Q: Can you tow a front-wheel-drive car with a wheel-lift truck? A: Usually yes, if it rolls freely, sits high enough, and isn’t badly damaged. The tow truck lifts the front wheels, so the drive wheels stay off the ground.
Q: Does my car’s transmission type affect what kind of tow I need? A: Yes. Automatics with the drive wheels on the pavement can be damaged by long towing, because the transmission isn’t lubricated while the engine is off. Flatbed avoids the issue.
Q: Is a flatbed tow more expensive than a regular tow? A: Often a little, yes, because of the equipment and sometimes longer dispatch. For most drivers the cost is worth avoiding drivetrain damage that can run into thousands to repair.
Need roadside help? Visit Tow With The Flow for real answers when your car breaks down.