Tilt tray only, wheels off the ground
Electric cars should not be towed with the drive wheels on the road. On most EVs, including Tesla, BYD, MG, Hyundai, Kia, Polestar and Volvo models, the motor is connected to the wheels through a fixed reduction gear. Spin the wheels and you spin the motor, which can damage it.
That’s why every EV we move goes on a tilt tray. The car rides fully on the tray with all wheels off the ground, so there’s no wear on the tyres or drive unit and no kilometres added. EVs are also heavy for their size because of the battery, so the driver checks the weight and winches slowly and evenly.
Getting the car into tow or transport mode
To roll an EV onto the tray, the park lock has to be released. Most brands have a tow, transport or neutral mode for this. If you know how to switch it on, have the car ready. If you don’t, the driver will work through it with you.
If the car won’t power up at all, the problem is often the 12V battery rather than the main battery. A flat 12V can stop the doors opening, the screen turning on and the park lock releasing. In some cases the car can be woken up with a jump to the 12V terminals. If it can’t, we use wheel dollies or skates to move it onto the tray safely.
Loading points and low clearance
The battery pack sits under the floor on most EVs, so we never lift or strap against the underbody. Straps go around the wheels or to the manufacturer’s tie down or tow eye points. Many EVs have a screw in tow eye stored with the tyre kit in the boot or frunk. Find it if you can and give it to the driver.
After an accident
A damaged EV battery may need extra caution. If you see smoke, smell burning, hear popping or hissing or see fluid leaking from under the car, move well away and call 000 first. Once the scene is safe we can tow the car to your repairer or the insurer’s approved repairer, and for covered claims we bill your insurer directly. See insurance towing for how that works.
What to tell us when you call
- Make, model and year
- Whether the screen turns on and whether the park lock will release
- Where the car is and how much room there is around it
- Any crash damage, especially underneath
- Where you’d like it taken
Pricing
The cost depends on the distance, the vehicle’s size and weight, whether it can be rolled onto the tray, access at both ends and the time of day or urgency. A car stuck in a basement car park in the CBD takes more work than one on a wide suburban street. Call or text 0419 857 070 for an upfront quote with no hidden fees.
Where we work
We never flat tow an electric car, and we carry them on a tray from any Perth suburb, out as far as Two Rocks, Secret Harbour, Cottesloe and Mundaring. EV owners call us from the northern suburbs, eastern suburbs, southern suburbs, western suburbs, south-eastern suburbs and the Perth CBD. See all areas we cover.
EV stuck? Call or text 0419 857 070, 24/7.