TL;DR
- Every electric vehicle (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, VW) must be towed on a flatbed with all four wheels off the ground. No exceptions.
- Towing an EV with wheels on the ground damages the drive motor and inverter, costing $8,000 to $18,000 to repair, and it’s not covered under warranty.
- Always engage transport mode before loading; if the 12V battery is dead, a portable jump pack can wake the electronics.
- EV flatbed tows in San Diego typically run $115 to $175 local, only $20 to $80 more than a standard wheel-lift tow.
The towing industry changed the day EVs became mainstream. Every electric vehicle - Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, BMW i-series, VW ID-series, every one - needs flatbed towing, always. Here’s what you need to know before your EV gets a tow.
Why can’t you wheel-lift an EV?
In a gas car with automatic transmission, the driveshaft and transmission let the wheels spin freely when you shift to neutral. A wheel-lift raises two wheels; the other two roll on the road with no internal drivetrain drag.
An EV doesn’t work that way.
The drive motors in every EV are permanently connected to the wheels through a single-speed reduction gearbox. When the wheels roll, the motor spins. There is no clutch, no neutral, nothing to disconnect the motor from the wheels.
When a motor spins without the car’s computer managing it, two bad things happen:
- The motor generates electricity. That regenerated voltage has nowhere to go - the inverter isn’t awake to manage it. The voltage can damage the motor windings, the inverter, and the battery management system.
- The gearbox dry-runs without proper cooling. The drive motor has no standalone oil pump; cooling depends on the main traction loop being active. Dry-running at freeway speed for miles damages the gearbox internals.
Cost to fix either one: $8,000-$18,000. Not covered under any warranty because the damage came from an improper tow, not a defect.
Don’t do it. Always flatbed.
Do tow dollies or tow bars work on EVs?
Some towing companies try to work around it with a wheel dolly (puts both drive wheels on a small rolling platform). That “works” only as long as the dolly stays in perfect alignment and moves at low speed. Any significant mileage still damages the drivetrain. A wheel-lift truck is designed for conventional drivetrains - not EVs.
Tow bars (where the EV’s front or rear hitch is attached to the back of a motorhome, for example) never work on EVs. The wheels are all on the ground; the motors still spin; the damage happens.
The only safe method: flatbed with all four wheels off the ground.
What is transport mode and why does every EV tow need it?
Most EVs have a parking pawl built into the drive unit. When the car is in Park, a small steel pin locks a gear inside the drivetrain, preventing the car from rolling. Great for parking on hills; a problem for loading onto a flatbed.
Before the car can roll onto the flatbed deck, the parking pawl must disengage.
Tesla transport mode (current steps):
- Press the brake pedal.
- Put the vehicle in Neutral.
- Hold the brake for at least 5 seconds until the “Transport Mode” notification appears.
- The car will roll freely for up to 15 minutes of transport at under 30 mph.
(Instructions may vary slightly by software version - check your in-car manual or owner’s manual.)
Rivian, Lucid, Mustang Mach-E, and most modern EVs have similar procedures but with model-specific menu paths. Your tow driver should know how to do this on common models; for new or unusual EVs, your owner’s manual is the authority.
If the 12V battery is dead, transport mode may not engage. Procedures exist for this: most EVs have an external 12V jump terminal behind a cover in the frunk or engine bay. A portable jump pack can wake the electronics long enough to set transport mode, then the car loads normally.
What does a proper EV flatbed load look like?
A proper EV flatbed load follows these steps:
- Driver confirms the vehicle is EV and asks about battery state (dead, low, normal).
- If needed, 12V jump to wake the electronics.
- Owner or driver engages transport mode per the specific procedure for that vehicle.
- Flatbed deck tilted to ground level, approach ramp deployed.
- Winch cable attaches to the vehicle’s tow point (every EV has one - usually a threaded hook that screws into the front or rear bumper).
- Vehicle is winched onto the flatbed deck at slow speed.
- All four wheels secured with soft-strap wheel nets - never chains, never frame hooks.
- Driver takes photos of the load point, strap positions, and vehicle condition.
- Transport mode can be exited once the car is fully loaded and secured.
Loading time: 10-15 minutes for a straightforward EV load; 20-30 for a complicated scenario (dead 12V, tight location, damaged car).
What can go wrong during an EV tow?
Scenario 1: Dead 12V battery, vehicle won’t shift to neutral. Fix: portable jump pack on the 12V terminals. Every reputable EV tow driver carries one.
Scenario 2: Car is locked, no key fob available. Fix: most EVs have manual key access (hidden slot for a physical key). For Teslas specifically, the phone key can unlock; failing that, the front door handle has a manual release. Tell dispatch the scenario - they can often unlock remotely through the owner’s app.
Scenario 3: Damaged wheel or suspension prevents normal rolling. Fix: wheel-net tow dolly under the damaged wheel; winch onto flatbed at very low speed; careful rigging. Takes longer but safely possible.
Scenario 4: Vehicle partially submerged (flooded). Fix: do not start transport mode or any electrical wakeup. Water in battery compartments is a fire risk for days. Move the vehicle by dead-lift winch only; keep it outdoors away from structures; notify the owner about deferred electrical inspection before any shop work.
How much more does a flatbed EV tow cost?
EV flatbed tows typically run $115-$175 local in San Diego, vs. $95 for a wheel-lift tow of a standard sedan. The $20-$80 premium reflects specialty equipment and slower, more careful loading.
Some companies try to charge “EV surcharges” of $100+ on top of normal flatbed rates. That’s gouging. An EV flatbed is just a standard flatbed load - slightly slower procedure but same equipment. If you need a long-distance tow for your EV, the same flatbed-only rule applies for the full trip.
Worth noting: not every stranded EV actually needs a tow. If you’re simply out of charge and the vehicle is otherwise fine, Charge Pro SD handles mobile EV charging across San Diego County - they bring the charge to you so you can drive away without a flatbed.
What should you tell the dispatcher when your EV needs a tow?
When you call for a tow on an EV:
- “It’s an EV” - first sentence. Nothing else matters until they know.
- Year, make, model (Tesla Model 3, Rivian R1S, etc.)
- Battery state (dead, low, normal - if you can tell)
- Location and destination
- Any damage (wheel, suspension, body)
A good dispatcher routes the right low-clearance flatbed, assigns a driver who knows EV procedures, and confirms the equipment on the phone.
Bottom line
No EV should ever be towed with wheels on the ground. Flatbed, soft straps, transport mode engaged. Any other method damages the vehicle in ways the warranty doesn’t cover.
EV towing across San Diego County: We handle Tesla, Rivian, and EV flatbed tows in La Jolla, Encinitas, Del Mar, Carlsbad, and throughout the San Diego metro.
Related reading: Want to understand the difference between the two main truck types? Flatbed vs. wheel-lift breaks down when each is appropriate — and why EVs are always flatbed-only. For a full pricing breakdown including EV tows, check our San Diego tow cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you tow a Tesla with a wheel-lift truck?
No. Tesla explicitly states that no Tesla should ever be towed with any wheels on the ground. The drive motors are permanently connected to the wheels, and rolling them without the car’s electronics managing the system can damage the motor and inverter - an $8,000-$18,000 repair not covered by warranty.
How much does it cost to flatbed tow an EV in San Diego?
EV flatbed tows in San Diego typically run $115-$175 for a local tow. That’s only $20-$80 more than a standard wheel-lift tow. Companies charging a separate “EV surcharge” on top of normal flatbed rates are padding the bill.
What is transport mode on an electric vehicle?
Transport mode disengages the parking pawl so the car can roll freely onto a flatbed. On a Tesla, you hold the brake, shift to neutral, and wait for the transport mode notification. Most EVs have a similar procedure through the touchscreen or settings menu.
What do I do if my EV’s 12V battery is dead and it won’t shift to transport mode?
Most EVs have an external 12V jump terminal behind a cover in the frunk or under the hood. A portable jump pack can wake the electronics long enough to engage transport mode. Every reputable EV tow driver carries one.
Our drivers are trained on every major EV - Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, VW. Call (858) 923-5787 and tell us what you’re driving.