Flatbed vs. Wheel-Lift Towing: Which Does Your Car Need?
AWD, lowered, luxury, or a beater? Picking the wrong tow method can cause thousands in drivetrain damage. Here's the plain-English guide.
There are two ways almost every passenger vehicle gets towed: flatbed (the whole car rides on a flat platform) or wheel-lift (two wheels lifted, two wheels rolling on the ground).
Always flatbed: All-wheel-drive vehicles (Subaru, most crossovers), 4x4 trucks in 4WD, luxury cars, lowered/modified vehicles, EVs, exotics, and any vehicle with major front-end damage.
Wheel-lift is fine for: Standard front-wheel-drive sedans, most rear-wheel-drive vehicles being towed by the non-drive wheels, short-distance moves.
Why it matters: Rolling an AWD vehicle on two wheels can destroy the transfer case and viscous coupling — a $3,000+ repair. Wheel-lifting a lowered car often rips the bumper cover off.
If you're not sure, tell the dispatcher your year, make, model, and any modifications. A good tow company sends the right truck the first time.
Need a tow in Tucson right now?
Family-owned, 24/7 dispatch, honest quote before we roll a truck.