Yes, a car with no keys can be towed. A flatbed is the usual answer, because the car rides on the bed with its wheels off the ground and nobody has to steer or shift it. Problems show up with locked steering, parking brakes that will not release, and all-wheel-drive cars, and the operator will want to know about each before choosing a truck.
Tell the line what you have when you call. A quick answer on the keys saves a wrong truck and a second trip.
Why keys matter at all
Keys do three jobs on a tow. They unlock the doors so the operator can get in, they unlock the steering column so the front wheels can turn, and they let the transmission shift into neutral. If any of those is stuck, the way the car is lifted changes.
A key fob car adds one more wrinkle. Many modern cars need the fob nearby to release the electronic parking brake or to shift out of park. A dead fob battery can leave the car stuck in park even though the owner is standing right there.
Flatbed, dolly or wheel-lift
- Flatbed. The car is winched or driven onto a tilting bed. It works for a locked, dead or damaged car, and it is the safe choice for all-wheel-drive cars, low cars and most electric vehicles. See flatbed towing.
- Wheel-lift. The truck raises two wheels and rolls the others. It needs the rolling wheels to turn freely, so a locked steering wheel or stuck transmission can rule it out. See wheel-lift towing.
- Tow dolly. Small wheeled cradles are placed under the drive wheels. It only works when the cradled wheels and the steering behave.
The tradeoff between truck types comes down to whether the wheels and steering are free to move.
The locked steering wheel problem
When a key is missing, the steering column usually stays locked. If the truck pulls the car by its front wheels while the steering is locked, the wheels cannot turn and the tires drag. That can damage tires and the lift gear. A flatbed avoids it, because the wheels never touch the road.
All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive
Pulling an all-wheel-drive car with two wheels on the ground can harm the drivetrain, and many owner’s manuals say so. Check your manual or ask the operator. A flatbed is the safe default. Electric vehicles are similar, and our guide on Tesla and EV towing goes deeper.
What the operator needs from you
- Make, model and year.
- Whether it is front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive.
- Whether the car can shift into neutral or the parking brake releases.
- Where it is: a parking deck with low clearance, a tight apartment lot or a roadside shoulder.
- Proof you own it, since a driver is handing a car to a stranger.
Be ready with your ID and registration or insurance card, which usually can be photographed.
Private lots and impound situations
If your car was taken from private property, rules about price and signs apply (the state posts them on the DPS tariff page), and you may need to retrieve it from a yard. See what a Georgia tow-away sign has to say. If the car is at a county or city lot, you might still need to show ownership documents even without keys, which is a question for that lot. The DeKalb County lot at 2158 Tucker Industrial Rd lists (770) 493-9083 for questions.
If you lost the keys altogether
Towing the car to a dealer or locksmith is common. A dealer can cut a new key from the VIN with proof of ownership, in most cases. Our overview of car lockout help in Atlanta covers the case where the keys are inside the car.
Frequently asked questions
Can any tow truck move a car without keys?
Not every truck is right. A flatbed is the safest method because it does not rely on steering or gears.
Will the tow damage my locked car?
A flatbed lifts the car on a bed, so it is gentle on a locked drivetrain. Dragging a locked front end on a wheel-lift is what risks damage.
Do I need to be there?
Often yes, so you can show ID and unlock a gate or deck. Ask when you call.
What if the car is stuck in park?
Say so up front. Many cars have a manual release for park, and the operator can use a flatbed with a winch.
If you need a tow or roadside call in metro Atlanta, the line at (858) 925-5546 takes calls 24/7.