Ask for a flatbed when an electric car needs a tow. Many EVs should not be pulled with two wheels on the ground, and the owner’s manual for your exact model is the authority on how the car may be loaded. Before the winch takes any weight, ask the operator whether the car’s tow or Transport Mode, or whatever your manual calls it, is available and who will switch it on.
I could not open Tesla’s online owner’s manual from here, so this post does not quote any manual step, dial or distance limit. Read yours in the car’s touchscreen or on the maker’s site, and tell dispatch what it says.
Why a flatbed is the usual request
A wheel-lift truck raises one axle and lets the other pair of wheels roll. On a gas car, that is routine for many models. On an electric car, wheels that turn can push the motors around, and your manual may forbid it for that reason. A flatbed carries the whole car on a deck, which sidesteps the question. Our page on Tesla and EV towing covers the equipment side, and wheel-lift towing explains what that truck does well.
The operator on scene makes the final call about equipment. Ask for the bed first, then ask whether they have loaded this model before. If they say a lift is the only way out of a tight spot, that should be spoken out loud before they pull, not found out later.
What Transport Mode is, and what to ask
Some manuals describe a setting that frees the wheels so the car can be rolled onto a deck without the brakes or motors fighting the load. Tesla’s version is called Transport Mode on some models. Other makers use different names, and some cars have no such mode at all. I am not going to give button steps, because I did not confirm them for any model.
Questions for the operator:
- Does your crew know the loading procedure for this model?
- Will you enable the mode before loading, or do I need to?
- If the car will not respond, will you stop and tell me rather than force it?
The 12-volt problem
An electric car can be stranded by its small 12-volt battery even when the large pack still has charge. If the doors will not open or the screen is dead, say so. That points to a different fix than a tow, and it may be worth a quick check before paying for a haul. Our jump-start page explains the basic service, and you should read your manual before anyone clips cables to an EV, since the connection points differ by model.
Where EV calls happen around Atlanta
Breakdowns cluster where the traffic does. GA-400 through North Fulton, the Downtown Connector, and I-285 all bring stranded cars to a shoulder. Parking decks in Midtown and Buckhead add low ceilings and tight ramps that can limit which trucks fit. Name the exact spot, level and nearest exit when you call.
If you are stopped in a live lane on a metro Atlanta highway, the state may be able to help clear it. Georgia DOT says its HERO program dispatches operators to traffic incidents in metro Atlanta with the main job of clearing roads, and that they also help stranded motorists with flat tires, dead batteries, and fuel or coolant. HERO is a lane-clearing service, not a ride to the service center.
If you are in a Peach Pass express lane, say that when you call, since it affects how a truck reaches you.
What to tell dispatch
- Year, make and model, and the exact message on the dash, if any.
- Whether the car rolls, steers and shifts into neutral.
- Where it is, with the level and space if in a deck.
- Where it should go, whether a service center, a home or a shop.
- Any aftermarket wheels, lowering, or damage.
- Whether a charge cable is still locked in the port.
Then ask for one total and what it includes. A tow you request has no statutory price cap that I could find, and our guide to how much a tow costs in Atlanta explains the difference between that and capped tows.
A different case is an EV towed from an apartment or retail lot. Georgia’s tariff for non-consensual tows applies to any passenger vehicle of 10,000 pounds or less, EV or not, with a $228 tow ceiling and $33 per day for storage after the first free 24 hours. You can see the tariff for details.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Tesla be towed on a wheel-lift?
Check the owner’s manual for your model. Many EVs should go on a flatbed, so ask for one first.
What is Transport Mode?
It is Tesla’s name for a setting on some models that helps the car be loaded. Confirm what your model’s manual says before anyone pulls it.
Why is the car dead if the big battery has range?
The small 12-volt battery can fail on its own and leave the car unresponsive. Describe the symptom to dispatch.
Does an EV tow cost more?
It can, if a special truck or extra time is needed. The operator quotes a total for your job.
For a tow or roadside call in metro Atlanta, the line is (858) 925-5546.