Teslas and other EVs should ride on a flatbed with Transport Mode engaged. Wheel lifts and dollies can damage the battery, the motor, and the underbody. The operator who takes the job sets the rate. Quick Tow Phoenix does not set EV tow prices.

Why flatbed only

  • Lifting an EV by the wheels with a wheel lift puts weight on the drive unit and the battery casing. Tesla does not recommend it.
  • A dolly keeps the drive wheels off the ground but leaves the non drive wheels on, which can mark the tires and stress the suspension.
  • A flatbed loads all four wheels off the road. That is the safest way for an EV in transport.

Tesla Transport Mode

  • Most Teslas have a Transport Mode that puts the car in Neutral without pressing the brake.
  • Engage Transport Mode before the operator hooks up. Confirm in your Tesla’s owner manual for the exact procedure for your model year.
  • If the 12V battery is dead, Transport Mode may not engage. The flatbed operator will load the car with the wheels off the road instead.

Other EVs

  • Rivian, Lucid, Ford Mustang Mach E, Chevy Bolt, and others all benefit from flatbed transport.
  • Some EVs have their own neutral or transport modes; check the manual.
  • Most EVs do not have a transmission “neutral” the way a gas car does.

Heat and the battery

  • Phoenix summer pavement temperatures run 150 to 170 F at midday. Battery cooling has to work in traffic.
  • A breakdown on I-10 or I-17 in 110 F heat is more urgent than the same breakdown in December.
  • Get the car off the road and to a charger or shaded spot as quickly as the operator can.

What to ask the operator

  • Confirm the truck is a flatbed (not a wheel lift).
  • Confirm the operator has tiedown points for an EV (rated straps, soft shackles, no metal on metal on the battery case).
  • Ask for a written quote before the truck rolls.
  • Confirm Transport Mode or the loading procedure before hookup.

For a quick estimate of the local fees, see our tow cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Tesla be towed with a wheel lift?

Tesla does not recommend wheel lifts for Model S, 3, X, or Y. Use a flatbed with Transport Mode engaged, or have the operator load the car fully on the flatbed.

What is Tesla Transport Mode?

Transport Mode is a setting in most Teslas that puts the car in Neutral without pressing the brake. It is in the Controls menu and requires the car to be awake.

How much does it cost to tow a Tesla in Phoenix?

The operator who takes the job sets the rate. Quick Tow Phoenix does not set EV tow prices. Confirm the quote in writing before the truck rolls.

Does AAA cover Tesla towing?

Some AAA plans cover flatbed tows up to a mileage limit. Confirm with AAA directly; the plan must allow a flatbed specifically.

What if my Tesla has a dead 12V battery and Transport Mode will not engage?

Have the operator load the car fully onto the flatbed with skates or a wheel cradle. The drive wheels stay off the road.