Is it illegal to tow a car with another car?

What states actually regulate

The recurring rules are length, visibility and control. A maximum distance between the vehicles — commonly around 15 feet — keeps the towed car from swinging into another lane. A flag or cloth on the line makes an otherwise invisible connection visible to traffic. And the towed vehicle generally needs a licensed driver steering it, because an unsteered car on a rope is uncontrollable. The exact figures differ by state, which is why we do not publish a table: the one you would find elsewhere is usually out of date.

Why it damages cars even when lawful

With the engine off, power steering and power brakes stop assisting. The steering goes heavy and the brakes need far more pedal force than the driver expects. Meanwhile every stop puts the towed car's full weight into the rope, and the slack-then-snatch cycle shock-loads whatever it is tied to — which is why bumpers, tie-down loops and subframes tear. A rope is not a recovery strap and neither is designed for this.

What to do instead

A flatbed removes every one of these problems and is correct for any drivetrain. If the car must be moved a short distance on private property, a dolly under the drive wheels is the next best thing. If money is the constraint, ask about a short local tow rather than improvising: the cost of a bumper or a transmission exceeds any tow.

Common mistakes

• Towing with nobody in the towed car — unlawful in most states and physically uncontrollable.
• Using a recovery strap as a tow rope — its stretch is designed for a snatch, not a sustained pull.