---
title: "Is it illegal to tow a car with another car — TowingDad"
canonical: https://towingdad.shop/questions/towing-laws-by-state/is-it-illegal-to-tow-a-car-with-another-car/
lang: en
---

# Is it illegal to tow a car with another car?
By [Nora Whitfield, J.D.](/authors/nora-whitfield/) — Consumer law attorney Last reviewed: 2026-08-17 R3

It depends on your state, and the honest answer is that it is usually restricted rather than flatly banned. Many states limit tow-rope or chain length, require a visible flag on the connection, and prohibit towing a vehicle with nobody steering it. Even where it is legal, it is the method most likely to damage both cars.

- State-setRope and chain length limits
- Usually requiredVisible flag on the line
- SteeredThe towed car normally must be

## Short version
- Most states restrict rope or chain length between the two vehicles.
- A visible flag on the connection is commonly required.
- The towed vehicle usually must have someone steering and braking it.
- Legal is not the same as safe — this method causes most amateur towing damage.

**Towing and impound rules are set by state and often by city.**Rules vary by state and often by city, and they change frequently. Verify with the agency named below before acting.

## 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 The exact figures differ by state, which is why we do not publish a table: the one you would find elsewhere is usually out of date.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.

General information, not legal advice. Towing and impound law varies by state and city and changes frequently. Consult the agency listed or a licensed attorney before acting.

Sources (2)- Cornell Legal Information Institute — [49 U.S.C. § 14501 — Federal authority over intrastate transportation](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/14501) (accessed 2026-08-17) T1
- Towing and Recovery Association of America — [Training and certification levels](https://www.traaonline.com/) (accessed 2026-08-17) T2

## Related questions
- [How much can a towing company legally charge in california?](/questions/towing-laws-by-state/how-much-can-a-towing-company-legally-charge-in-california/)
- [How much can a towing company legally charge in texas?](/questions/towing-laws-by-state/how-much-can-a-towing-company-legally-charge-in-texas/)
- [How much can a towing company legally charge in virginia?](/questions/towing-laws-by-state/how-much-can-a-towing-company-legally-charge-in-virginia/)
- [Can a towing company legally charge?](/questions/towing-laws-by-state/can-a-towing-company-legally-charge/)
- [Can i legally double tow in arizona?](/questions/towing-laws-by-state/can-i-legally-double-tow-in-arizona/)
- [Can i legally tow two trailers in tandem?](/questions/towing-laws-by-state/can-i-legally-tow-two-trailers-in-tandem/)
- [Impound](/impound/)
- [Calculators](/calculators/)
- [Glossary](/glossary/)
- [Your rights](/rights/)

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