---
title: "How to tow an electric car"
canonical: https://towingdad.shop/vehicles/how-to-tow-an-electric-car/
lang: en
---

# How to tow an electric car
An electric vehicle goes on a flatbed. When its wheels are forced to turn, the drive motor acts as a generator and pushes uncontrolled current back into the battery pack and power electronics. Tesla and Rivian both state this in their own manuals, and Rivian names fire as a possible outcome.

## Why wheels-down towing damages it
An electric vehicle goes on a **flatbed**. When the wheels are forced to turn, the drive motor acts as a generator and pushes uncontrolled current back into the pack and power electronics.

## What Tesla's manual says
Tesla's Model 3 manual is explicit: **"NEVER TRANSPORT YOUR VEHICLE WITH THE TIRES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN SPIN."** Approved methods are a flatbed in either direction, or the front wheels lifted with the rear on a dolly for a maximum of 35 miles. Tow Mode releases the parking brake so the car can be winched.

## What Rivian's guidance says
Rivian is equally direct: **"Only transport the vehicle on a flatbed tow truck… towing with any wheels on the ground can lead to significant damage and overheating. Extreme overheating can cause a fire."** A rear-wheel lift is permitted only while loading. Transports over 50 miles use Shipping Mode.

## A damaged EV is handled differently
A damaged EV is handled differently again. Per UL's Fire Safety Research Institute, water from a standard handline is the primary tool, reignition risk persists until the pack is fully burned out, a minimum 5 m (16 ft) quarantine applies at the yard, and a severely damaged EV is stored at least 50 ft from structures or other vehicles, ventilated and monitored.

## Which tow method is safe
Which tow method is safe| Drivetrain | Flatbed | Wheel-lift (drive wheels up) | Tow dolly | Flat tow (4 down) 

| Front-wheel drive | ✓Safe | ✓Safe, front up | ✓Safe, front on dolly | ✕No 

| Rear-wheel drive | ✓Safe | ✓Safe, rear up | !Rear on dolly only | !Manual only 

| All-wheel drive | ✓Safe | ✕Drivetrain damage | ✕Drivetrain damage | ✕No 

| Four-wheel drive | ✓Safe | !Manual only | !Manual only | !Transfer case in N 

| Electric vehicle | ✓Required | ✕Pack damage / fire | ✕Pack damage / fire | ✕Never 

| Motorcycle | ✓Required, strapped | ✕No | ✕No | ✕No 

## Related questions
- [How your vehicle should be towed](/vehicles/)
- [Services](/services/)

Always follow your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Improper towing can cause severe drivetrain damage that is not covered by warranty.

Sources (3)- Tesla — [Model 3 Owner's Manual — Towing and Transporting](https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-C31D0C6E-C0F1-4C0B-9A1B-9C4C1E2B4E7A.html) (accessed 2026-08-17) T1
- Rivian — [Towing and Transporting Your Vehicle](https://rivian.com/support/article/how-do-i-tow-my-vehicle) (accessed 2026-08-17) T1
- UL Fire Safety Research Institute — [Electric Vehicle Fire Safety — response and post-incident handling](https://fsri.org/research-update/electric-vehicle-fires) (accessed 2026-08-17) T2