KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Every Tesla tow from Tait goes on a flatbed with all four tires off the road.
- Tow Mode is set from the touchscreen before the car is winched out of the garage.
- A dead low-voltage battery has to be powered up before Tow Mode can be turned on.
- Newer Tait garages often have a Level 2 outlet, so a Tesla can be towed home to charge.
- Have a phone key or key card ready, and unplug the charge cable first.
Tesla towing in Tait: why a Tesla in a home garage needs a plan
A Tesla parked in a Tait garage cannot simply be pushed out, because its parking brake holds until Tow Mode releases it. That is the main difference from towing a gas car out of the same garage on McKessock Avenue. The driver has to reach the touchscreen, meet the car's conditions for Tow Mode, and only then winch it toward the deck. If the car is on the charger, it must be unplugged first. Our page on flatbed towing in Tait covers the deck itself, and our Bridgeport Tesla towing page covers roadside calls.
Most Tesla calls from Tait homes come down to a few causes: a warning that the car is not safe to drive, a fault that stops it shifting out of Park, a low-voltage battery that has gone flat, or damage after a scrape. In each case the car stays put until it is on the truck. If you are not sure whether a tow is needed, 24 hour roadside assistance in Tait can look first, and our towing services in Bridgeport page lists the rest.
Setting Tow Mode before Tesla towing leaves a Tait driveway
Tow Mode is turned on from the touchscreen under Controls, then Service, then Towing. Tesla's instructions for transporters list the conditions: the car must be unplugged, a key must be detected, the parking brake must be engaged, low-voltage power must be available, and someone must hold the brake pedal. Once it is on, the parking brake releases and the car can be winched. In a Tait garage, you or our driver sits in the car while the other works the winch, which is why we ask you to be home. If the car is locked and the key is missing, book a lockout service in Tait first, and see about us for how our drivers work.
The same Tesla manual sets a limit while winching: the tires may only turn slowly, under 8 km/h, for less than 10 metres. A Tait driveway is usually well within that, but a long garage plus a long drive can add up. If the car sits far back, our driver may use wheel dollies for part of the move, as on underground towing in Tait jobs. Our article on flatbed versus wheel-lift towing explains why wheels must not turn on the road.
- Charge cable unplugged from the car
- Phone key or key card inside the car
- Parking brake engaged and brake pedal held
- Controls, then Service, then Towing, then Enter Tow Mode
Tesla towing in Tait when the low-voltage battery is dead
If the Tesla is completely dark, the low-voltage battery has to be powered before anything else can happen. Tesla's procedure is to open the front hood using the no-power method, then connect an external low-voltage supply or jump the battery. Only then do the screen, the doors and Tow Mode work. Our car battery boost in Tait crew can power it up, and sometimes the car then drives to the shop and no tow is needed. If the car still will not shift, the flatbed comes next, and roadside assistance covers other quick checks.
One detail matters in tight Tait garages: when power returns and a door opens, the frameless window drops slightly, and Tesla warns the glass can break if power is connected after the door is open. Our driver connects the supply first and only then opens the door. Keep the garage door up so there is space to reach the front of the car, as you would for any car towing in Tait, and move bikes or storage away from the hood. Our Tesla towing on River Drive page covers the same job in a condo parkade.
How Tesla towing in Tait is strapped and carried
A Tesla towed from Tait rides with all four tires on the deck and strapped so the wheels cannot turn. Tesla's transport guidance calls for an eight-point tie-down, with straps kept off painted panels and wheel faces, never passed through the wheels, and never hooked to the chassis or suspension. Spinning wheels can generate power and overheat parts, which is why a Tesla is never carried with two wheels down. The winch only attaches to the tow eye that screws into the front bumper. Read more about Tesla towing in Bridgeport and flatbed towing in Bridgeport.
The tow eye is kept in the front trunk, so tell us if the frunk is full or will not open. After a collision, Tesla advises treating high-voltage parts as live until responders confirm otherwise, so a crashed Tesla in Tait is handled with extra distance and care. For the crash side of things, see accident towing in Tait and our guide to ICBC and BCAA towing coverage.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Charge cable out | Tow Mode will not engage while plugged in |
| Low-voltage power | Needed for the screen, doors and Tow Mode |
| Tow eye in the frunk | The only approved winch point |
| Eight straps, none through wheels | Holds the car without marking it |
Where Tesla towing from Tait can take the car next
Most Tesla tows from Tait go to a Tesla service centre, a body shop that repairs Teslas, or back to a home charger. Since December 2017, Richmond's zoning has required new residential parking spaces to have an energized outlet able to run Level 2 charging, so many rebuilt Tait houses have one in the garage. The City's EV charging page has a map of public stations and notes that idle fees apply and unplugged cars can be towed from those stalls. If the car only ran low, charging at home may be the fix. Our Tesla towing on Mitchell Island page covers the industrial side of the area, and long distance hauling handles trips beyond Richmond.
Tell us the destination before the truck leaves, and check that the service centre or shop can accept the car at that hour. If it cannot, a tow home to Tait and a second trip later is often simpler. The price is confirmed on the phone before loading, and our late-night towing cost article explains what changes after hours. Use our contact page for questions before you book, or read about hidden towing fees first.
Tesla Towing in Tait: questions drivers ask
Can you tow a Tesla out of a Tait garage without Tow Mode?
Only with wheel dollies that lift all four tires, and only for short distances. Tow Mode is the normal method because it releases the parking brake.
Do I need to be home for Tesla towing in Tait?
Yes, in most cases. Tow Mode needs a key in the car and someone holding the brake pedal, and the charge cable must be unplugged.
Will you put my Tesla on a wheel-lift?
No. Every Tesla we tow goes on a flatbed with all four tires off the road, because turning wheels can generate power and damage the car.
How much is Tesla towing from Tait?
It depends on the destination and the time of day. We confirm the price on the phone before the car is loaded.