KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Teslas and most EVs ride on a flatbed with all wheels off the road.
- The car is put in tow mode before it is moved.
- A flat low-voltage battery may need power before tow mode works.
- We take EVs home or to an EV service centre in Richmond or Vancouver.
- Price is confirmed before your Tesla is loaded.
Why does a Tesla need a flatbed?
Tesla's own instructions for transporters say to move the car with all four tires off the ground. An electric motor is connected directly to the wheels, so if the wheels turn on the road during a tow, the motor turns too and can generate power and heat it isn't meant to. A flatbed avoids that completely.
Most other EVs follow the same rule. When you call us for Tesla towing or any EV tow, we send a flatbed by default.
What is tow mode, and how do you turn it on?
Tow mode releases the parking brake and lets the car roll freely so it can be winched slowly onto the deck. On current Tesla models it is in the touchscreen menu under Controls, then Service, then Towing, with the brake pedal held. If you can, have your phone key or key card with you so the car can be woken up and put in tow mode.
Check your owner's manual or the Tesla app for your model, as menus can change with software updates. The driver can walk you through it on site.
What if my Tesla is completely dead?
Even when the main battery is empty, the car uses a separate low-voltage battery to run the screen, door handles and tow mode. If that low-voltage battery is flat, the car may need a little external power before it will respond. Tesla's jump starting guidance for the Model 3, for example, shows where an external power supply connects.
If the car still can't be put in tow mode, the wheels may stay locked. In that case we use wheel skates or dollies to get it onto the flatbed without dragging the tires.
Tesla towing checklist: what to have ready
A few details help the tow go smoothly and protect the car. Run through these while you wait.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Phone key or key card | Needed to wake the car and enter tow mode |
| Model and year | Tow points and steps differ between models |
| Screen working or not | Tells us whether low-voltage power is needed |
| Destination | Home, a body shop, or an EV service centre |
| Any service appointment | Helps the shop expect the car |
| Damage near the wheels | Affects how the car is winched and secured |
Tesla towing to service and repair in Richmond, BC
Most Tesla towing trips go to one of three places: home, an EV service centre in Richmond or Vancouver, or a body shop after a collision. If you have booked service through the Tesla app, tell us where and when so we can plan the drop-off. After a crash, we take the car to the body shop you and ICBC agree on.
We also tow other EVs and plug-in hybrids the same way, alongside our other towing services. Tell us the make and model when you call.
Tesla towing around Bridgeport, Richmond: condos, driveways and busy roads
Along River Drive, most Parc Riviera residents park underground, where low ceilings and tight ramps can keep a full-size flatbed out. If your Tesla won't wake up below ground, tell us the parkade level and clearance. We may need to bring it up to the street with low-profile equipment and dollies first, then load it onto the flatbed outside. Check your strata's visitor-parking rules for where the truck can stop.
In Tait, part of Bridgeport, most EV owners charge in a garage or driveway. A Tesla that won't respond at home can usually be loaded right from the driveway, and we take care around Tait Elementary during school drop-off and pick-up.
On Bridgeport Rd, where we are based, and No. 4 Rd, a stopped EV in traffic is a hazard. Turn on your hazard lights, wait somewhere safe, and keep your phone key handy for the driver.
Questions drivers ask
Can a Tesla be towed with a wheel-lift?
Tesla recommends a flatbed with all four tires off the ground. We use a flatbed for Tesla towing.
Do I need to be there when my Tesla is towed?
It helps, because the car usually needs your phone key or key card to enter tow mode. If you can't be there, call us to talk through options.
Can you tow a Tesla with a dead battery?
Yes. The low-voltage battery may need power first, and if the car still won't enter tow mode, we use skates or dollies to load it.
Do you tow other electric vehicles?
Yes. Most EVs are towed the same way, on a flatbed with all wheels off the ground.
Can you take my Tesla to a service centre?
Yes. We take Teslas to EV service centres in Richmond or Vancouver, to your home, or to a body shop.