Electric cars now account for roughly one in five new car sales in Europe. More EVs on the road means more EVs breaking down, running out of charge, or needing transport after an accident. And here's the problem: most of the towing knowledge that's been standard for decades doesn't apply to electric cars.

If the wrong type of tow truck turns up for your Tesla, your ID.4, or your e-208, you could end up with a repair bill that makes the towing fee look like pocket change.

Why you can't just tow an EV with the wheels down

In a petrol or diesel car, you put the gearbox in neutral and the wheels spin freely. In an electric car, the wheels are directly connected to the electric motor. There is no neutral in the traditional sense.

Drag an EV with its drive wheels on the ground and the motor acts as a generator. It produces electricity with nowhere safe to go, the motor and power electronics overheat, and you're looking at damage to components that cost thousands to replace.

We're talking 3,000 € to 8,000 € in motor or inverter damage. For a towing mistake.

The rule is simple: always use a flatbed

An electric car must always be transported on a flatbed — all four wheels off the ground. No exceptions.

This applies to:

Battery electric vehicles (Tesla, VW ID series, BMW i series, Hyundai Ioniq, etc.)
Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) — they have electric motors connected to the wheels
Most conventional hybrids — check your manual, but when in doubt, flatbed

The only hybrids you can safely tow on wheels are mild hybrids (MHEV) where the electric motor doesn't drive the wheels directly.

The battery factor

EV batteries weigh between 300 and 700 kg and sit underneath the car. This creates specific challenges for towing:

Ground clearance: Many EVs sit low because the battery pack takes up the entire floor. Some flatbed ramps are too steep and can scrape the battery casing. A damaged battery casing is a serious safety issue.

Weight: A Tesla Model 3 weighs 1,760 kg. A BMW iX exceeds 2,500 kg. Make sure the flatbed can handle your car's weight.

Damaged battery: If the car has been in a collision and the battery may be compromised, the recovery driver needs to know. Damaged lithium batteries can catch fire. This requires specialist handling.

Dead battery: If your EV's battery is completely flat (0%), you might not be able to activate transport mode, which makes loading it onto the flatbed more difficult. If you're running very low, try to keep at least 1-2% to activate transport mode before the truck arrives.

What to ask before booking

When you call for a tow truck for your EV:

"Are you sending a flatbed?" — If they say hook or dolly, find someone else.
"Have you recovered electric cars before?" — Not all operators have experience with EVs.
"Is the ramp suitable for low cars?" — Some EVs (Model S, Taycan) have very low ground clearance.
"What's the weight capacity?" — Important for heavier EVs.

Cost difference

Towing an EV on a flatbed costs roughly 10-20% more than towing an equivalent petrol car. The premium comes from:

Flatbed is mandatory (no cheaper hook-and-chain option)
The car is heavier (more fuel consumption for the truck)
Careful handling required

For an urban tow, that's the difference between 100 € and 115-120 €. For a long-distance transport, 300 € becomes 340-360 €. Not dramatic, but worth knowing upfront.

What about charging?

If your EV has run out of charge on the road, a tow truck can take you to a charging station — but it can't charge your car. Some newer roadside assistance services carry mobile chargers that can give you enough juice to reach the nearest station, but this is still rare.

Prevention is better: plan your route around charging stations, especially in rural areas where stations are sparse.

Summary

Electric car + towing = flatbed, always. Ask about EV experience, ramp suitability, and weight capacity before you book. The extra cost is modest (10-20%), but doing it wrong can cost you thousands. You can get free quotes from professionals with EV experience.

Towing an electric car — why it's different and what can go wrong