Choosing the wrong method can turn a simple breakdown into a gearbox or differential repair.
The towing page in your owner's handbook names the approved method. If you cannot find it, a flatbed is the cautious choice.
On an all-wheel-drive car both axles are linked through the transmission, so dragging it with two tyres on the tarmac turns parts that are not meant to move with the engine off. Toyota's RAV4 handbook says AWD versions must travel with all four wheels raised or the drivetrain may be damaged, and Subaru calls a flatbed the only recommended way to move its AWD models.
Two-wheel-drive cars have a little more flexibility, since the same Toyota guidance accepts raising just the front wheels on a front-driven model. Many automatic gearboxes are not built to spin for long with the engine off, so handbooks often rule out towing with the driven wheels down or set tight speed and distance limits.
Electric cars add another reason. Tesla explains that its motors generate power whenever the wheels turn, so a Model 3 should always be transported with every tyre off the ground, ideally on a flatbed. Its transport mode lets the car roll freely just long enough to be winched aboard.
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Saloons, hatchbacks and family SUVs with a failed engine, a dead gearbox or a battery that no longer responds.
Low splitters, wide wheels and long overhangs need a gentle loading angle and straps that hold the tyres rather than suspension arms.
A car stranded on a lower parking level is usually brought up the ramp first, then loaded where the truck has room.
A bike should ride upright on the deck, secured at the bars and frame so the forks stay straight.
A vehicle bogged off the tarmac or on a desert track can be dragged clear and then carried home or to a workshop.
Sports cars and lowered saloons often sit too close to the ground for a steep ramp. The safe approach is to drop the deck as low as it will go, use ramp extensions if the nose still catches, and winch slowly. Straps that wrap the tyres keep hooks away from paint and delicate alloy rims.
Mention any body kit or air suspension when you book. If the car has a transport or tow mode, keep the key nearby so it can be switched on.
Residential towers and malls in Dubai often have low ceilings, sharp ramps and narrow turning circles. A full-size flatbed usually cannot follow those ramps, so the vehicle is normally moved up to street level and loaded there.
Help us plan by sharing the parking level, the bay number and the clearance height shown on the sign at the entrance. If building security must open a barrier or log visitors, letting them know before the crew arrives saves time for everyone.
Give the make, model and whether it is two-wheel drive, AWD or electric, plus whether it rolls, steers and can be shifted into neutral.
Confirm pickup point, destination and price on the phone or in writing. Nothing is lifted until you are happy with the figure.
Take wallets, documents and electronics with you, and remove anything loose from the roof.
A quick set of pictures from each side records existing marks, which helps everyone if a question comes up later.
Make sure someone at the workshop can receive the car and keys, or have it dropped at home instead.
Switch on the hazard lights and get everyone out through the doors facing away from passing traffic. The RAC advises standing behind a safety barrier, to the rear of your car, rather than inside it or beside the open lane. In summer heat, keep water with you and never push a car across moving lanes.
Local tows start from AED 150. The final figure depends on distance, the type of vehicle and access, such as a basement pick-up, and it is always confirmed with you before the car is loaded.
Send your location and the make and model. We will confirm the fare and arrival time before anything is lifted.
