Can You Tow an Automatic Car? What You Need to Know

It is one of the most common roadside mistakes: towing an automatic car the wrong way and turning a simple breakdown into an expensive gearbox repair. Here is what every driver of an automatic should know.

The short answer

Most automatic cars should not be towed with their driven wheels on the road. Unlike a manual, an automatic gearbox relies on the engine running to circulate its fluid and stay lubricated. Tow it with the wheels turning and the engine off, and you risk serious internal damage.

So how should an automatic be moved?

On a flatbed. A flatbed (tilt-and-slide) truck lifts the whole car clear of the road, so no wheels turn during transport. It is the safe, correct method for automatics — read more on how a flatbed recovery truck works.

The same goes for these

• Electric and hybrid vehicles — must be flatbedded; the motors should never be driven while towed. See EV recovery.
• Four-wheel-drive vehicles — often need all four wheels off the ground. See 4×4 recovery.
• Prestige and performance cars — flatbed protects low bumpers and drivetrains.

If in doubt, ask

Not sure what your car needs? Tell us the make and model when you call and we will bring the right equipment. That is the K9 way — see 24/7 breakdown recovery or find your local area.