Car won’t start or is overheating
No lights or cranking points to 12-volt power; normal cranking without firing or an overheating warning usually means a tow.
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Towing situations across the Richmond metro
Straight answers to the situations we get called about most: what equipment the job needs, why, and what to do right now.
Car won’t shift into neutral or release the parking brake
A dead 12-volt battery can lock the shifter or parking brake; locked wheels must be lifted, dollied, or skated instead of dragged.
Read the answerCan a car be towed without keys?
A car can be towed without keys, but a locked steering column, Park, and a set parking brake mean it gets winched and supported.
Read the answerSteering wheel locked with the key present
Rock the wheel toward its free side while gently turning the key; if it stays locked, support the front wheels.
Read the answerOne wheel is locked and won’t turn
Do not drag a locked, bent, or displaced wheel; a flatbed, skates, or dollies must keep that corner from rolling.
Read the answerFlat tire with no usable spare
Use sealant only for a small tread puncture; otherwise call a mobile tire service or tow the car without driving on the flat.
Read the answerA suspension part is bent or hanging
If the car sits crooked or a wheel is no longer square, do not drive it; use a flatbed that carries the damaged geometry.
Read the answerHow is a low car loaded without scraping?
A low car needs a flatter deck approach using extensions, boards, or a low-angle flatbed so its bumper and exhaust clear the breakover points.
Read the answerCan an AWD or 4WD vehicle be towed with two wheels down?
An AWD or 4WD vehicle needs a flatbed or dollies, so that no wheel left on the road turns the driveline and loads the transfer case.
Read the answerCan a front-wheel-drive car be towed on its rear wheels?
Yes. Lift a front-wheel-drive car from the front so its driven wheels stay raised and its free rear wheels roll.
Read the answerCan a rear-wheel-drive vehicle be towed from the front?
Not with its rear wheels down. Raise the driven rear wheels, place them on dollies, or carry the vehicle on a flatbed.
Read the answerDoes a dead hybrid or plug-in hybrid need a flatbed?
Keep all four hybrid or plug-in hybrid wheels off the road, because rolling the drive wheels turns the electric motor.
Read the answerCan a tow truck carry my disabled pickup?
A pickup’s bed load, attached trailer, rear width, and modifications decide the tow truck and setup sent for it.
Read the answerHow does a tow truck lift an SUV safely?
An SUV must be lifted at points made for its frame or unibody, with weight, steps, air dams, roof height, and drivetrain checked first.
Read the answerDoes my loaded work van need a bigger tow truck?
Roof and rack height decide whether a work van can exit; door-label GVWR and loaded cargo decide light- or medium-duty dispatch.
Read the answerCan a tow truck reach a car in a parking garage?
Most flatbeds cannot enter parking garages, so a low-clearance wheel-lift enters or the car is rolled out to a truck staged outside.
Read the answerHow is a car removed from a tight parking space?
Four go-jacks can pivot a boxed-in car sideways into the drive lane, where a wheel-lift or flatbed can reach it.
Read the answerHow do I recover a car behind a locked gate?
A tow operator needs the property owner’s permission to pass a locked gate; owning the vehicle does not authorize entry.
Read the answerCan I tow my car from one repair shop to another?
Yes, after the first shop releases the car and the next shop accepts it. Its assembled condition and lot access decide the tow method.
Read the answerShould I tow my car to the dealership for warranty work?
Call the manufacturer program first. It may dispatch the covered tow to an approved dealer and give the operator drop-off instructions.
Read the answerShould I tow a flat tire to a tire shop?
Tow it when there is no usable spare, the sidewall or wheel is damaged, or a tire shop has the right size waiting for the car.
Read the answerDoes my crashed car need a flatbed or vehicle recovery?
A crashed car needs a flatbed or skates if any wheel cannot roll. If it left the pavement, recovery comes before the tow.
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