Can you tow an AWD car? Yes, but only with all four wheels off the ground. That means a flatbed, or a wheel lift with dollies under the other axle. Towing an all wheel drive car with two wheels rolling on the road can damage the transmission or the center coupling in a few miles.
If you drive a Subaru, an AWD crossover or anything with a badge like 4MATIC, xDrive or quattro, tell the dispatcher before the truck is sent. For a flatbed in Wichita, call Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 316-351-4754.
Why You Cannot Tow an AWD Car on Two Wheels
In a two wheel drive car, one axle is driven and the other just rolls. Lift the driven wheels and the car tows fine. All wheel drive is different. The front and rear axles are tied together through a center differential, a transfer case or a clutch pack.
When a tow truck lifts one end and pulls the car on the other two wheels, one axle spins at road speed while the other sits still. The parts that connect them are forced to slip the whole time. They heat up, and nothing is pumping oil through the transmission because the engine is off. The damage is quiet. You may not know until the car shudders in a turn a week later.
What the Manufacturers Say
You do not have to take a tow company’s word for it. The car makers put it in writing.
- Subaru: In its June 2023 TechTIPS bulletin, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Subaru says a flatbed tow truck is the recommended way to transport a Subaru. For models with a CVT or automatic transmission towed with all wheels down, it warns you cannot exceed 20 mph or travel farther than 31 miles, or transmission damage will result. It lists the BRZ and the Crosstrek Hybrid as flatbed only.
- Tesla: Its instructions for transporters say never to transport the vehicle with the tires in a position where they can spin. A flatbed is the recommended method. If one is not available, wheel lifts and dollies must keep all four wheels off the ground, for no more than 35 miles.
Your owner’s manual has a towing section with the rule for your exact model. It is usually near the back, under emergency towing.
5 Rules to Tow an AWD Car Safely
1. Ask for a flatbed
A flatbed carries the whole car. No wheel turns, so the drivetrain is not involved at all. It is the default for all wheel drive, and it is what most manuals recommend.
2. If there is no flatbed, all four wheels still come off the ground
A wheel lift truck can do the job with a set of dollies. The lift carries one axle and the dollies carry the other. This is common in parking garages where a flatbed will not fit.
3. Never accept two wheels down
If a driver starts to hook up your all wheel drive car by one end with no dollies, stop the job. Ask for dollies or a different truck. A few extra minutes costs far less than a transmission.
4. Neutral is not a fix
Putting the shifter in neutral disconnects the engine from the transmission. In most all wheel drive systems, it does not disconnect the front axle from the rear axle. The parts in the middle still fight each other.
5. Tell dispatch what you drive
Give the year, make and model, and say “all wheel drive.” If you are not sure, look for a badge on the back of the car or check the manual. The dispatcher uses that answer to pick the truck.
AWD, 4WD and 2WD at a Glance
| Drivetrain | Safe ways to tow | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Front wheel drive | Flatbed, or wheel lift on the front wheels | Lifting the rear and rolling on the front |
| Rear wheel drive | Flatbed, or wheel lift on the rear wheels | Long tows rolling on the rear wheels |
| All wheel drive | Flatbed, or wheel lift plus dollies | Any tow with two wheels on the road |
| Part time four wheel drive | Flatbed. Some trucks allow other methods with the transfer case in neutral | Guessing. Check the owner’s manual |
| Electric vehicle | Flatbed | Any tow where the wheels can spin |
What About a Winch Out?
Pulling a stuck all wheel drive car back onto the road is fine. A winch out is a short, slow pull, and all four wheels move together. The risk is in towing down the road, not in a recovery. If the car cannot be driven after it is out, it goes on the flatbed. See what a winch out costs in Wichita.
How to Tell If Your Car Is All Wheel Drive
- Look for a badge: AWD, 4WD, 4×4, 4MATIC, xDrive, quattro, 4MOTION or SH-AWD
- Check the owner’s manual or the window sticker
- Know the brand. Every Subaru sold in the U.S. except the BRZ is all wheel drive
- If you are not sure, say so, and we will plan on a flatbed
What If It Was Already Towed on Two Wheels?
Do not panic. A slow move across a parking lot is not the same as miles on a highway. Write down how far and how fast the car was towed, and keep the tow receipt. Have a shop check the transmission and differential fluid. Over the next few days, listen for a whine and watch for a shudder in tight turns or a warning light on the dash. If anything shows up, get it looked at before you keep driving.
Questions About Towing All Wheel Drive
Can you tow an AWD car in neutral?
Not with two wheels on the ground. Neutral does not separate the front and rear axles in most systems. Follow the limits in your owner’s manual.
Can you tow an AWD car on a dolly?
A two wheel tow dolly leaves the other two wheels rolling, which is the problem. Dollies work only when they are used with a wheel lift so that all four wheels are off the road.
Can you tow an AWD car without a flatbed?
Yes, with a wheel lift and dollies. It takes longer to set up, and some manuals limit the distance.
What happens if you tow an AWD car the wrong way?
The center coupling or the transmission can overheat. Signs afterward include a whine, a shudder in tight turns or an AWD warning light. If that happens after a tow, read what to do if a tow truck damaged your car.
Does a flatbed cost more?
It depends on the company. Ask for the total before the truck is sent. See the real cost of towing in Wichita.
Can you tow an all wheel drive car with no keys?
Yes. It is loaded onto the flatbed with skates. See how a car is towed without keys.
Need to Tow an AWD Car in Wichita?
If you need to tow an AWD car, ask for a flatbed and say what you drive. Call Miller’s Towing & Recovery at 316-351-4754 for towing services in Wichita, KS, 24 hours a day. Read more about our flatbed towing, and get the price before we hook up.