Advice · 1 April 2026 · 3 min read
Can You Recover An Automatic Car?
Automatics, EVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed conventionally. Here is why flatbed matters.
Why towing an automatic is risky
In most automatic gearboxes the transmission fluid pump is driven by the engine. With the engine off and the driven wheels turning, parts of the gearbox rotate without proper lubrication. Over any distance that causes real damage.
The flatbed answer
Loading the car onto a flatbed with all four wheels off the ground removes the problem entirely. It is the default approach for automatics, and it is also correct for four-wheel-drive vehicles where towing on two wheels can damage the centre differential or transfer case.
Electric and hybrid vehicles
EVs must not be towed with driven wheels on the road — the motors generate current when turned. They also weigh more than the equivalent petrol car, so the transporter has to be suitable for the load.
Tell the operator up front
Saying 'it is an automatic' or 'it is electric' when you call means the right vehicle turns up first time.
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