Not every tow is the same. Using the wrong equipment for a given vehicle can cause thousands of dollars in damage — damage the tow operator's basic auto insurance doesn't cover. Before you call any tow operator, understand which equipment your car actually requires.
Flatbed (also called rollback) is mandatory for: all AWD and 4WD vehicles (Subaru, Audi Quattro, BMW xDrive, Mercedes 4Matic, most modern SUVs and crossovers), all EVs and most plug-in hybrids (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Mustang Mach-E, Ioniq 5/6, EV6, Polestar, Volvo Recharge), low-clearance sports and luxury cars (Porsche 911, Corvette, Ferrari, Lamborghini, many AMG and M cars), motorcycles, and any tow going more than roughly 20 miles.
The reason: AWD and 4WD drivetrains have center differentials that require all four wheels to rotate at the same speed. Wheel-lift towing lifts two wheels and drags the other two. That difference in rotation destroys transfer cases — a $3,000–$8,000 repair depending on vehicle. Some manufacturers (Audi, Subaru) explicitly void warranty claims on transfer cases that show tow damage.
EVs cannot be dragged because the motor is in-wheel (Tesla, Lucid) or because the drivetrain cannot freewheel when the battery is low or damaged (Rivian, Ford). Dragging creates motor damage that requires a full drivetrain replacement. Teslas in particular have a 'tow mode' that has to be enabled from the touchscreen before flatbed loading — a trained operator knows how to do this.
Low-clearance sports cars (Corvette Z06, 911 GT3, Huracan, etc.) have front bumpers and underbody aero that scrape on standard wheel-lift ramps. Flatbed with low-angle ramps and corner protection is required.
Wheel-lift is fine for: conventional front-wheel-drive cars, conventional rear-wheel-drive cars (at short distance), and short-distance tows under 10 miles where access (narrow streets, low garage clearance) makes flatbed physically impossible.
When you call us, tell dispatch the year, make, and model. We'll tell you which equipment is required. When there's any doubt, we default to flatbed — the small extra cost is much cheaper than a drivetrain repair.
Flatbed base rate is $175 for intra-NYC tows, plus $5 per mile past the first five. Light-duty wheel-lift is $125. If the vehicle requires flatbed and we show up with a wheel-lift, that's on us and we'll bring the right truck — no extra charge for our mistake.