How to Prevent Damage When Towing

Car towing is an excellent service when someone’s in an emergency or needs some help moving a vehicle. Whether you’re on the side of the road or in your driveway, towing companies can help get your car where it needs to go. As a towing professional, you work to move client cars with as little damage as possible. With the right equipment and techniques, you can prevent damage while you tow.

For towing emergencies or scheduled jobs, preparation is key. Knowing how to prep a car to prevent damage without making the process more difficult will make your clients happy and excited to work with you again. Use these tips to keep cars in great condition during towing.

Does Getting Your Car Towed Damage It?

Towing is meant to transport your car without damaging it. However, sometimes accidents can happen. A good tow company will do its best to prevent damage to client cars. Occasionally, the car’s position, the towing processor and even the car’s location can lead to damage. If a tow truck damages a car, you should work with the client to get the problem fixed.

Are Tow Companies Liable for Damage?

Usually, the party responsible for the damage — in this case, the tow company — is liable for any damage they cause to the car. If you’re towing and you did cause the damage, you’ll need to work with the owner and their insurance company to restore the car. Sometimes, it can be difficult to prove how the damage was caused. In these cases, you want to have photos or videos of the car before and after the tow to help your tow company and the insurance come to an agreement.

Common Types of Towing Damage

When you pickup a vehicle, you’ll hook and secure the car before driving it away. While this is usually a smooth process, damages happen occasionally. Here are some of the common types of towing damage you might see while working:

• Dents or scratches: Dents and scratches are the most common towing issues. If the towed vehicle contacts other surfaces, vehicles or objects, it can lead to scratches. Additionally, improper securing can cause dents and damages.
• Brake damage: Having your parking brake engaged can cause brake damage. Improper towing techniques might also lead to brake wear.
• Transmission issues: Transmission damage from towing happens when your car has the parking brake engaged or it’s in gear.
• Engine problems: Towing a car with the engine still running or improperly securing engine components can lead to engine damage.

How to Prevent Damage to Your Car From Towing

If you’re about to start towing a car, it’s essential to have the client help you get it in towing condition. With these tips, you’ll prevent issues before they happen, saving you time and money:

1. Check the car before towing: Does the car have any preexisting issues? Look for loose parts and existing damage that could worsen during the tow. If you notice any problems before your tow, you can correct them or alert the client to prevent more damage.
2. Take pictures: If the client says a tow truck damaged your car, you need to prove the damage didn’t happen during the tow. Take pictures of the car before it gets towed so you can spot any damaged parts if they pop up.
3. Release the emergency brake: Before towing, make sure you release the emergency or parking brake. Leaving this engaged can harm the brakes and transmission. It will also make towing the car more difficult.
4. Roll up your windows: While leaving the windows down won’t cause exterior damage, it can lead to dust, water and debris getting inside the car. Roll the windows up to keep the client’s car clean and safe.
5. Hire an experienced towing company: When it comes to towing your car, you should always choose an experienced, reputable company. Professional towing companies have the experience to tow your vehicle safely, reducing the chances of damage.

Car Towing FAQ

Whether you’re calling for a tow, working as a tow truck driver or want to prepare in case you need to tow your car soon, here are some answers to common towing questions.

Can You Tow a Car Without Tires?

It’s possible to tow a car without wheels, but you need specialized tools to get the job done. If you need to tow a vehicle without wheels, you should contact a professional company for help. Tow companies have flatbed trailers, winches and other tools to help them easily tow a car without wheels. They’ll help you get your vehicle moved safely with minimal damage.

Can You Tow an All-Wheel Drive Car?

You can tow an all-wheel drive (AWD) car, but you’ll need to be careful. Towing an AWD car with its wheels on the ground can cause transmission issues and other hidden problems. To tow an AWD vehicle, you need to disengage the driveshaft. However, this process can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if you need a tow to get out of an emergency. Typically, you or your towing company will need a flatbed trailer to tow an AWD vehicle. These let the car get towed without moving the wheels, protecting its components.

How to Tow a Front-Wheel Drive Car

When you hire a professional towing company, they’ll handle towing for you. However, if you need to tow a front-wheel drive (FWD) car, it will depend on your vehicle.

With a manual FWD vehicle, you’ll need to put the car in first gear when it’s on a dolly. If all four wheels are on the ground, put the vehicle in neutral to tow without damage. For automatic FWD vehicles, you need to put the car in park when it’s being towed with a dolly. If all four tires are on the ground, you’ll need actual towing equipment to prevent damage. Additionally, you can let the car run in neutral if you’re towing it for short distances.

Does Towing Wear Out Your Transmission?

If you’re towing vehicles and trailers regularly, it can wear out your transmission over time. Anyone regularly towing with their vehicle should read over the manufacturer’s guidelines and avoid towing heavy loads to prevent damage to their vehicle. For cars getting towed, towing should not harm your transmission unless your car is towed incorrectly.

Tow Better With Lift and Tow

Towing cars correctly means watching out for obstacles and fitting the tow to the vehicle. You can damage cars and your towing vehicles with improper equipment, leading to unwanted expenses. With high-quality towing products and accessories from Lift and Tow, you can enjoy easy, damage-free towing. As the creators of the hidden wheel lift, you can trust our 20 years of expertise to ensure you get high-quality towing products that fit your needs.

Contact us to learn more about our products and experience the difference our American-made products can make!