Flatbed or wheel-lift tow: which one does your car need?

The two kinds of tow trucks

Wheel-lift

A metal arm slides under the front or back wheels and lifts that end of the car. The other two wheels roll on the road the whole way. It hooks up fast, and it's fine for many front-wheel-drive cars going a short distance.

Flatbed

The bed of the truck tilts down to the ground. A winch pulls the car up onto it, and all four wheels ride on the truck. Nothing touches the road.

Cars that should ride on a flatbed

• All-wheel drive and 4x4. On these cars, all four wheels are linked. Rolling two of them on the road can damage parts that cost a lot to fix. Subaru, for example, says a flatbed is the recommended way to transport its cars. Check your owner's manual for your model.
• Electric cars. Tesla's owner's manuals recommend a flatbed for transporting its cars.
• Lowered cars and low front bumpers. A wheel-lift arm can scrape or crack a low bumper. A flatbed tilts to a shallow angle, which helps. Tell us if your car is very low and we'll plan for it.
• A flat tire or a broken wheel. A wheel that can't roll shouldn't be rolling on the highway.
• Wrecked cars. Damage can keep a wheel from turning straight.

When a wheel-lift is fine

A front-wheel-drive car going a few miles is a common wheel-lift job, as long as the car can roll and the bumper clears the arm. If you're not sure what your car has, assume it needs a flatbed and ask.

Why we only run flatbeds

NevkaR is Noé and his flatbed. Every car rides the same way, all four wheels on the truck, so with us these cost $0 extra:

• Flat tires
• All-wheel drive or 4x4
• Electric or lowered cars
• A car that won't start (if it rolls and you have the keys)

We tow across the Missouri side, from Liberty to Belton. See all our prices on the rates list, or read how much a tow costs in Kansas City.

Not sure what your car has?

• Look on the back of the car for a badge like AWD, 4WD, 4x4, 4MATIC, quattro or xDrive.
• Check the owner's manual. Search for "towing" or "transporting."
• Or just tell us the year, make and model when you call. We'll check it for you.