- Flatbed only: all four tires off the road for the whole trip.
- Tow Mode is used only to winch the car onto the deck, slowly and for a few metres.
- We pull from the tow eye, which lives in the front trunk.
- Straps go over the tires, never on the suspension, chassis or body panels.
- The price is confirmed before we load.
How Tesla towing in East Cambie follows Tesla's instructions
Tesla publishes its own instructions for transporters in each model's owner's manual, and they are clear on the main point: a Tesla should travel with all four tires off the ground, and a flatbed is the recommended way to do it. The Model 3 owner's manual warns against carrying the car in any position where the tires can spin. That rules out a hook or a two-wheel lift, so every Tesla we move goes on a deck. If you are not sure whether your car needs a tow, see our general EV towing in East Cambie page too.
The car can face either direction on the flatbed. Wheel lifts and dollies are a fallback Tesla allows only for short distances with all four wheels lifted, and we would rather not use them when a flatbed can reach the car. A Tesla on a deck, strapped at the tires, arrives at the shop the way it left your driveway.
Tesla also warns against pulling a car by its chassis, frame or suspension, and against hooking tie-down straps to those parts. That is the biggest difference between a Tesla tow and a regular car tow, where a driver might reach for a frame point out of habit. We load from the tow eye and strap at the tires, every time. For any other electric car in the household, the same flatbed and the same care apply, and flatbed towing for lighter vehicles covers the rest of the driveway.
Tow Mode and winching a Tesla onto the flatbed
A Tesla has no neutral lever, so Tow Mode is how it is set free to roll. On recent Model 3 and Model Y cars it is under Controls, then Service, then Towing on the touchscreen, with the brake pedal held. In Tow Mode, Tesla says the tires may turn only slowly, under 8 km/h, and for less than 10 metres. That is enough to winch the car onto our deck or pull it out of a parking stall, and it is the only time the wheels turn.
We winch from the tow eye, which Tesla keeps in the front trunk. It threads in behind a small cover at the front of the car, and pulling from anything else, like the suspension or the frame, can damage the car. Once it is on the deck, we use an eight-point tie-down over the tires, keep metal hooks off the paint and wheel faces, and do not run straps over body panels or through the wheels.
- Have the key card or your phone key with you.
- Leave the frunk accessible so we can reach the tow eye.
- Unplug the car from any charger.
- Tell us if the screen is dark or the car will not wake up.
Model by model: what changes for each Tesla
The basics are the same for every Tesla, but a few details change by model. We ask which one you drive, and the year, before we arrive.
| Model | What we check | How it loads |
|---|---|---|
| Model 3 | Tow eye in the frunk, Tow Mode on the touchscreen | Flatbed, eight-point tie-down at the tires |
| Model Y | Tow eye stored in the frunk; the rear point can't be used on cars with a hitch | Flatbed, either direction on the deck |
| Model X | Air suspension set to Jack Mode so self-levelling is off | Flatbed after Tow Mode, tie-downs at the tires |
| Model S | Suspension and Tow Mode settings for that year | Flatbed, tires strapped, nothing on the body |
| Cybertruck | Weight and length on the deck | Flatbed sized for it; see truck towing |
The Model Y owner's manual adds that you can also jump the low voltage battery if the car has no power, which brings us to the next point.
When your Tesla is dead and won't wake up
A Tesla needs low voltage power to enter Tow Mode or even to open the hood. If the low voltage battery is flat, the screen stays dark and the car can't be put into Tow Mode, even when the main battery still has charge. Tesla's instructions cover this: an external low voltage supply opens the frunk and wakes the screen. We carry that equipment, and a jump start of the low voltage side is sometimes all the car needs.
If the car can't be woken at all, we load it with self-loading dollies or tire skates so the wheels never turn on the ground. After a collision, Tesla says to treat the high voltage system as energized until emergency responders confirm otherwise, so a damaged Tesla goes with accident towing in East Cambie, and we tell the drop-off shop it is an EV before we arrive.
A flat tire is another reason a Tesla gets stuck, especially when there is no spare in the car. If the tire can't be fixed where the car sits, we load it on the deck and take it to a tire shop or your service appointment. Ask about flat tire change first if you have a spare wheel of your own at home.
Tesla pickups around California Pointe, Bargen and King George Park
Teslas in East Cambie mostly live in garages and driveways, and the calls follow from that: a car that won't wake in a townhouse garage, one with a flat on the driveway, or one with a service appointment booked. Townhouse garages and underground parkades can be tight for a deck truck, so tell us the building, the level and any height limit, and we will bring underground towing gear if we need it. See Tesla towing in California Pointe, Tesla towing in Bargen and Tesla towing in King George Park.
Drop-offs are your choice: the Tesla service location named on your appointment, a body shop you trust, or home. Bring up the appointment in the Tesla app when you call so we can match the address. Everything else is on our East Cambie towing homepage, and you can send us the details if writing is easier.