Why Automatic Cars and EVs Must Be Towed on a Flatbed
A tow truck that lifts one end and drags the other can cost you a gearbox or an electric motor. Here is why, when dragging is acceptable, and why a full flatbed is the safe choice.
Automatic cars and EVs must be towed on a flatbed because dragging them with their driven wheels on the road spins internal parts without lubrication, or turns the electric motor into a generator while the car is switched off, which can burn out a gearbox or damage the motor and inverter within a few kilometres. A flatbed carries the whole car off the ground, so nothing in the drivetrain turns from loading to unloading.
Most owners only learn this after the damage is done. This guide explains in plain terms what happens inside the gearbox and the EV while being dragged, when manufacturers allow it, why hybrids and all-wheel-drive cars are the trickiest, and how to make sure the truck that turns up for your car carries it the right way.
A flatbed tow truck is a recovery vehicle with a full flat bed that carries a car on all four wheels, strapped down, instead of lifting one end and towing it on the other two wheels.
Why can't I tow an automatic with its wheels on the ground?
An automatic gearbox is damaged by towing because its oil pump is driven by the engine. With the engine off and the wheels turning, the gears and shafts inside spin with no oil being pumped to them. Friction raises the temperature quickly, and the result can be worn gears or burnt internal clutches.
Some owner's manuals allow towing in N for a very short distance at low speed, often around 50 km at no more than 50 km/h, and others forbid it completely. The problem is that most Riyadh trips are longer than that: from the north of the city to the Al Sulay workshops alone can pass 30 km, and in ring road traffic you cannot guarantee the speed.
Repairing or replacing an automatic gearbox costs thousands of riyals, while the difference between a cheap wheel-lift tow and a flatbed is small. The arithmetic is not close.
What happens to an EV if it is dragged?
An electric car is damaged by dragging because its motor is connected directly to the wheels. Any time the wheels turn, the motor spins and generates current. That current flows back into the inverter and battery system of a car that is switched off and not ready for it, which can cause overheating or damage to the electronics.
- Most EV manufacturers state in the manual that the car must be transported on a flatbed only.
- Many models have a transport or tow mode that releases the wheel lock for loading at walking pace over a few metres, not for driving on the road.
- EVs are heavier than similar petrol cars, often 2,000 to 2,500 kg, because of the battery.
- The battery forms most of the floor, so lifting and securing points must follow the manufacturer's guidance to avoid hitting it.
Home chargers are now common in the northern districts, and EV calls rise every year, especially from villas covered by Towing service in Al Narjis, where many cars travel from home to the dealer for charging faults or software updates.
Hybrids and all-wheel drive: the hardest cases
Hybrids and permanent all-wheel-drive cars are the most sensitive to dragging in Riyadh, because any wheel turning on the road moves part of the whole drivetrain.
In a hybrid, the electric motor is linked to the transmission, so the same thing happens as in an EV, plus the gearbox risks. In a permanent AWD car, all four wheels are linked through a centre differential or coupling. Lifting one axle and dragging the other forces that coupling to slip continuously between the axles. Even a wheel dolly under the rear wheels does not fully solve the problem on some models.
If you do not know which drive system your car has, check the manual or ask the dealer, or send us the model and year and we will treat it as AWD to be safe.
Is dragging ever acceptable?
Dragging with one end lifted is acceptable only when the car is front-wheel drive and lifted at the front, or rear-wheel drive and lifted at the rear, and the manual allows it. In that case, the wheels on the road do not drive the gearbox.
Even then, other problems remain. Front bumpers on modern cars sit low and can crack when lifted, the steering must be unlocked, and every bump in the road is passed to the car. For new and expensive cars, we prefer the flatbed even when dragging is technically allowed.
How an EV is loaded onto a flatbed
Loading an electric car onto a flatbed follows a fixed set of steps on every job:
- We ask for the model and year before leaving and check how that car enters transport mode.
- We ask the owner to activate transport mode or put the car in N if the 12-volt battery is working.
- The car is pulled onto the flatbed slowly by winch, with the wheels rolling on the bed rather than being dragged.
- Each tyre is strapped, away from the battery and the underside of the body.
- We photograph the car before loading and after unloading and send the photos on WhatsApp.
If the 12-volt battery is completely flat and transport mode will not engage, we take extra care and send you the loading plan before we start.
Common mistakes that cost a gearbox or motor
Mistakes when moving automatics and EVs in Riyadh tend to repeat:
- Accepting the first wheel-lift truck that stops without asking how it will load. Many lift one end because it is faster.
- Towing the car on a rope behind another car in N over a long distance.
- Running the engine while being dragged so the gearbox gets oil, which puts more load on an engine that is already faulty.
- Leaving an EV in P and dragging it, so the wheels slide while locked.
- Fixing straps under the floor of an EV, which can press on the battery or its cover.
When to call a professional
A flatbed is essential in Riyadh for any automatic with all-wheel drive, any EV or hybrid, any new or expensive car, and any car whose drive system you are not sure about.
We handle these cars every day through Electric and Hybrid Car Towing in Riyadh, asking for the model before leaving so we know the transport mode and securing points. For high-value and low cars, Luxury Car Transport in Riyadh adds loading ramps that soften the angle so the bumper never touches the bed.
In the city centre, many of these calls come from office and tower car parks, where loading needs planning because of basements and tight spaces. Details are on the Towing service in Al Olaya page. Habib Satha Towing gives you the price before moving. In 2026, prices inside Riyadh start at 90 SAR for short trips and 150 SAR for luxury cars, with no night supplement.
Get help with towing service in Riyadh
Send your car model and location on WhatsApp or call 0583399475, and we will carry your automatic or EV fully on the flatbed without a single wheel turning on the road.
