A Tesla Model S that has no power can’t be towed with the wheels on the ground. The rear motor generates electricity as the wheels turn, which can damage the pack and the motor. Here’s the checklist for towing a Model S safely in LA County.
Why a Model S can’t be towed with wheels down
The Tesla Model S uses a rear motor that generates electricity when the wheels turn. This is regen, and it’s how the car captures energy during braking. When the car is off and the wheels turn anyway, the motor generates electricity that has nowhere to go. The result can be damaged motor windings and damaged battery cells.
Tesla’s manual is explicit. The Model S must be towed with all four wheels off the ground. That means a flatbed tow truck. A traditional hook-and-chain tow truck is not the right equipment.
A driver who tries to tow a Model S with the wheels down risks thousands of dollars in motor and pack damage. The tow that was supposed to save the car ends up destroying it.
The flatbed option
A flatbed tow truck has a flat platform that lowers to the ground. The car is driven or winched onto the platform. The wheels leave the ground. The truck hauls the car to the destination.
Flatbed tow trucks are common in LA County. Most tow companies have at least one flatbed. Tesla’s preferred tow vendors in the area use flatbeds.
A driver who needs a Model S towed should ask the tow company for a flatbed specifically. A traditional tow truck isn’t the right tool.
The winch-and-roll option
If the Model S can roll (the parking brake is off and the wheels turn freely), a flatbed can winch the car onto the platform. The driver steers while the operator runs the winch. The car rolls up the platform.
If the Model S can’t roll (the parking brake is stuck or the wheels are locked), a flatbed uses skates or a wheel lift to get the car onto the platform. The operator positions the car with the equipment. The car goes up on the platform.
Either way, the car ends up with all four wheels off the ground. That’s the goal.
Pre-tow checklist
Before the tow arrives, the driver should do a few things. Confirm the parking brake is off if possible. A Model S with the parking brake on needs extra work to get on a flatbed.
Remove any personal items from the car that could shift during transport. A loose phone or a loose bag becomes a projectile during a sudden stop.
Take photos of the car before the tow arrives. If the tow causes damage, the photos are the record.
Confirm the destination with the tow operator. A Model S that needs dealer work goes to a Tesla Service Center. A Model S that needs body work goes to a body shop.
What the operator brings
We’re a referral line for Los Angeles County. We match stranded EV drivers with independent local operators. The pros we connect you with are licensed and insured. We hold no license for the work. We own no trucks and employ no technicians. We set no prices and publish no arrival time.
The operator quotes you before they start. They bill you directly. No dollar figure belongs here. They quote you on the phone and confirm access before they roll.
For a Model S that has no power, the operator brings a flatbed. They confirm the destination on the call. They give you a window for arrival.
How to tow a Tesla with no power covers the Model 3 and Model Y versions of this procedure. The Model S has the same requirement with a slightly different procedure.
What about transport mode
The Model S has a transport mode that disables the parking brake and disengages the motor for towing. The transport mode is activated through the service mode in the center screen.
A driver with a working 12V can activate transport mode. The car rolls freely for a flatbed to winch up. A driver without a working 12V can’t activate transport mode. The operator works around it with skates or wheel lifts.
If the 12V is the problem, a mobile operator can jump the 12V first and then activate transport mode. The car rolls onto the flatbed under its own power once the mode is active.
After the tow
The car lands at the destination with all four wheels off the ground. The tow operator lowers the platform. The driver (or the destination’s staff) drives the car off the platform.
If the destination is a Tesla Service Center, the service center takes the car and runs diagnostics. The center calls the driver with the results.
If the destination is a body shop, the shop takes the car and starts the repair estimate.
The combined answer
A Tesla Model S with no power needs a flatbed tow. The wheels must be off the ground. A traditional tow with wheels down damages the motor and the pack. A mobile operator brings a flatbed and a driver who knows the procedure.
The number to call is (213) 410-1991. We’ll match you with a local operator. They quote before any cable goes in.