Prepare your vehicle for a tow
A few minutes of prep before the tow truck arrives saves time, avoids damage, and makes the whole call go faster.
What you'll learn
- What to take out of the car before it goes on the flatbed
- Whether to disconnect the battery (usually no - but sometimes yes)
- Why photographing the vehicle beforehand protects you
- What transport mode is and when your EV needs it
Step by step
- Remove valuables, registration, and any loose items inside the cabin.
- Photograph all four sides of the car before loading. Save the photos.
- If the car has an alarm, turn it off or disable motion sensing.
- For EVs: engage transport mode per your owner's manual.
- Note any pre-existing damage and point it out to the driver.
- Leave fuel in the tank unless the driver tells you otherwise.
Photos before the tow protect both you and the driver. Ask the assigned operator whether they photograph the load; your photos still back up the story.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Towing and roadside service across the five boroughs of New York City. One local line, taking calls around the clock.
Keep learning.
Jump-start a dead battery safely
Jumper cables are simple until you hook them wrong. Do it right and you'll avoid sparks, ruined electronics, and a tow you didn't need.
Change a flat tire on the side of the road
The difference between a 20-minute shoulder stop and an hour on the phone with a tow company is knowing where the spare and jack live before you need them.
What to do if you slide on ice or hit a flooded underpass
New York winters glaze bridges and ramps before flat streets, and a heavy rain fills a highway underpass faster than it looks. First step: stop making it worse.