Towing an electric car in Victoria: what to know before the truck arrives

Electric cars still stop on the side of the road, whether that's from a flat 12-volt battery, a warning that won't clear, a puncture with no spare, or simply running out of charge. The catch is that an EV often can't be towed the way a petrol hatchback can. A few minutes with this guide could save you an expensive repair.

Why most EVs need a flatbed

In most electric cars, the motors are permanently connected to the wheels. Turn the wheels and you turn the motors, and that can generate power or cause damage even if the car is switched off. That's why manufacturers are cautious:

• Tesla's Model Y manual says the motors generate power when the wheels spin, so the car should always be transported with all four tyres off the ground. It calls a flatbed the recommended method. If one isn't available, it allows wheel lifts and dollies with all four wheels off the ground, for a limited distance of up to 55 km in the North American edition.
• Kia's EV manual recommends wheel dollies or a flatbed, and says an all-wheel-drive vehicle should never be towed with the wheels on the ground, or the power electric and all-wheel-drive systems could be seriously damaged.

Those are two examples, and rules differ between makes, models and editions. The safe rule of thumb is to ask for a tilt tray, and treat anything else as an exception that your manual has to allow. For more on the difference, see which tow truck you need.

Find the towing section in your manual now

Don't wait until you're on the side of the road. Look up "towing" or "transport" in your owner's manual, or download a copy to your phone. There are three things to find:

• How to let the car roll. Many EVs need a specific tow or transport mode so the car can be winched onto a tray. Tesla says its Tow Mode is intended only for winching onto a flatbed or repositioning the car, not for towing it down the road.
• What to do if the car has no power. If the car's electronics are dead, you may not be able to select that mode. Tesla suggests self-loading dollies or tyre skates if the touchscreen or electrical system isn't available.
• Any other warnings. Kia, for instance, says to set the vehicle to ACC while it's being towed if it has side and curtain airbags, because they could deploy if the vehicle is in the ON position and the rollover sensor is triggered.

What to tell the operator

1. That it's electric, plus the make, model and year.
2. Whether it's front, rear or all-wheel drive.
3. Whether you can put it in tow or transport mode, and whether the screen works.
4. What the charge level is, and whether the 12-volt battery might be flat.
5. Whether the car sits low, as a low front can matter when loading.
6. Where you want it to go.

When you book through RoadM8, choose Car and add your photo. The request form doesn't have a notes box yet, so raise the fact that it's an EV with the operator once you've accepted their quote, using the call button on the tracking screen where a number is shown, and before the car is loaded. If the truck that turns up can't carry all four wheels off the ground and your manual says it must, say so before it's hooked up. If the tow is cancelled before pick-up, you're refunded in full.

If you've run out of charge

RACV says that if your car gives a critically low battery warning, don't ignore it. Use the car's navigation to find the nearest compatible charger and reduce your energy use by avoiding sudden acceleration. If a charger isn't safely within reach, pull over somewhere safe, away from traffic if possible, put your hazard lights on and call for help. It also notes that cold weather, freeway driving, hills and extra load can all reduce real-world range.

If you have RACV roadside cover, it says your car can be towed to the nearest accessible charging station or to your preferred destination within your towing limit.

If you're booking a tow yourself, you pick the drop-off, so think about these first:

• A public charger. Check that it's compatible with your car and working, and that a tow truck can unload near it. RACV notes that some public AC chargers don't supply a cable, so you may need your own.
• Home. Simple, if you can charge there and the truck can reach your driveway.
• A dealer or service centre. Best if there's a fault rather than just a flat battery. Call ahead about after-hours drop-offs.

If there's smoke, a burning smell or crash damage

Get everyone away from the car and call Triple Zero (000). Tell them it's an electric vehicle. Leave any damaged wiring alone, and let emergency services and the tow operator know about the damage. If you've been in a crash, the towing rules are different too, so see who tows your car after a crash in Victoria.

Otherwise, you can request a tow any time from anywhere in Victoria, from Melbourne to Geelong and beyond. Quotes depend on who's available near your pick-up, and that includes which trucks they run.