Car owners should do whatever they can to avoid getting their vehicles towed away by the authorities. These fines can be incredibly costly, and many times completely unplanned. It’s in our best interest to take preventative measures to avoid this from happening. The tips provided below aren’t even that hard to follow, but just applying a few of them will be enough to save you money down the road.
Some Tips to Help Prevent Your Car From Being Towed
Engage Your Vehicle Emergency Brake So That Your Car Remains in One Spot
One of the most effective tips you can use when your car has been towed by the authorities is to engage your vehicle’s emergency brake so that it remains in one spot. If you’re not going to be using your vehicle for an extended period then make sure that you engage the emergency brake. This one allows the tow truck driver to take a little longer to tie up your car, or to tow a vehicle that is easier to tow first.
Park With Your Wheels Turned
This is an advantage for rear-wheel vehicles because to prevent any kind of damage to the transmission of the vehicle, the back wheel will have to be lifted. The front-wheel will then have to be lifted before the car can be towed. According to the professionals from americanwrecker.net/my-vehicle-was-towed/, the upside here is, even if your vehicle will be eventually towed, the tow truck driver will spend a lot of time and will have to employ the use of dollies or he will have to get a flatbed truck. This undoubtedly gives you plenty of time to move your car away and prevent getting towed.
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If the wheel locks in the turned spot on you and the key won’t turn to start the engine, you must turn both the steering wheel and the ignition key at the same time to open the lock.
Remove a Tire or Two
Tire removal might sound a bit silly or pointless at first, but it can be an effective way to save your car. In many cases, desperation breeds creativity (sometimes). When you remove a tire or two from your car, it can be quite the challenge for any tow truck driver to move it.
Depending on the type of vehicle you have, and the tire age, you can remove any of the four tires or even two of them to make it more difficult for the tow truck driver to hook and pull your car. Even if the tow truck driver manages to hook up your vehicle, the car will be unbalanced and this can lead to further complications.
However, you should know that while this method is effective, it can bring attention you may want to avoid, to your vehicle. It could be towed for other reasons like causing obstruction or being a blemish in the neighborhood. This approach, like the others, would be better if a free-spinning (non-drive) wheel was disabled, but it would most likely create a problem on the drive wheels because the tow bar would not work correctly.
Use a Wheel Lock or Tire Lock on a Non-drive Wheel
Just like the other approaches outlined so far, this approach requires the tow truck driver to find a way to lift the vehicle from the ground completely. The advantage for you is that it is likely going to obstruct most brackets and dollies, thereby preventing the tow truck operator from moving your car at all.
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Park Tightly Between Other Cars or Objects
Another tip is to create a space around your car with other cars or objects that prevent a truck from pulling up to either the front or back of your vehicle. Avoiding parking between two cars gives the truck driver no choice but to pull up next to your rear end, and if you use this technique, note that if the other cars your vehicle is packed in between are illegally parked, the operator will most likely begin with the ones that are closer before eventually towing yours. So, that is the loophole in this method.
Don’t Park on the Curb
It’s ideal to stop with your tires by simply contacting the control to keep the cart from being put under your tire. Most tow truck plans need there to be a tad of room around the wheel to securely tie down the section or cart to the tire. It is ideal to do this with both the front and rear wheel, yet it is particularly imperative to have one of your drive wheels contacting the check, as these should be taken off the ground to tow the vehicle.
It is never a pleasant experience when your car gets towed. It puts you at the mercy of the operator, who may look to overcharge you, not to mention the inconvenience it could bring. The best advice to avoid being towed is to obey the parking rules of your state.
FAQs
It might seem elementary, but never park on a sidewalk, in a bus zone or handicapped space, or blocking a driveway or fire hydrant. You also can get towed for parking in a taxi-designated space or on a crosswalk. Even if you don't think you'll be parked there for long, it's not worth the risk.
How do you make it so your car can't be towed? ›
It might seem elementary, but never park on a sidewalk, in a bus zone or handicapped space, or blocking a driveway or fire hydrant. You also can get towed for parking in a taxi-designated space or on a crosswalk. Even if you don't think you'll be parked there for long, it's not worth the risk.
How can I prevent my car from theft towing? ›
If you don't have a garage, park in your driveway with the drive wheels away from the street — that makes it harder for thieves to tow a car away. If you park on the street, turn the wheels toward the curb, making it more difficult for the thief to maneuver the car quickly or tow.
Can you get towed if your wheels are turned? ›
Turning the wheels all the way to the left or right when your car is parked will not necessarily prevent it from being towed. While it may make it more difficult for a tow truck to remove your vehicle, it will not stop it from being towed entirely.
What to do while being towed? ›
If you're the driver being towed
Leave the ignition switch on to disengage the steering lock. If the car has power steering or power-assisted brakes, you'll need to apply a little elbow grease to operate it when the engine's off and it's being towed. If it's dark, you need to switch on the lights as usual.
Do wheel locks prevent towing? ›
Use a Wheel Lock or Tire Lock on a Non-drive Wheel
The advantage for you is that it is likely going to obstruct most brackets and dollies, thereby preventing the tow truck operator from moving your car at all.
Can a car be towed without turning it on? ›
Vehicles with manual transmissions can typically be towed without the car running, with no risk of transmission damage. If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, and automatic: This is the most difficult vehicle to tow properly.
What is the best way to prevent car theft? ›
Use common sense when parking and exiting your vehicle:
- Take your vehicle's key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
- Park in well-lit areas if possible.
- Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.
An immobiliser or immobilizer is an electronic security device fitted to a motor vehicle that prevents the engine from being started unless the correct key (transponder or smart key) is present. This prevents the vehicle from being "hot wired" after entry has been achieved and thus reduces motor vehicle theft.
How do you protect your transmission when towing? ›
Here are a few tips on how to protect your transmission while towing:
- Stay in your comfort zone. Be aware of your driving skills and your vehicle's ability to handle heavy loads. ...
- Slow down. Give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going. ...
- Read the owner's manual. ...
- Check your hitch.
If it's in Parking gear, the drive wheels will slide, destroying the linkages and tires all. Also, it can destroy the transmission too. While parked, there's a pawl within the transmission that goes into a slot to keep the car and transmission in place. If you tow with the wheels down, it will damage the pawl.
What happens if you leave your wheels turned? ›
The non-returning state of the wheels is equivalent to a positive force and a reverse force pulling on each other for a long time. The elastic pillars and damping pads inside the suspension Components such as plates, balance bars, ball heads will be unevenly stressed, which will cause the suspension system to weaken.
What happens if you tow a car on its drive wheels? ›
On the towing issue, your dad was correct that a car with an automatic transmission should not be towed with its driven wheels on the ground, even in neutral. The reason you can't do it is because the driven wheels on the ground will turn the drive shaft, which will turn the internal parts of the transmission.
Can you tow a car without power steering? ›
The A-frame attaches to the tow bar of your vehicle and allows you to tow a vehicle without steering it very much in the same way a trailer or caravan will follow your vehicle without steering - because the A-frame is a rigid piece of metal between the two vehicles they will follow each other and when the brake is ...
Can an automatic car be towed? ›
When you tow a car with an automatic transmission, the drive wheels must be raised off the ground. This is why automatic cars are towed either on a flatbed trailer or with a dolly that lifts the two drive wheels off the ground.
How do you break when being towed? ›
Pull away gently; avoid yanking the tow rope since this can damage or break it. Braking should also be gentle, so the driver of the towed vehicle has enough time to react. Before braking, gently tap your brakes so the brake lights come on, warning the driver of the towed vehicle that you are about to slow or stop.
How to prevent a car from being stolen? ›
Use common sense when parking and exiting your vehicle:
- Take your vehicle's key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
- Park in well-lit areas if possible.
- Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.
Most automatic transmissions cannot be towed or pushed with the drive wheels on the ground — even if the transmission is in neutral — because automatics rely on an engine-driven pump to supply lubrication to the transmission to avoid damaging clutch packs and seals and other components.
Why can't some cars be flat towed? ›
A few different factors determine what vehicles can be flat towed. It all depends if they have specific features from the manufacturer, such as a transmission disconnect and steering lockout override. Generally, AWD and 4x4 vehicles are more prevalent and preferred vehicles for flat towing.
