Tesla Model 3 Needs a Tow: What to Say on the Phone First

Tesla Model 3 needs towing: what to explain first on the phone

Scope: Model 3 2024+, North America, software 2026.32; loading and transport are carried out by professional recovery following the car's documents

Transport must suit the vehicle

Official requirements are that all four wheels are off the ground during transport and the tyres must not turn; the car can't be transported by towing methods that let the wheels roll on the ground. Owners shouldn't just give an address on the assumption that "all tows are the same"; when contacting recovery, give the exact model, whether there's been an accident, whether there are safety messages and whether the car can be operated normally. This article doesn't repeat the loading procedure, nor set towing rules for other models. ^[1]

How to pass on information from the scene

It's worth giving the service organisation the car's current visible status, location, access conditions and any necessary photos, stressing that they need to check the model's official transport documents. If they propose a method that doesn't match the documents, pause and ask them to check. Keep people away from loading work, don't stand in the car's path, and don't unlock or remove parts yourself to speed up loading. ^[1]

Sign off transport and repair separately

Keep the recovery receipt with the handover time, the transport method actually used, the destination and anything unresolved at the scene. Diagnosis is still needed at the workshop; "it's been delivered" can't be recorded as the fault being dealt with. If there's smoke, an unusual smell or a safety risk, contact the emergency services first; this article contains no towing points, transport modes, tie-down or power-down steps. ^[1]

Sources

[Source 1] Tesla: Instructions for Transporters
https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-FA9E3DC9-805C-45BD-A64D-C4B3F491B8C0.html
Verified: 2026-10-03; page publication date not confirmed.

This article contains information-organising suggestions from the editorial team; it is not a manufacturer repair procedure.