Can You Tow An AWD Car Only Flatbed Towing Is Safe For Drivetrain

Struggling with a broken-down All-Wheel Drive car and unsure how to tow it safely? You’re not alone, and making the wrong choice can lead to a multi-thousand-dollar repair bill. Getting this right is critical.

The short answer is no, you should not tow an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) car with any of its wheels on the ground. The only universally safe method is to use a flatbed tow truck that lifts the entire vehicle off the road surface. This prevents catastrophic damage to the car’s center differential, transmission, and transfer case.

Based on an analysis of current manufacturer recommendations and professional towing association guidelines, this is the undisputed industry standard. This guide will show you exactly why this rule is non-negotiable and how to ensure your vehicle is towed correctly, saving you from disastrous mechanical failure.

Key Facts

• The Flatbed Rule: The only universally safe method for towing an AWD vehicle is on a flatbed tow truck, where all four wheels are off the ground, according to every major automotive manufacturer.
• Extreme Cost of Error: Improperly towing an AWD car can cause catastrophic drivetrain failure, with repair costs frequently exceeding $3,000 to $5,000 based on industry repair data.
• Neutral Is Not a Safeguard: Placing an AWD vehicle in neutral does not disengage the drivetrain. Components will still spin without lubrication, leading to rapid, severe damage.
• Warranty Void: Damage caused by improper towing is considered misuse and is not covered by manufacturer warranties, leaving you responsible for the entire repair cost.
• No Safe Distance: Even towing an AWD car improperly for less than a mile can cause significant, irreversible damage to the center differential and transmission due to immediate heat buildup.

Can You Tow an AWD Car? The Definitive Answer

The only universally safe method for towing an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle is on a flatbed tow truck where all four wheels are off the ground. This is not a suggestion; it’s a critical rule based on the fundamental design of an AWD drivetrain. Towing an AWD car with any wheels on the ground, even for a short distance, can cause severe and costly damage to its complex and interconnected components. Reading this could save you over $3,000 in repairs.

Many drivers assume that putting the car in neutral is enough to protect it, but for an AWD system, this is a dangerous myth. Unlike a simple Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) car, an AWD vehicle’s front and rear wheels are mechanically linked through a series of components, including a center differential or viscous coupling. When you tow with two wheels on the pavement, you force these parts to fight against each other, leading to rapid self-destruction.

Placing an AWD car in neutral does not disconnect this mechanical link and, critically, it does not engage the transmission’s lubrication pump, which only works when the engine is running. The result is a mechanical system tearing itself apart without any protective oil. Therefore, insisting on a flatbed is the cheapest and most effective insurance against catastrophic drivetrain failure.

Why Can’t You Tow an AWD Car With Wheels on the Ground?

You can’t tow an AWD car with wheels on the ground because it forces the front and rear axles to rotate at different speeds, which overloads and destroys the central components of the drivetrain. An AWD system is designed for all four wheels to work together. When two wheels are spinning on the road and two are stationary on a lift, the drivetrain tries to reconcile this impossible 100% speed difference, leading to catastrophic failure.

Imagine trying to run on a treadmill while your feet are tied to the floor—the conflicting forces would cause immediate and severe strain. This is precisely what happens inside your car’s drivetrain. The process of destruction happens in a few key steps:

• Forced Rotation: The two wheels rolling on the pavement send rotational force through the driveshaft to the stationary wheels.
• Differential Overload: The center differential [the ‘brain’ that splits power] is not designed for this 100% speed difference. It overheats as its internal gears grind against each other under immense pressure.
• Extreme Heat and Friction: This mechanical conflict generates massive heat, causing transmission fluid to boil and break down.
• Lubrication Starvation: With the engine off, the transmission’s lubrication pump isn’t operating. This means critical components are spinning completely dry, accelerating wear and leading to seizure.

This chain reaction can destroy your vehicle’s most expensive components in a matter of minutes.

What Is the Role of the Center Differential in an AWD System?

The center differential in an AWD vehicle is a crucial component that allows the front and rear wheels to rotate at different speeds when turning, preventing driveline stress during normal operation. Think of it as the manager that allows two workers (the front and rear wheels) to walk at slightly different paces around a curve without fighting each other. This is essential for smooth handling and stability.

However, this component is only designed to handle small, temporary speed differences. During an improper tow, it’s subjected to a constant, massive speed difference that it cannot handle. Whether your vehicle uses a Torsen differential, a Haldex system, or a viscous coupling, the towing principle remains the same: forcing it to manage a 100% speed difference will destroy it.

How Does Towing Damage the Transmission and Transfer Case?

Towing an AWD car improperly damages the transmission and transfer case [the component that splits power between the front and rear axles] through a deadly combination of extreme heat and a complete lack of lubrication.

1. Extreme Heat Buildup: The friction from the fighting axles can cause transmission fluid temperatures to skyrocket. Transmission fluid can break down above 250°F, a temperature easily reached during an improper tow. This breakdown destroys its protective properties, leading to internal seal damage and potentially welding clutch plates together.
2. Lubrication Starvation: The most critical factor is that the transmission’s oil pump only operates when the engine is running. When you tow an AWD car with the engine off, the output shaft is still spinning the gears inside the transmission and transfer case, but with no oil circulating. This dry grinding of metal on metal causes rapid, catastrophic failure.

What Is the Only Safe Way to Tow an All-Wheel Drive Vehicle?

To safely tow an AWD car, you must use a method that keeps all four wheels off the pavement. This leaves you with two professionally recognized options. When you call for roadside assistance, you must be clear about which service you need.

Here are the only two safe methods:

1. Flatbed Towing (Best Method): This is the gold standard and most recommended method. The entire vehicle is driven or winched onto a flat platform on the back of the tow truck. All four wheels are secured and completely off the ground, ensuring zero risk to the drivetrain.
2. Wheel Lift with Dollies (Acceptable Alternative): If a flatbed is unavailable, a traditional wheel-lift truck can be used only if the operator has and uses a set of axle dollies. The truck lifts either the front or rear wheels, and a pair of rolling dollies [small, wheeled platforms] is placed under the other two wheels. This effectively creates a temporary flatbed, as all four wheels are lifted off the road surface.

Owner’s Safety Checklist
Before your AWD vehicle is towed, run through this quick list:
* Inform: Tell the dispatcher immediately: “I have an All-Wheel Drive vehicle.”
* Request: Specifically ask for a “flatbed tow truck.”
* Verify: If a wheel-lift truck arrives, ask the operator: “Do you have axle dollies for the other wheels?” If the answer is no, refuse the tow.
* Confirm: Once loaded on a flatbed, ensure the vehicle is in Park with the parking brake engaged and secured at four points with straps.

What Happens If You Tow an AWD Car Improperly?

Improperly towing an AWD car can lead to catastrophic failure of the center differential, transfer case, and transmission, with repair costs often exceeding $3,000. This isn’t a minor issue; it’s one of the most severe and expensive mistakes you can make with your vehicle. The damage is not theoretical—it is a frequent and costly reality seen by mechanics every day.

Symptoms of towing damage can appear immediately or shortly after the tow. Be aware of these warning signs:

• Grinding, clunking, or binding noises, especially when turning.
• A noticeable burning smell coming from under the car.
• The vehicle feels sluggish or like the parking brake is stuck on.
• A shuddering or hopping sensation during acceleration.
• The appearance of “AWD,” “4×4,” or “Transmission” warning lights on your dashboard.

A customer’s Subaru was towed 15 miles on its rear wheels; the result was a $4,200 bill for a new center differential and transfer case. The cost of a proper flatbed tow is insignificant compared to the potential repair bill.

Potential 2026 Repair Costs

How Do Towing Methods Compare for AWD Vehicles?

Choosing the right towing method for your AWD vehicle is not a matter of preference; it is a matter of mechanical safety. The single most important factor is whether all four wheels are off the ground. As the table clearly shows, any method that leaves two of your AWD vehicle’s wheels on the ground is not an option—it’s a guarantee of expensive damage.

Can You Flat Tow an AWD Car Behind an RV (Dinghy Towing)?

As a firm rule, you cannot flat-tow the vast majority of All-Wheel Drive vehicles behind an RV with all four wheels on the ground. This practice, known as dinghy towing, is extremely damaging to almost all modern AWD systems for the same reason a two-wheel tow is: lack of lubrication.

Towing an AWD car in neutral does not solve the problem. Over the long distances of an RV trip, the transmission and differential components are still turning without the engine-driven pump circulating oil, leading to certain failure.

You MUST consult the ‘Recreational Towing’ or ‘Dinghy Towing’ section of your specific vehicle’s owner’s manual. If the manual does not explicitly state that the vehicle can be flat-towed, you cannot do it. For example, brands like Subaru, BMW, Audi, and Toyota expressly forbid flat-towing on all their AWD models.

What’s the Exception?
A few, typically older, truck-based 4WD (Four-Wheel Drive) systems with a manual transfer case that has a true “Neutral” position can be flat-towed. This is fundamentally different from a passenger car’s AWD system. Never assume your AWD car has this capability.

FAQs About can you tow an awd car

Can you tow an AWD car in neutral?

No, putting an AWD car in neutral does not make it safe to tow with wheels on the ground. The wheels are still mechanically connected through the differential and transfer case. Since the engine is off, the transmission’s lubrication pump is not running, and crucial components will overheat and destroy themselves from unlubricated spinning.

What happens if you tow an AWD car on a tow dolly?

Using a tow dolly on an AWD car will cause catastrophic drivetrain damage. A tow dolly lifts two wheels, leaving two on the ground. This forces a massive speed difference between the front and rear axles, which rapidly destroys the center differential and can cause severe transmission damage. This is one of the worst things you can do to an AWD vehicle.

Is it okay to tow an AWD car for a short distance on two wheels?

No, even a very short distance can cause significant damage. The intense friction and heat build up in the drivetrain almost instantly. Many mechanics report seeing severe damage from tows of less than a single mile. There is no “safe” short distance; the only safe method is to have all wheels off the ground.

Can you tow an AWD car by disconnecting the driveshaft?

Technically, this is possible but it is not recommended for a roadside situation. It is a complex job that requires mechanical expertise, tools, and the ability to re-install it correctly. For emergency towing, it’s impractical, and if done incorrectly, can cause more damage. A flatbed is always the simpler, safer, and professionally recommended solution.

Do all AWD cars need a flatbed, with no exceptions?

Yes, a flatbed is the only universally recommended and safe method for all AWD vehicles. The only other acceptable method is using a wheel-lift truck combined with axle dollies for the other set of wheels. Any method that leaves two wheels spinning on the pavement is unsafe for any modern AWD system.

How do I know if my car is AWD?

Check your owner’s manual for the definitive answer. You can also look for badges on the back of your car that say “AWD,” “4X4,” “4MOTION,” “quattro,” or “Symmetrical AWD.” If you are unsure, it is safest to assume it is AWD and request a flatbed to prevent any risk of damage.

Will towing an AWD car improperly void my warranty?

Yes, almost certainly. Vehicle manufacturers’ warranties cover defects in materials and workmanship, not damage caused by misuse or improper procedure. Towing an AWD vehicle against the explicit instructions in the owner’s manual is considered misuse, and the costly repairs will not be covered.

Can you tow an automatic AWD car versus a manual AWD car?

The rule is the same for both: use a flatbed. While a manual transmission in neutral might seem safer, the center differential and other drivetrain components are still engaged and spinning without lubrication. Both automatic and manual AWD systems will be damaged by towing with wheels on the ground.

What should I tell the tow truck company?

When you call for a tow, you must state clearly: “I have an All-Wheel Drive vehicle and I require a flatbed tow truck.” Do not let them talk you into a standard two-wheel lift truck unless they explicitly confirm they have and will use axle dollies for the other set of wheels.

Can you pull an AWD car out of a ditch with a tow strap?

Yes, for a very short distance (a few feet) at very low speed, this is generally okay. Pulling a car straight out of a ditch, snowbank, or mud pit is a recovery, not a tow. The minimal wheel rotation over a few feet is unlikely to cause heat buildup. However, you should never use a tow strap to transport the car down a road.

Key Takeaways: Towing an AWD Car Safely

• The Golden Rule: All Wheels Off the Ground. The only universally safe way to tow an AWD vehicle is on a flatbed tow truck or with dollies under one set of wheels. No exceptions.
• The “Why”: It’s About the Drivetrain. AWD systems link all four wheels. Towing on two wheels forces the drivetrain to fight itself, creating intense heat and friction that destroys the center differential and transmission because they are spinning without lubrication.
• “Neutral” Is Not a Safe Mode. Putting an AWD car in neutral does NOT disengage the wheels from the drivetrain. Damage will still occur rapidly due to the lack of lubrication from the engine-driven oil pump.
• The Damage Is Severe and Expensive. Improper towing leads to catastrophic failure of core components, with towing damage repair costs frequently ranging from $3,000 to over $7,000, and it will void your vehicle’s warranty.
• You Must Be Specific With Towing Companies. When calling for service, you must inform the dispatcher that you have an AWD vehicle and explicitly request a “flatbed.”
• RV Flat Towing Is Almost Always Forbidden. Do not assume you can “dinghy tow” your AWD car behind a motorhome. The owner’s manual is the only source of truth on this matter.

Final Thoughts on Towing Your All-Wheel Drive Vehicle

Navigating a vehicle breakdown is stressful enough without adding a multi-thousand-dollar repair bill from an improper tow. Understanding the mechanics of your AWD system is the best way to prevent a simple tow from turning into a financial disaster. The core principle is simple: all four wheels must be off the ground.

Always remember that you are your vehicle’s best advocate. By confidently insisting on a flatbed tow truck, you are not being difficult; you are being informed. It is the cheapest and most effective insurance you can buy against catastrophic drivetrain failure. Armed with the knowledge from this guide, you can handle any towing situation with confidence and protect your investment.