What a flatbed callout involves
Make and model first
Electric, hybrid or four-wheel drive changes the truck we send. The exact model tells us the recovery points and the ground clearance.
All four wheels up
Flatbed loading keeps the driven wheels from turning, which is what most EV and permanent 4x4 handbooks require.
Strapped to the right points
Straps go to the manufacturer’s recovery eyes and wheel positions, never across a battery pack or underbody tray.
Delivered where it can charge
A working public charger, your home charger, a dealer or a specialist, depending on what is actually wrong.
The bit that catches people out
Plenty of drivers have watched a recovery truck lift the front of a car, drag the back wheels along the road, and think nothing of it. That method is fine for a lot of ordinary cars. It is the wrong answer for an electric one. The motor and the driven wheels are permanently linked, so rolling those wheels spins the motor, and a spinning motor makes electricity whether anyone asked it to or not.
The same logic applies to a proper four-wheel drive. A centre differential is designed to let the axles turn at slightly different speeds, not to have one pair stationary while the other pair does sixty miles an hour. Do that for long enough and the repair bill outweighs the recovery several times over.
Hybrids sit somewhere in between and vary a lot between manufacturers, which is the honest answer rather than a reassuring one. Some can be towed under specific conditions. Plenty cannot. If you have the handbook in the glovebox it is worth a look while you wait, and if you do not, tell us the model and we will treat it as flatbed-only rather than guess.
One more practical point. A flat traction battery is not a flat 12-volt battery, and the two need completely different help. If the dashboard lights up normally but the car will not move, that is usually the traction battery. If nothing happens at all when you press the start button, it may be the small 12-volt battery, and that one can sometimes be sorted where you stand with a jump start. Telling us which it looks like saves sending the wrong help.
EV & 4x4 recovery FAQs
Why does an electric car need a flatbed?
On most electric cars the motor is permanently connected to the driven wheels. Turning those wheels along the road turns the motor, which can generate current and push it back into a system that is not expecting it. That is why the great majority of EV handbooks specify transport with all four wheels off the ground, or at minimum with the driven wheels lifted. Check your own handbook if you can reach it, and tell us the make and model when you call so the right truck is sent.
My EV has run out of charge. Can you get me to a charger?
Yes. A flat traction battery is a recovery job rather than a roadside fix, because there is no practical way to put a useful amount of charge into a car at the side of a road. We load it and take it to a working charge point, your home charger or wherever suits you. It is worth naming a specific charger when you call, since we would rather not deliver you to one that is out of service.
Can you recover a 4x4 without damaging the drivetrain?
Yes, and it is the same principle as an EV. A permanent four-wheel-drive vehicle has a centre differential or transfer case that expects all four wheels to turn together. Dragging two of them along the road while the others sit still puts load through parts that were never meant to take it. We load 4x4s flat rather than lifting one axle, unless the manufacturer specifically allows otherwise.
What if the battery is damaged or the car has been in a fire?
Tell us immediately, and tell the emergency services too. A damaged high-voltage battery can reignite hours or even days after an incident, so a vehicle in that condition is handled differently, kept clear of other vehicles and buildings, and taken somewhere appropriate rather than parked on a driveway. Do not touch orange high-voltage cabling, and do not let anyone sit in the vehicle while you wait.
My EV is low and the driveway is steep. Will it ground on the ramps?
It might, and it is worth mentioning before we set off. Battery packs sit low and flat under the floor, so the approach angle on a tilt bed matters more than it does on a petrol hatchback. Steep driveways, speed humps at car park exits and kerbed bays are the usual pinch points. Knowing in advance lets the driver pick a loading spot instead of improvising.
Ordinary breakdowns are vehicle recovery. After a collision, see accident recovery. Vans and light commercials have their own van recovery page, and bikes are covered under motorbike recovery. Check your area on the coverage map.
What drivers say.
“Absolutely brilliant service from start to finish. They were incredibly quick to respond, professional, and provided excellent customer service throughout.”
“Excellent service. He transported my car after it had been involved in an accident on the main road; he handled the transport safely.”
“Excellent service from Blue Line Recovery Services. The driver arrived on time, was very friendly, professional and made the whole vehicle recovery process stress-free.”