How to Tow a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y After a Collision

Handle the emergency before arranging transport

Tesla’s owner guidance says to place a Model 3 or Model Y in Park after an accident and contact Roadside Assistance; call 911 when it is an emergency. A Tesla can remain energized without making engine noise, so do not treat silence as proof that the vehicle is safe to approach or handle.

Keep all four wheels off the ground

Tesla’s current Model 3 and Model Y transport instructions say all four tires must be off the ground during transport. A flatbed truck or comparable transport vehicle is the recommended method. Do not request a road tow that allows vehicle wheels to spin.

Tow Mode is for loading, not road towing

Tow Mode allows limited free rolling so the vehicle can be winched onto a flatbed or repositioned. It is not permission to tow the vehicle down the road on its wheels. The operator should follow the current manual for the exact vehicle and remain within its short-distance and low-speed limits.

If the touchscreen or power is unavailable

The Tesla manuals direct transporters to use properly rated self-loading dollies or tire skates when Tow Mode is unavailable or the touchscreen cannot be accessed. Loading a collision-damaged vehicle is work for a qualified operator; owners should not improvise around a damaged wheel, locked brake, or high-voltage component.

Treat collision-damaged high-voltage parts cautiously

Tesla warns that a collision may compromise high-voltage components and says they should be assumed energized until emergency response professionals evaluate the vehicle. Do not touch exposed cables, connectors, battery components, or damaged areas that may involve the high-voltage system.

Details to give the dispatcher

• Exact Tesla model and model year.
• Pickup location, destination, and parking-garage or clearance limits.
• Whether the phone key or key card is available.
• Whether the touchscreen and low-voltage system are operating.
• Whether any wheel is blocked, detached, or visibly damaged.
• Whether airbags deployed or emergency responders evaluated the vehicle.

Use the manual for the exact vehicle

Tesla updates its vehicles and instructions. The in-vehicle Owner’s Manual is tailored to the vehicle’s configuration when it can be accessed; Tesla also publishes separate manuals for current and earlier Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The transporter should verify the applicable instructions before loading.

Independent-service disclosure

Calibri Motorsport is an independent repair business and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla, Inc. Availability, service area, equipment fit, timing, and towing price must be confirmed before dispatch.