Towing a Non-Running Vehicle: What Owners Need to Know

Towing a non-running vehicle is routine work, but it is not the same as collecting a car that broke down this morning. Barn finds, project cars, blown engines, long-dead daily drivers: each one brings its own surprises.

Why towing a non-running vehicle is different

With no engine running, a vehicle usually has:

• No power steering. The wheels can still be turned, but it takes real effort.
• No power brakes. After a couple of pedal presses the vacuum assist is gone.
• No way to release an electronic parking brake on many modern cars.
• Possibly a locked steering column without a working key.

All of that is manageable: it just has to be known in advance so the right truck and equipment arrive.

The four questions that decide the equipment

When you call, expect to be asked:

1. Does it roll? Will all four wheels turn freely, or is something seized?
2. Does it steer? Can the wheels be turned at all?
3. Does it brake? And is the parking brake stuck on?
4. Do you have a key? Even a non-running car is far easier to load with one.

Answer these honestly, including “I don’t know.” A guess that turns out wrong means a wasted trip and a second visit.

Flat and rotten tires change the job

This is the detail owners most often forget. A tire that is flat, or one that has perished into the ground after years parked, will not roll onto a flatbed deck: it drags, and it can come off the rim entirely.

The answer is usually skates or dollies, small wheeled units that go under the wheels so the car can be moved. They take longer and they need to be brought. Mention flat tires when you book.

Where the car is sitting

A car that has not moved in years is rarely somewhere convenient. Tell us about:

• Grass, gravel or mud: a flatbed needs firm ground and a lot of length.
• Low branches, carports, garage headroom.
• Other vehicles or obstacles blocking a straight pull.
• Narrow gates and tight turns.
• Whether the ground is level.

Photographs sent ahead are genuinely useful here. A few pictures can save an hour on the day.

Getting a long-parked car ready for pickup

You do not need to fix anything, but a little preparation makes towing a non-running vehicle smoother:

• Clear a path to the car and move anything stored on or around it.
• Pump up soft tires if they will still hold air.
• Find the key, even if the car will not start; it unlocks the steering.
• Take valuables and paperwork out of the cabin.
• If the car leaks, tell us so the deck can be protected.

Paperwork and permission

Be ready to show the vehicle is yours to move, particularly from a third-party property or a storage yard. If the car is on someone else’s land, make sure they know it is being collected and that access is arranged.

If the title has gone missing over the years, sort it out before you sell or register the car; the Alabama Department of Revenue’s Motor Vehicle Division handles titles and replacements.

Set expectations on condition

Long-parked vehicles are fragile. Perished rubber, corroded mounting points and seized components mean some risk is unavoidable, and our driver will explain anything of that sort before starting work rather than afterward.

Non-running vehicle FAQ

Can a non-running car go on a wheel-lift?

Sometimes, if it rolls, steers and is front- or rear-wheel drive. Most of the time a flatbed is the safer choice; our flatbed vs wheel-lift towing guide explains why.

Do I need to be there?

It helps, but it is not always essential. If you cannot be there, arrange access in advance and tell us who will hand over the key.

We move non-runners, project cars and long-parked vehicles across Birmingham on flatbeds with skates when they are needed. Call (205) 210-8809 or see our towing services.