Preparing a Car for Towing: What to Do Before Pickup
Preparing a car for towing before the truck arrives can make the entire process easier, safer and more organised. Whether your vehicle has stopped because of a mechanical problem, will not start at home or needs planned transport to a workshop, a few simple checks can prevent avoidable delays.
Good preparation is not about trying to repair or move a vehicle yourself. It means giving the towing provider accurate information, removing important belongings, confirming access and making sure the vehicle can be collected as planned.
This guide explains how to prepare your car for towing, including what information to provide, what to do with your keys and how vehicle condition can affect the loading process. Choosing a reliable towing service can also help make pickup and transport more straightforward.
12 Steps to Prepare Your Car for Towing
A little preparation before the tow truck arrives can make the entire process faster, safer, and stress-free. Simple steps like confirming your location, sharing the vehicle’s condition, and clearing the loading area help the operator do their job efficiently and prevent unnecessary delays. Follow these 12 steps to make sure your car is ready for pickup.
1. Move the Vehicle to a Safe Position When Possible
If your vehicle is still capable of moving safely, try to position it away from active traffic before arranging towing.
A driveway, parking bay, side street or safe shoulder may provide better access than a live traffic lane. However, do not continue driving if the vehicle has serious steering, braking, wheel or mechanical problems.
If you have already stopped on a NSW road, switch on your hazard lights and consider the surrounding traffic before leaving the vehicle.
Never risk further vehicle damage simply to create a more convenient towing position.
2. Confirm Your Exact Pickup Location
One of the most important parts of preparing a car for towing is making sure the operator can find the vehicle.
Provide more than just the suburb.
Useful location details include:
- Full street address
- Nearest intersection
- Business or building name
- Parking level
- Driveway or gate location
- Nearby landmark
- GPS location pin
If the car is inside a large apartment complex, shopping centre or commercial property, explain exactly where it is parked.
Clear pickup instructions reduce time spent searching for the vehicle and help the operator plan where the truck can safely position itself.
3. Explain Whether the Car Starts, Rolls and Steers
The condition of the vehicle affects how it can be loaded.
When booking the tow, explain whether the car:
- Starts and remains running
- Rolls freely
- Steers normally
- Has functioning brakes
- Is stuck in gear
- Has an electronic parking brake that will not release
- Has one or more flat tyres
- Has damaged wheels
- Has locked wheels
A car that rolls and steers normally may be relatively straightforward to load. A vehicle with locked wheels, damaged suspension or steering problems may require different equipment.
This is why the importance of accurate information when requesting towing should not be underestimated. Correct information helps the provider assess the vehicle before dispatch rather than discovering a loading problem after arrival.
4. Tell the Provider About Low Ground Clearance
Modified, prestige and performance vehicles can require additional planning.
Tell the towing provider if your vehicle has:
- Lowered suspension
- Front splitters
- Side skirts
- Body kits
- Air suspension
- Large aftermarket wheels
- Very low bumpers
A low-clearance vehicle may require a gentler loading angle or a particular towing setup.
Do not assume the make and model alone tells the operator everything. Two cars of the same model can have very different ground clearance when one has been modified.
Providing this information early helps reduce the chance of the underside, bumper or bodywork contacting the loading equipment.
For vehicles that need careful loading or cannot be driven safely, a professional car towing service can help arrange suitable equipment based on the vehicle’s condition.
5. Remove Important Personal Belongings
Before the car is transported, remove anything you may need before you see the vehicle again.
This may include:
- Wallet or purse
- House keys
- Medication
- Work equipment
- Child seats
- Garage remote
- Personal documents
- Sunglasses
- Phone charger
- Valuable items
Check the glove box, centre console, boot and door compartments.
If the vehicle is going directly to a mechanic or storage facility, you may not have immediate access to it later.
Only retrieve belongings when the location is safe. If the vehicle is close to fast-moving traffic, personal safety is more important than removing items.
6. Check Access for the Tow Truck
The vehicle may be easy to reach with a passenger car but difficult to access with a tow truck.
Before booking, look around the pickup area.
Check for:
- Low overhead clearance
- Narrow gates
- Tight corners
- Steep driveways
- Parked vehicles
- Trees or low branches
- Restricted loading zones
- Basement ramps
- Limited turning space
Underground and multi-storey car parks deserve particular attention. Check the posted height clearance and tell the towing provider which level the vehicle is on.
If access looks difficult, photos of the entrance, driveway and vehicle position can help the operator understand the situation before dispatch.
7. Decide Where the Vehicle Is Going
Do not wait until the vehicle is already loaded to decide on the destination. Preparing a car for towing also means confirming where the vehicle needs to be delivered before pickup.
Confirm whether the car needs to go to:
- Your preferred mechanic
- A dealership
- A tyre shop
- Your home
- A workplace
- A secure storage location
- Another suitable private address
Contact the destination first when possible.
Check its opening hours and confirm that someone can receive the vehicle. For after-hours delivery, ask where the car should be left and what should happen with the keys.
Having clear towing destination details helps avoid unnecessary phone calls and last-minute changes once transport has started.
8. Where to Leave Keys for a Tow Truck
Where to leave keys for tow truck collection is especially important when you cannot remain with the vehicle. Preparing a car for towing includes making sure the keys are available in a secure and agreed way before pickup.
Never leave the keys openly visible inside the car, on a tyre, under a floor mat or in another obvious location.
Instead, agree on a secure arrangement with the towing provider before collection.
Possible options may include:
- Handing the keys directly to the operator
- Leaving them with an authorised building manager
- Giving them to a workshop representative
- Using a secure lockbox where available
- Arranging collection through another trusted person
For an unattended pickup, confirm exactly where the keys will be and who has permission to access them.
The operator may need the key to release the steering lock, place the transmission in neutral or manage electronic vehicle systems during loading.
9. Provide the Correct Make and Model
Providing accurate vehicle details is another important part of preparing a car for towing, as different vehicles can require different loading methods or equipment.
Provide the full:
- Vehicle make
- Model
- Body type
- Registration number
Also mention whether the car is:
- Electric
- Hybrid
- All-wheel drive
- Four-wheel drive
- Modified
- Unregistered
Different vehicles may have different transport requirements.
Accurate details help the towing provider plan a suitable transport method before arriving.
10. Do Not Try to Repair the Vehicle Just for Towing
A vehicle does not need to be driveable before it can be transported.
Trying to force a mechanical repair simply to move the car onto a tow truck can create additional problems.
Do not:
- Force a locked steering system
- Continue driving on a damaged tyre
- Push a vehicle into moving traffic
- Attempt repairs beside a busy road
- Force an electronic parking brake to release
- Try to winch the vehicle yourself
Explain the condition instead.
Suitable towing equipment may allow a non-running vehicle to be loaded without requiring it to drive normally.
If the problem is minor, such as a flat battery or simple tyre issue, roadside assistance may sometimes resolve the problem before towing becomes necessary.
11. Keep the Loading Area Clear
Once the tow truck arrives, allow the operator enough room to work.
Keep passengers, children and pets away from the loading area.
Avoid standing:
- Behind the vehicle
- Between the car and tow truck
- Close to winch cables
- Beside moving parts of the tray
- In active traffic lanes
Follow the operator’s instructions and avoid trying to help with loading unless specifically asked.
12. Check the Vehicle Before It Leaves
Before transport begins, take a final moment to confirm the important details. Preparing a car for towing properly at this stage can help prevent missed information and last-minute delays.
Use this simple car towing checklist:
- Personal belongings removed
- Keys handed over or securely arranged
- Destination confirmed
- Contact details correct
- Workshop notified if required
- Vehicle condition explained
- Access instructions provided
- Registration details confirmed
You may also wish to take a few photos of the vehicle before transport for your own records.
Once everything is confirmed, the towing operator can focus on loading and delivering the vehicle.
How to Prepare Your Car for Towing From an Underground Car Park
Basement parking can make vehicle recovery more complicated. Before booking, check the following details and provide them to the towing operator.
Height Clearance
Look for the clearance sign at the entrance and provide the measurement. This helps determine whether suitable towing equipment can enter the building.
Parking Level
Tell the operator whether the vehicle is on B1, B2 or another level. This provides a clearer picture of the access required.
Ramp Conditions
Mention steep ramps, sharp turns or narrow sections that could affect truck access or vehicle recovery.
Vehicle Position
Explain whether the car is parked nose-in, against a wall or between other vehicles.
Access Controls
Provide information about gates, swipe cards, building managers or loading restrictions.
Photos are particularly useful for basement towing because they show conditions that cannot always be understood from a street address alone.
Preparing an Electric or Hybrid Car for Towing
Electric and hybrid cars may need extra attention when preparing a car for towing, as towing procedures can vary between manufacturers and models.
Provide the exact make and model and check the owner’s manual for manufacturer-specific towing instructions. This helps avoid using a transport method that may not suit the vehicle.
Do not assume the vehicle can be moved normally just because it rolls.
Tell the operator if:
- The battery is completely flat
- The vehicle will not enter neutral
- The electronic parking brake is locked
- Wheels cannot rotate normally
Providing this information in advance helps the towing provider choose suitable equipment and plan the loading process more safely.
Preparing a Motorcycle or Other Vehicle for Transport
The same principle of accurate preparation applies beyond passenger cars.
Preparing a Motorcycle for Towing
Motorcycles require suitable positioning and restraints because they cannot be loaded and secured in the same way as passenger cars.
Provide the bike type, approximate weight and whether it can roll normally. A dedicated motorcycle towing service can account for the bike’s condition and specific loading requirements.
Preparing Machinery for Transport
Forklifts, compact excavators and other equipment require additional information before collection.
Provide the approximate:
- Weight
- Length
- Width
- Height
- Operating condition
- Wheel or track condition
Professional machinery towing can then be arranged using equipment suited to the dimensions and condition of the load.
Common Mistakes When Preparing a Car for Towing
Many delays come from missing information rather than the towing process itself. Common mistakes include:
- Providing only the suburb instead of an exact location
- Forgetting to mention locked wheels
- Not checking car park height
- Leaving valuables inside
- Giving the wrong vehicle model
- Not confirming the delivery destination
- Failing to mention low suspension
- Leaving keys without an agreed arrangement
- Trying to move an unsafe vehicle before the truck arrives
A few minutes of preparation can prevent many of these issues.
