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How to Tow a Car Without a Key — All the Safe, Legal Options
Losing or locking your keys inside a car is one of those small-but-infuriating moments that immediately ruins your plans. Add a dead battery or mechanical failure, and suddenly you need the car moved — but you don’t have a key. Good news: there are several legitimate, safe ways to tow a vehicle without a key. Below I’ll walk you through the common towing methods, when each is appropriate, what you should have ready, and important legal and safety notes. I’ll keep this practical and human — like a friendly tow operator explaining what they’d do for you.
First things first: stay legal and safe
Before we cover methods, a quick but crucial reminder: only tow a vehicle you own or have explicit permission to move. If the car isn’t yours, you must have written authorization from the owner, or be acting on behalf of an authorized agent (impound lot, property manager, law enforcement, etc.). If you’re unsure, get verification — it avoids messy legal trouble.
Also, modern cars have electronic immobilizers and complex drivetrains. Trying to improvise a tow can damage the transmission, steering, or electronics. When in doubt — call a reputable towing company or roadside assistance. They’ve seen it all and have the right gear.
Flatbed Towing — The Best All-Around Solution
When you don’t have the key, a flatbed truck is almost always the safest option. Instead of pulling the car on its own wheels, the vehicle is loaded entirely onto a flat platform.
Even if your car is in “park,” and you cant enter without a key to shift the gear, professional operators can still move it. They use skates — small rolling platforms that go under each wheel — to winch the vehicle smoothly onto the flatbed without having to start the engine or put it in neutral.
In other cases a tow operator can unlock your car and shift the car into neutral manually (Impossible with newer models).
Why it’s great: It avoids any stress on your transmission or tires, especially for luxury cars, EVs, and all-wheel drives. Flatbeds are the top choice when you want your vehicle protected and handled carefully.
Wheel-lift Towing — Fast, flexible, and can work long-distance with dollies
Wheel-lift trucks use a lift that lifts one end of the vehicle (front or rear) so the other wheels roll. Wheel-lift towing is more flexible than it used to be: professionals use wheel-lifts with dollies to support the wheels. That means even if your car is locked in park or the steering is locked, we place dollies under the wheels and tow the vehicle safely — sometimes for long distances.
Why it’s useful: It’s a faster hookup than a flatbed, while still protecting the car when dollies are used. Tow operators often choose this method for both short and longer moves when the situation allows.
What to watch for: The tow driver should confirm the vehicle type and whether dollies are needed — that way they avoid damage to the transmission or drivetrain.
Using skates or dollies — when the car won’t roll freely
Dollies and skates are the unsung heroes when a vehicle can’t be shifted or steered. These compact platforms let the car glide even with the keys locked or the steering engaged. In many lockout situations — parking garages, tight driveways, or steep inclines — dollies allow the operator to roll the vehicle safely onto a flatbed or leave it on the truck with the released wheels supported.
Why clients like it: It avoids extra work for the owner and prevents damage that can happen when a car is dragged or improperly tied.
Specialty low-clearance towing — tight garages and parking structures
If the car is stuck in an underground garage, valet stack, or low-ceiling structure, standard flatbeds might not reach. That’s where low-clearance wheel-lift rigs, skates, and careful extraction techniques come in. These jobs require experience and the right tools — and they’re very common in LA neighborhoods with dense parking structures.
Real Story: The BMW in the Beverly Hills Garage
A few months ago we got a call from a panicked customer in Beverly Hills: his BMW key was lost and the car was tucked deep inside a residential garage with a little over six-foot clearance — too low for a regular flatbed.
Three companies had already turned him away, but our team showed up with a low-clearance wheel-lift truck and a set of dollies. The BMW’s steering was locked and the transmission was in park. We carefully placed dollies under each wheel, rolled the car out of the garage inch by inch, then towed it safely to the dealership.
The owner told us he expected to wait days for a replacement key. Instead, the car was on its way to service within an hour. That’s the difference experience and the right equipment make.