Cars are the bulk of tows in South Africa, yet the method matters more than most drivers realise. Lifting the wrong wheels on an automatic or all-wheel drive car can damage the gearbox or transfer case, and a low bumper can scrape on a steep deck. A careful car towing service asks about the drivetrain first and sends a truck to match. Tell us the car, where it is and where it must go, and local operators quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation to accept.
Match the method to the car
- Front-wheel-drive manual hatchbacks and sedans: a wheel-lift with the front wheels up is usually fine for a short tow.
- Automatics: the driven wheels should be off the ground, and on a longer tow a flatbed is safer.
- All-wheel drive and many SUVs: all four wheels off the road, so a rollback or dollies under the other axle.
- Electric and hybrid cars: on a deck, as the motors can generate current when the wheels turn.
- Low or modified cars: a low-angle deck or ramps to protect the bumper.
More on decks in flatbed towing.
Get the car ready
Take out valuables, the remote for the gate and anything loose in the boot. Note the fuel level and the mileage, and take photos of all four sides so any new mark is easy to spot later. Leave the key with the operator only once you know where the car is going. If the steering lock is on and the key is lost, say so, because the truck may need skates or dollies.
What a car tow costs
A short local car tow is often quoted at about R850 to R2,500. Longer runs are usually worked out as a call-out fee plus about R15 to R25 per km. A flatbed, a basement pick-up, a car that does not roll, or a late-night job can push the price up. Tolls on the route are normally passed on. More detail is on towing prices.
Insurance and your choice of operator
If the tow follows a breakdown or a claim, check your policy first. Many insurers want you to use their own roadside line so the tow is covered, but you may choose your own operator unless the policy says otherwise. Either way, get the drop-off address and any storage rate per day written on the slip before the car is lifted.
What to include in your request
- Car size and whether it is automatic or AWD
- Whether it is electric, hybrid or lowered
- Pick-up address and drop-off workshop
- Whether the keys and remote are available
- Any damage, flat tyres or locked steering
Car Towing for different clients
- Motorists and families: a family hatchback with a failed clutch taken from home to the local workshop
- Company fleets and rental firms: pool cars and rental sedans moved to service centres without adding kilometres
- Truckers, buses and logistics: staff shuttle sedans and e-hailing cars towed from the depot to a workshop
- Farmers and 4x4 owners: the town car on a farm, towed from the yard to a dealer in the district
- Dealers, panel beaters and workshops: trade-ins and auction cars that do not start, moved to the reconditioning bay
- Construction, mining and plant hire: a site manager's car towed from a mine office to the nearest service centre
- Caravan, boat and bike owners: a classic or weekend car moved carefully on a deck to a restorer
- Municipalities, estates and schools: cars left in estate parking bays or school grounds moved after the owner agrees
Frequently asked questions
Can an automatic car be towed with its wheels on the road?
How do I tow a car with a flat battery and the steering locked?
Should I use a tow rope behind a friend's car instead?
Do you tow the car yourselves?
Car Towing by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg