With flatbed truck towing, the whole vehicle rides on the deck, so no wheel turns and no part of the drivetrain is under strain. That makes a rollback the safest choice for automatics, all-wheel drive cars, low sports cars, electric and hybrid vehicles, and anything with crash damage. The deck tilts back, the car is winched up and strapped at the wheels. Tell us what needs moving and where, and local operators with rollbacks quote you directly. Requests are free and you are not obliged to accept.
When a flatbed is the right call
- Automatic gearboxes and all-wheel or four-wheel drive
- Electric and hybrid cars, which should not be towed with wheels turning
- Lowered cars, sports cars and long overhangs, on a low-angle or sliding deck
- Accident damage: bent suspension, missing wheels or a broken axle
- Long-distance tows, where wheel wear and heat on a wheel-lift add up
- New or high-value cars moved between dealers and buyers
For a short tow of a front-wheel-drive manual, a wheel-lift is often cheaper. See car towing.
How the car should be secured
A good operator winches the car up slowly in neutral, centres it, and ties it down with wheel straps or chains over the tyres, not through the suspension. Four tie-down points is the norm. Ask the driver to check the straps after the first few kilometres on a long run. Fold in the mirrors and close the windows before loading. If the car is low, ask for wooden ramps or a deck that slides back before it tilts.
Deck sizes and limits
Most rollbacks carry one car or light bakkie, often up to about 3,500 kg, on a deck of roughly 5.5 to 6.5 metres. Some larger units carry a car plus a second on an underlift, or a loaded double-cab bakkie. For vans, small trucks and plant you may need a heavier deck or a lowbed. Give the vehicle type and rough mass so the right truck is sent. See heavy-duty towing for anything bigger.
What a flatbed tow costs
A local flatbed tow is often quoted at about R1,200 to R3,500. On longer trips, operators often work from a call-out fee plus about R15 to R25 per km. Winching a car that does not roll, a basement pick-up or an after-hours job can add to it. Get the total, the kilometres counted and any storage rate per day in writing.
What to include in your request
- Vehicle type, mass and ground clearance
- Drivetrain: automatic, AWD or electric
- Whether it rolls, steers and brakes
- Pick-up access: basement, gate or narrow street
- Drop-off address and any time window
Flatbed Towing for different clients
- Motorists and families: an automatic family SUV with a gearbox fault carried to a specialist on a deck
- Company fleets and rental firms: electric and hybrid pool cars moved flat between depots and service centres
- Truckers, buses and logistics: a crew cab or light panel van carried on a heavier rollback to the workshop
- Farmers and 4x4 owners: a double-cab bakkie with a broken half-shaft carried in from a gravel road
- Dealers, panel beaters and workshops: new and pre-owned stock moved between branches without adding kilometres
- Construction, mining and plant hire: a damaged site bakkie or compact loader carried to the plant yard on a deck
- Caravan, boat and bike owners: a low sports car or restored classic loaded on a low-angle sliding deck
- Municipalities, estates and schools: municipal pool cars and estate security vehicles moved flat to the workshop
Frequently asked questions
Is a flatbed tow more expensive than a wheel-lift?
Can a flatbed carry a car that does not roll?
What is the difference between a rollback and a flatbed?
How do I get flatbed quotes through this site?
Flatbed 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