Ways to tow a car behind another vehicle
Flatbed, tow dolly, flat tow, hauler trailer, and tow strap: how each method works, what it costs, and which vehicle each one suits.
Five practical ways to move a car with another vehicle. The right one depends on the towed car’s drivetrain, how often you’ll do it, and how much money you want to spend.
| Method | Wheels on ground | Drivetrain risk | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat tow (four-down) | 4 | Low if the vehicle is approved | $800 to $2,500 setup | Approved 4WD/AWD or manuals behind an RV |
| Tow dolly | 2 (rear of towed car) | Low for FWD, higher for RWD/AWD | $1,500 to $3,000 to buy, $60-$90/day to rent | FWD cars on shorter trips |
| Flatbed trailer | 0 | None | $3,500 to $7,000 to buy | Any car, especially low or AWD |
| Hauler trailer (enclosed) | 0 | None | $8,000 to $25,000 to buy | Race cars, classics, long hauls |
| Tow strap or chain | 4 (towed car steers) | Some | $20 to $80 for the strap | Short distance recovery only |
For anything past short-distance recovery, call a tow truck before you reach for a strap. A wrecker call is $75 to $250 and won’t end with bodywork on two cars.
Flat towing (four-down)
A tow bar connects the front of a car to the back of an RV, and the car rolls behind on all four tires. Cheapest setup and easiest to hitch and unhitch, but only some vehicles are factory-approved.
Jeep Wrangler is the gold standard because it has a transfer case neutral position and a manufacturer blessing. Ford Bronco (the real one, not the Sport), some 4WD F-150s with the right transfer case, the Jeep Gladiator, and certain Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon configurations are also approved for 2026. The RV LIFE 2026 dinghy towing guide is the source of truth, the owner’s manual is the second.
Setup runs $800 to $2,500 for the tow bar, base plate, wiring, and a supplemental braking system (required in most states). You can’t flat tow a vehicle the manufacturer didn’t approve without risking transmission damage the warranty won’t cover.
Ford owners with a 2021 to 2026 F-150, 2024 to 2026 Ranger, or 2022 to 2026 Maverick should check whether recall 26C10 (NHTSA 26V104000) has been completed. The Integrated Trailer Module fault can affect trailer lights and brakes, which matters even if you’re flat-towing behind an RV.
Tow dolly
A two-wheel trailer that lifts the front wheels of a front-wheel-drive car off the ground while the rear wheels roll. Cheaper than a flatbed, takes less storage space, works well for moving a car a few hundred miles.
Front-wheel-drive cars are easy. Rear-wheel-drive cars need the driveshaft disconnected. AWD generally shouldn’t be towed this way at all. U-Haul rents dollies for about $60 to $90 per day.
The catch is loading and tie-down. Straps on the wheels (not the suspension), safety chains crossed, and a quick inspection of the wheel baskets at every fuel stop.
Flatbed trailer
Drive the car onto the trailer, strap it down, tow it. No drivetrain to worry about, no setup beyond loading. The right answer for AWD, low-clearance, or non-running vehicles.
A 16 ft open car hauler in steel runs $3,500 to $5,500 new. Aluminum versions push $5,500 to $8,000. Most are rated for 7,000 to 10,000 lb GVWR, which covers nearly any sedan, SUV, or half-ton truck. The trailer itself weighs 1,800 to 2,500 lb empty, so size your tow vehicle accordingly.
For securing the car: four-point strap setup, ratchet straps (not cam straps), attached to the chassis or frame, never the suspension. V-straps or basket straps over the wheels are also fine.
Enclosed hauler trailer
Same idea as a flatbed, with walls and a roof. Used for race cars, restored classics, long-distance shipments, anything you don’t want exposed to weather and road grit.
A 20 ft enclosed aluminum hauler with a ramp door starts around $12,000 used, $18,000 to $25,000 new. They tow heavier and catch more wind, so you want a 3/4-ton or bigger truck for anything serious.
Tow strap or chain
Useful for pulling a car out of a ditch or moving one across a parking lot. Not for road use in most states, and not safe at any real speed. Both vehicles need solid frame-mounted recovery points, the strap stays under 15 feet, and the towed car has a licensed driver inside steering and braking.
Avoid sudden braking. The towed car is on dead brakes, and a snap-tight strap can damage both bumpers or worse. Mostly: don’t do this past a recovery situation. Call a wrecker.
How to pick
If you tow the same car often (race weekends, snowbird trips with a dinghy behind the RV), buy or build a setup that fits the car.
If it’s a one-time move, rent. U-Haul, Penske, and most local trailer rental yards have dollies and open car haulers for $50 to $150 per day. For long distances, transport companies will move a car door-to-door for $0.50 to $1.50 per mile.
Check the towed car’s manual before doing anything else. Flat towing an automatic Toyota Tacoma will toast the transmission. So will dolly-towing a Subaru with AWD locked. The five minutes you spend reading the manual is cheaper than a $4,000 transmission.
Checklist regardless of method
- A tow vehicle with enough payload and tow capacity for the loaded setup, not just the empty trailer
- 2 5/16 inch ball for most car haulers (a 2 inch ball is too small)
- Safety chains, crossed under the tongue
- Trailer lights working before you leave the driveway
- A breakaway switch wired to a charged battery on any trailer over 3,000 lb in most states