Flatbed towing in Norfolk, VA
Flatbed towing carries your whole vehicle on the bed of the tow truck, so none of its wheels touch the road. All Wide Towing & Recovery provides flatbed towing in Norfolk, Virginia and across Hampton Roads for AWD and 4WD vehicles, electric vehicles, low cars and damaged cars.
What is a flatbed tow truck?
A flatbed tow truck, also called a rollback, has a long flat bed that tilts and slides back to the ground to make a ramp. The vehicle is winched up the ramp, or driven up if it runs, then the bed levels out and the vehicle is strapped down at the wheels.
Because the vehicle rides on the bed, its tires, wheels, drivetrain and transmission don’t turn during the trip.
A flatbed is also the easiest truck for a vehicle that can’t roll, steer or shift out of park, because the winch does the work and the wheels don’t have to turn on the road. At delivery the bed tilts again and the vehicle is winched or rolled down slowly, so it arrives the way it left. That’s why flatbeds are the usual choice for longer trips across Hampton Roads.
Which vehicles need flatbed towing?
- All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles. Many car makers say they should be towed with all four wheels off the ground, because towing on two wheels can damage the drivetrain.
- Electric vehicles and many hybrids. Most manufacturers recommend flatbed transport. Check your owner’s manual.
- Low or lowered cars. A flatbed avoids scraping the front bumper or splitter.
- Damaged vehicles. Cars with broken wheels, suspension or steering after an accident can’t roll safely.
- Luxury, classic and specialty cars. No wear on tires or drivetrain during the move.
- Longer trips where you want the vehicle carried, not pulled.
If you’re not sure, look in your owner’s manual under towing or flat towing. It usually says whether the vehicle can be towed with two wheels down. When you call, tell us the year, make, model and drivetrain.
How flatbed towing works
1. The bed tilts down and slides back to make a ramp. On a busy street or shoulder, the driver positions the truck to keep the work area as far from traffic as possible and turns on warning lights.
2. The vehicle goes on by winch, or by driving it up slowly if it runs. A cable is attached to a tow point on the vehicle, and the winch pulls it up the ramp in a straight line.
3. The bed levels out and the vehicle is strapped down at the wheels, so the straps hold the tires rather than the body or suspension.
4. We deliver it and tilt the bed again so the vehicle rolls off at your destination: a repair shop, dealership, body shop or home in Norfolk or anywhere in Hampton Roads. Keep your receipt in case your insurer or roadside plan reimburses the tow.
Flatbed vs. wheel lift: which do you need?
A wheel lift raises one end of the vehicle by its tires while the other wheels roll on the road. It works well in tight spaces such as parking garages, downtown Norfolk streets and narrow driveways, for two-wheel-drive vehicles that can roll safely. Adding dollies under the other wheels lets a wheel lift move a vehicle with none of its wheels turning.
A flatbed is the safer choice for AWD, 4WD, electric, low and damaged vehicles. If you’re not sure, tell us the year, make and model and whether the car runs, and we’ll send the right truck.
Parking garages with low ceilings are a common problem. If a sign at the entrance shows the clearance height, tell us, because a flatbed may not fit inside and a wheel lift with dollies may be needed to bring the car out.
Flatbed towing across Hampton Roads
We provide flatbed towing in Norfolk and nearby cities: Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News, including vehicles stopped on I-64, I-264, I-464, I-564 and I-664.
Flatbeds are a good fit for trips between cities, such as an AWD SUV going from a Virginia Beach driveway to a Norfolk dealership, or an electric car going from Chesapeake to a service center in Newport News, because the vehicle rides on the bed the whole way.
If you’re stopped on an interstate, pull onto the right shoulder or take the next exit, turn on your hazard lights and stay buckled in. Give us the highway, your direction and the nearest exit.
What to tell dispatch for flatbed towing
- The year, make and model, and whether it’s AWD, 4WD, electric or lowered. These vehicles ride on a flatbed so the drive wheels stay off the road
- Whether it starts and rolls, and whether the steering and brakes work. A car that won’t roll may need wheel dollies or the winch to load
- Where it’s parked: street, driveway, parking garage (with the height limit) or lot, and how much room there is around it
- Any damage that affects loading, such as a flat tire, a bent wheel, a dragging bumper or leaking fluid
- Where it needs to go, and whether someone will be there to receive it
Flatbed towing is the usual choice for classic cars, low sports cars, electric cars and cars damaged in an accident.
Before your car goes on the flatbed
Remove valuables and loose items from the cabin and the bed of a pickup. Fold in the mirrors if you can, and lower or remove any tall antenna. For electric vehicles, check the owner’s manual for a towing or transport mode and tell us what it says. Some EVs have to be put in a specific mode before they can be moved at all.
Take a few photos of the car before loading so you have a record of its condition. If the car is lowered or has a low front spoiler, tell us so the driver can plan the loading angle. Leave the keys with the driver, or tell us where they’ll be if you can’t stay.
Why choose All Wide Towing & Recovery for flatbed towing?
All Wide Towing & Recovery is a towing company based at 2151 Maude B. Davis St, Norfolk, VA 23504, serving Norfolk and the Hampton Roads cities of Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News.
- Local to Norfolk: our trucks start from our base in Norfolk, near I-264.
- The right truck: flatbed, wheel lift and dollies, wrecker and boom truck, matched to your vehicle.
- Light, medium and heavy duty: one towing company for a compact car, a box truck or a commercial vehicle.
- Towing and roadside help: if a roadside fix works, you may not need a tow; if it doesn’t, the same call becomes one.
- Open every day, day and night, including weekends and holidays.
What affects the cost of flatbed towing?
Flatbed towing cost depends on the distance, the vehicle’s size and weight, and whether the vehicle needs to be winched onto the bed. A car that rolls and steers is simpler to load than one with a locked wheel, a flat tire or crash damage.
The pickup spot matters too: a low parking garage, a soft shoulder or a tight driveway can take more time. Ask for the price when you call (757) 796-4622 and we’ll give it to you before the truck is sent. Have the pickup address, the year, make and model, the vehicle’s condition and the full destination address ready.
Keep your receipt. Many auto insurance policies and roadside plans reimburse towing, so check your policy.
Flatbed towing questions
Is flatbed towing better for my car?
For AWD, 4WD, electric, low and damaged vehicles, yes. A flatbed keeps all four wheels off the road, so the drivetrain, tires and transmission don’t turn during the trip. For a two-wheel-drive car that rolls normally, a wheel lift is often fine. All Wide Towing & Recovery will recommend the right truck when you give us the year, make and model and say whether it runs.
Do electric cars need a flatbed?
Usually, yes. Most electric vehicle makers recommend flatbed towing, and All Wide Towing & Recovery carries EVs on a flatbed in Norfolk and across Hampton Roads. Many EVs have a tow or transport mode that lets the wheels roll for loading, and your owner’s manual explains how to set it. Tell us the make and model when you call, and whether the car still powers on.
Can you tow an AWD car with a wheel lift?
Usually not. Many car makers say AWD vehicles should travel with all four wheels off the ground, so All Wide Towing & Recovery sends a flatbed for AWD towing in Norfolk and Hampton Roads. Towing an AWD car with two wheels down can strain the transfer case and drivetrain. If a flatbed can’t reach the car, such as in a low garage, dollies under the rolling wheels are another option.
Can a flatbed carry a car that won’t start?
Yes. A flatbed tow truck can carry a car that won’t start, because the winch pulls the vehicle onto the bed and it doesn’t need to run. We do this every day in Norfolk and across Hampton Roads. Tell us whether the car will shift into neutral and whether the steering turns. If a dead battery might be the cause, ask about a jump start first.
Can you load a lowered car on a flatbed?
Yes. All Wide Towing & Recovery loads lowered cars on a flatbed in Norfolk, and a flatbed is usually the safer choice for low cars because it avoids dragging the bumper or splitter. Tell us the car is lowered, and mention any front lip, side skirts or air suspension, so the driver can plan the loading angle. If the car has working air suspension, raise it before we arrive.
Do you have flatbed towing in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach?
Yes. All Wide Towing & Recovery offers flatbed towing in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, as well as Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News. We carry AWD, 4WD, electric, low and damaged vehicles from homes, parking lots and interstate shoulders on I-64, I-264 and I-464. Call (757) 796-4622 with your location and destination, and ask for the price before the truck is sent.
Is there a flatbed tow truck near me in Norfolk?
Yes. All Wide Towing & Recovery sends flatbed tow trucks across Norfolk and the rest of Hampton Roads, and we’re open every day, day and night, including weekends and holidays. Call (757) 796-4622, give us your exact location and vehicle, and say you need a flatbed. The dispatcher will confirm the truck and tell you the price before it’s sent, so you know what to expect.
Can you flatbed my car to a dealership in Hampton or Newport News?
Yes. All Wide Towing & Recovery provides flatbed towing from Norfolk to dealerships and repair shops in Hampton and Newport News, and anywhere else in Hampton Roads. Give us the dealership’s name and full address, and check its service hours. If it will be closed when we arrive, ask the dealer where to leave the vehicle and keys. Keep your receipt in case your warranty, insurer or roadside plan reimburses towing.
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