Shipping an electric vehicle on a car carrier

Owners, dealers and marketplaces moving EVs all face the same questions: how heavy is it, can it be towed, how much charge should it have, and who has the key? This guide answers each with what manufacturers and shipping platforms say. The general checklist in how to prepare a car for transport still applies. Plug-in hybrids carry a traction battery and a 12V system too, so check their owner's manual the same way.

Why weight matters on a car carrier

Battery packs are heavy, and they sit under the floor, which changes how a car is loaded and secured. Some electric trucks weigh far more than the sedans most carriers load every day:

Edmunds reported that the Hummer EV's battery pack alone weighs 2,923 pounds, and that even the heaviest configuration of a GMC Sierra 3500 Denali weighs about 700 pounds less than the Hummer EV.

A carrier plans each load around what its truck and trailer are rated to carry, not only how many cars fit on the deck, so a few heavy electric trucks can use up a trailer's weight allowance before they fill its slots. When you request a quote, give the year, make, model and trim, or the VIN, so the provider sees the real vehicle.

Never tow an EV with its wheels on the ground

Many electric vehicles must not be towed with any wheels turning. Manufacturers are blunt about it:

• Tesla Model Y. The owner's manual says: "Always transport Model Y with all four tires off the ground." It names a flatbed truck or comparable transport vehicle as the recommended method. Wheel lifts and dollies are allowed only when a flatbed is not available, for a maximum of 35 miles, and not above the dollies' speed rating.
• Chevrolet Silverado EV. GM Authority reports the owner's manual states the truck "was neither designed nor intended to be towed with any of its wheels on the ground," and that dolly or dinghy towing may damage it.
• Ford Mustang Mach-E. Ford's support page for a disabled Mach-E recommends arranging "a flatbed tow truck" through Ford Roadside Assistance or a professional towing service, and points to the "Transporting the Vehicle" section of the owner's manual.

On a car carrier the EV rides on the deck, so this matters mostly when a disabled car has to reach the pickup point. Unless the manual for that exact model allows it, do not let anyone pull an EV with its drive wheels on the road.

Tow mode, neutral and the low 12V battery

Many EVs need power just to shift out of Park. Tesla's manual describes a Tow Mode that is "only intended to allow for winching Model Y onto a flatbed truck." The tires may then turn slowly (under 5 mph) and only "for a very short distance (less than 30 feet or 10 meters)." Enabling it requires a detected key, the brake pedal held and the touchscreen (Controls, then Service, then Towing), and "Tow Mode is not available if Model Y is still plugged in."

Other makes use their own names and steps, so find the transport section of your manual. Tell the provider which mode the car needs and leave the low voltage battery connected so the driver can unlock it and put it in neutral.

That small 12V battery can stop a pickup cold. Tesla's manual warns that "if Model Y has no low voltage power, you need an external low voltage power supply to open the hood or use the touchscreen," and that if the electrical system is not working, "self-loading dollies or tire skates must be used to load the vehicle." In practice, an EV that will not wake up is an inoperable vehicle: it cannot drive on, and it may not even roll. Book it that way. The inoperable vehicle transport guide explains what equipment the carrier will need.

A day or two before pickup:

1. Confirm the car wakes, unlocks and responds to the key you will hand over.
2. Find the manual's procedure for neutral, tow or transport mode and share it with the provider.

Charge level, keys and alarms

There is no single industry standard for state of charge. Super Dispatch says EV batteries "should be charged to the manufacturer-recommended level, typically between 50% and 70%." Ask your provider which range it wants, leave enough charge for loading and unloading, and unplug the car before the driver arrives.

A phone key leaves with you. Tesla's manual notes that "many phones disable Bluetooth when the battery is low," that a key card can unlock, drive and lock the car instead, and that for Tow Mode "you must have your phone key or a key card available to restart the vehicle." Hand the driver a physical key card or fob, record it on the bill of lading, and give it to the driver rather than leaving it in the car (Tesla's manual says "Do not leave a key card in the vehicle").

Turn off alarms and remote features that could honk, flash or lock the car while it is on the trailer.

Inspection, including underneath, and open vs enclosed

Inspect an EV like any car, plus the underside: the battery sits under the floor, so look along the sills and under each end for scrapes, dents or loose panels, and photograph what you can see. Super Dispatch recommends a thorough inspection before transport, with existing damage documented in detailed photos and notes. Record everything on the vehicle condition report and bill of lading, and repeat the check at delivery before you sign.

On trailer type, Super Dispatch says enclosed transport "is generally recommended for EVs, especially high-value or delicate models," and suggests it in extreme weather. A sensible approach is an open carrier for an everyday EV and an enclosed carrier quote for new or high-value models. See the open vs enclosed guide.

What to tell the provider

Send the same details with every EV order:

1. Year, make, model, trim and VIN, so weight and size are clear
2. That it is a battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid
3. Whether it powers on, and whether it can be put in neutral, tow or transport mode
4. Its current charge level and the range the carrier wants
5. What key the driver will receive (key card or fob) and who will hand it over
6. Any low ride height, air suspension settings or underbody damage
7. Contacts at pickup and delivery, and whether either site has a charger

Dealers should mark any unit with a dead 12V battery as inoperable, even if a jump start will probably fix it. Marketplaces can show the powertrain on the vehicle detail page so the quote starts with the right vehicle.