Q&A for How to Tow Cars

Unlocked! There will be someone in the towed vehicle steering and braking.

No. This is illegal and dangerous, no matter how securely the car is hooked up. The children need to be in vehicle doing the towing.

You should never lose brake fluid unless you have a leak in the system, which should be corrected before you drive the vehicle again.

You should tow the car with the steering wheel unlocked, but it's still not the best option. Unless you disconnect the drive shaft, you will put unwanted wear on the drive train. If you're going further than a few miles, a trailer is better.

That all depends on the type of straps you use. Stronger straps can be longer, but weaker ones need to be shorter to prevent breaking.

Technically a Kia Sorento, having a towing capacity between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds, could tow a Kia Soul, weighing 2,884 to 3,232 pounds. But it is almost definitely not a good idea, unless the Soul is sitting on a trailer that is equipped to handle it and is connected to the Sorento properly.

The U-oint of an automatic car does not have to be removed to tow it. If the cars keys are turned to the on position with engine off, you can shift the transmission into neutral to pull it. The only time the U-joint is taken off is if the keys cannot be reached; in that case, remove the U-joint at the rear differential (rear-wheel drive). Use wire to hold up the drive shaft so it doesn't contact the rear diff while being towed.

Call your local authorities and see if it is legal in your area. The police are more then happy to tell you if you can or cannot do something.

If you measure half the width of the bumper, then that should be about how far you want it from the towing car.

A bus can tow a little car if it has a hitch or some other way to hook to the car.

You put the back wheels on the dolly as you usually would. Then you have to lock the steering wheel so it tracks in a straight line.

The cost of towing varies, based on factors like distance, vehicle size, and additional services, with base fees typically ranging from $35 to $100 and per-mile rates between $2 and $7. To save money, consider roadside assistance memberships, which often include towing, compare prices between towing companies in advance, and opt for towing during off-peak hours if possible. Be sure to park your vehicle legally and safely to avoid unnecessary tows.