Out of charge on the road: EV towing, roadside help and coverage

If an electric vehicle runs out of charge, the usual rescue is a flatbed tow to the nearest charger or dealer, because most EVs cannot safely be dragged on their wheels. Whether anything pays for that tow depends on which of three sources you have: an optional towing and labor or roadside endorsement on your auto policy, an auto club membership, or the manufacturer's own roadside program, which typically runs for the first few years. Each draws its own line around what counts as a covered breakdown, and each caps distance or dollars.

Do not assume an empty battery is covered just because a dead gas tank or a dead 12-volt battery would be. Some programs say so explicitly, and others are silent. The only reliable way to know is to read the terms before you need them.

Why an EV usually needs a flatbed

A gas car in neutral can be towed with two wheels on the ground because the engine is disconnected from the wheels. An electric car's motor is typically connected to the drive wheels all the time, and most EVs lack a true neutral. AAA's electric vehicle roadside guidance puts it plainly: EVs generally need flatbed towing because moving the wheels can turn the motor and damage it (AAA).

The National Transportation Safety Board's January 2021 report on high-voltage battery fires, as summarized by trade press, cites SAE J2990 recommendations to tow damaged electric vehicles on a flatbed so that turning wheels do not generate voltage, and to keep speed under 5 mph if the wheels must turn (Repairer Driven News). That guidance concerns damaged vehicles, but the same physical concern underlies the flatbed rule for a car that is merely flat.

What this means in practice:

• Dispatch has to know the car is electric. A standard wheel-lift truck may arrive otherwise. Say "electric vehicle, flatbed only" when you call.
• Dollies are not a safe default. They lift one axle only. On an all-wheel-drive EV the other axle's motor is still connected to the road, and even on a single-motor car the manufacturer may prohibit it.
• Tow or transport mode is for loading, not towing. Many EVs have a setting that frees the wheels for a short move onto a truck. It is not a license to drag the car down the highway.
• The owner's manual is the authority. It states whether the maker allows any tow other than flatbed. Keep a copy of the towing page on your phone.

A flatbed is a more specialized truck than a hook-and-chain. In rural areas the nearest one may be an hour away, which affects both wait time and price.

"Breakdown" versus "ran out of energy"

Roadside programs are written around a covered event, usually called a disablement or breakdown. For a gasoline car, running out of fuel has long been treated as a service call in many programs. The International Risk Management Institute (IRMI)'s definition describes roadside assistance as help when a vehicle becomes disabled or stranded, with typical services of towing, jump-starts, tire changes, lockout help and fuel delivery, and it notes that coverage generally excludes major repairs, replacement parts, tires, batteries and the fuel itself (IRMI).

Translate that to an EV and three questions come up:

1. Is "out of charge" a covered disablement? Some manufacturers answer explicitly. Ford's roadside program says it will take an out-of-charge EV to the nearest public charger, the owner's home, or a preferred Ford dealer within 50 miles of the breakdown (Ford). An insurance endorsement may or may not say. If the words "fuel delivery" appear and nothing about charging, ask in writing whether an empty battery qualifies.
2. Does the program pay for the energy itself? Nearly all do not. The tow or the delivery is the service; the electricity is not. That mirrors fuel delivery, where the fuel is billed to you.
3. Does a dead 12-volt battery count differently? Yes, in most programs. A jump-start for the small accessory battery is a standard roadside service, and an EV that will not "wake" is often a 12-volt problem, not a main-pack problem. Ask whether the mobile service can handle it.

The wording in your policy or membership agreement controls. When one company's description of a service differs from another's, the contract you hold is the one that matters.

Three sources of help

The policy endorsement

Towing and labor coverage on a personal auto policy is typically a modest dollar limit per disablement. Amica, for example, sells a tier with a $100 limit per covered disablement and a higher tier with a $300 limit, which also includes up to 100 miles of customer-choice towing, winching within 20 feet of the road, and labor covered only if performed at the scene, such as jump starts, tire changes, lockout service and fuel delivery; repairs at a shop and the cost of parts are not covered (Amica). Nationwide describes towing and labor as optional coverage that reimburses a tow from where the vehicle stopped and requires comprehensive coverage on the policy, with limits that depend on the individual policy, and it says roadside assistance may have replaced the older towing and labor coverage on some policies (Nationwide). These are two examples of how limits are built; other insurers differ, and so do state forms.

The cap matters more with an EV than with a gas car. A flatbed tow of 30 or 40 miles can cost more than a $100 limit, and you will make up the difference.

The auto club

Auto clubs sell membership with a set tow distance included. AAA's EV page says the club offers mobile EV charging in 15 cities, at no extra cost to members, and that for other cases most companies will tow the vehicle to the nearest charging station or dealership, which it calls less than ideal for getting back on the road quickly (AAA). The page does not give a tow distance limit, so check your membership level; clubs often have tiers with different tow mileages. Our guide on roadside assistance coverage vs auto club membership compares the club route with the insurer route, and Do membership dues pay off? AAA, Farm Bureau and other clubs looks at whether the dues are worth it.

The manufacturer

New-vehicle roadside programs are included in the first years. Ford's runs for the first 5 years or 60,000 miles from the warranty start date, and people outside that window can use the service for a per-service fee (Ford, as of November 2026). Recurrent, an EV data company, reported that Audi will dispatch a mobile charging vehicle when a station is within 10 miles and tow up to 100 miles when none is, that Hyundai tows to the nearest dealership or charging point, and that Tesla charges extra for dead-battery help (Recurrent). Programs change, so treat any such summary as a pointer and confirm in your owner materials. Mileage caps, the term of coverage and whether you have to use the manufacturer's service number all vary.

Mobile charging trucks

A mobile charging truck delivers a short burst of energy so the car can reach a charger under its own power. It saves a tow when it works, and it is not a full charge.

• Who offers it. Auto clubs and some manufacturers offer it in specific markets. AAA says 15 cities have it as of its EV roadside page. Independent companies operate in some metropolitan areas. Availability is patchy, so do not plan around it as a sure thing.
• How to get it. Ask for it by name when you call. Dispatchers often default to a tow.
• Limits. The truck may be able to deliver only a modest amount, enough for a few miles or a dozen. If your nearest charger is farther than that, the dispatcher may still send a flatbed.
• Who pays. Under a club membership it may be included, as AAA says it is. Under an insurer's endorsement, check that mobile charging is a listed service. Independent trucks are typically paid by you directly, and you may be able to file for reimbursement only if your policy covers it.

Towing to a charger versus towing to a shop

The destination changes the bill and the plan.

• To a charger. The right choice when the car is simply empty. Choose a fast charger on the route home if one is near, but confirm the connector type and that it is working before the truck leaves. A tow to a charger that is broken or has the wrong plug costs you another trip. Programs like Ford's name the nearest public charger as a destination.
• To a dealer. The default when the cause is unclear. A car that will not charge or will not start may have a fault, not a flat pack. A dealer has the tools to tell, and a manufacturer's program often prefers it.
• To home. Some programs let you choose home, which is useful if you have a charger there. Check whether distance limits count from the breakdown or from the destination.
• Past the limit. If the destination is beyond the included distance, you pay the per-mile rate for the extra miles. Ask the dispatcher for the total before you agree.

The wrong destination is an easy mistake under stress. Write down the address of your preferred charger and your preferred dealer while you are calm.

After a collision: a different kind of tow

Everything above assumes a car that is flat but undamaged. After a crash the situation is different, and so is who pays.

• The tow after a crash is usually part of the claim. Under collision coverage the reasonable cost of towing a damaged vehicle from the scene is normally paid as part of the loss, rather than from a roadside add-on. Our article on towing and storage fees after a crash: who pays, how to stop the meter explains who pays and how to stop storage fees from growing.
• Damaged packs need care. The NTSB report found that damaged lithium-ion batteries can reignite, in some cases after the fire appears out, with documented cases of a vehicle re-igniting while being loaded onto a tow truck and again at a tow yard. SAE J2990 recommends storing a damaged EV at least 50 feet from combustibles and structures on all sides, or enclosing it behind a barrier, though the NTSB called the 50-foot guidance impractical in many yards (Repairer Driven News). A tow operator who knows the car is electric may route it to a yard that can accommodate it, which can lengthen the trip and the storage clock.
• Tell everyone it is electric. The 911 dispatcher, the tow operator, the insurer. Our piece on EV fires and insurance: what the data show and how a fire claim works covers the fire side.

If the crash did not damage the car but a fault left it stranded, you are back to the roadside sources above.

A cost comparison, with made-up numbers

These figures are hypothetical, chosen to show how the pieces fit. Say your EV runs flat 38 miles from home on a Sunday and the nearest fast charger is 6 miles ahead. The only flatbed available quotes $4.50 a mile plus a $95 hookup fee.

The most useful result of an exercise like this is not the numbers but the questions: whether an empty battery qualifies, what the distance cap is, whether it is reimbursement or direct service, and how long the cover lasts.

When you are stranded: a short script

Have these steps and phrases ready.

1. Get safe. Pull off the road, turn on hazards, and stay out of the lane. On a highway, wait outside the vehicle behind the guardrail if you can do so safely.
2. Check the basics. Is the screen showing a low-charge warning, or a fault message about the high-voltage system? A fault is not the same as flat.
3. Call the right number first. Start with the maker's roadside line if the car is within the program, since it costs you nothing. Then try the club or your insurer's roadside number.
4. Say the key words. "Electric vehicle, out of charge, flatbed only, I am at this location. Do you offer a mobile charging truck?"
5. Ask the questions that set your bill. What is the destination limit? Is there a charge for distance beyond it? Does this call use up one of my annual service calls?
6. Get a reference number and the driver's name. Photograph the truck and the vehicle at drop-off.
7. Keep the receipt. If the tow is reimbursed under an endorsement, you will need the invoice, the pickup and drop-off addresses and the mileage.

Reducing the odds

• Treat a low-charge warning as a trigger to act, not to see how far you can get. Cold weather, hills and highway speed cut range sharply.
• Plan around reliable fast chargers on long trips and have a backup charger within reach.
• Keep a Level 1 portable charge cable in the car. It will not give you range quickly, but it can turn a friend's garage outlet into a few miles an hour.
• Know your coverage. Look up the roadside terms in your owner materials and your policy declarations, and see our guide to why electric vehicles cost more to insure for what else the policy should cover.

Common questions

Does my auto insurance cover a tow when my EV runs out of charge?

Only if you bought towing and labor or roadside coverage, and only if its terms treat an empty battery as a covered disablement. Basic liability, collision and comprehensive do not cover a no-fault breakdown. Ask your insurer or agent how it handles the situation, and get the answer in writing.

Can I just use a regular tow truck?

Not safely. Most EVs need a flatbed, and the owner's manual says whether any exception exists. A driver who tows an EV with its wheels on the ground can damage the motor or other components, and a manufacturer may decline to pay for damage caused that way.

Is a mobile charging truck faster than a tow?

Sometimes. If one is available nearby, it can have you moving after a short charge. In many areas none is, and a flatbed is the only option. Ask when you call.

Will a roadside call count against me at renewal?

Insurers treat roadside calls differently from claims, and many do not surcharge them. Policies and states differ, though, and some insurers record frequent use. Ask your insurer how it treats roadside use before assuming it is free of consequence.

What if I need a rental while the car is charging or being fixed?

That is a separate coverage. rental reimbursement coverage normally applies after a covered loss, not after a roadside stop.

Key takeaways

• Most EVs need a flatbed tow, so say "electric, flatbed only" when you call and check your owner's manual.
• Whether running out of charge is a covered breakdown depends on the specific roadside program, endorsement or membership; none of them pays for the electricity itself.
• The three sources differ: a policy endorsement usually reimburses up to a dollar cap, a club includes a tow distance, and the maker's program runs for a set number of years or miles.
• Mobile charging trucks are available only in some places, so have a backup plan and know the nearest working fast charger.
• After a crash the tow is part of the claim, and a damaged battery needs to be handled and stored with care.