We’ve all locked our keys in the car at some point or another and it can be enough to ruin your day. Locking your keys in the car and having a flat tyre or dead battery? What a mess!
This type of scenario can be frustrating but the good news is, it doesn’t have to be as much of an ordeal as you might think. First off, our friendly drivers can help you unlock your car to get to your keys – no need to even have it loaded onto a truck. If you just need access to your car and a jump start, we can help you out with that too without having to move the vehicle.
On the other hand, if it needs a more serious fix and you don’t have your keys, this is where the tow truck gets involved. Whether or not you can move it is a question we get asked often so let’s look at the details.
Yes, it’s physically possible to tow your vehicle without car keys. Here’s how.
In most cases, loading a car onto a tow truck without the keys is a very simple job when you’re using the right equipment–just like cars getting towed for illegal parking on the street!
Tow dollies are the primary way we’ll position a vehicle to get it safely loaded onto the truck. They allow us to lift the cars tyres off the ground and manoeuvre it around without any risk of damaging your drivetrain.
They’re essentially a small set of wheels that go under your tyres. This way, even if it’s in Park with the handbrake on your car can be pushed, pulled and turned to exactly where we need it for safe loading onto the tow truck.
Situations where you cannot arrange for this type of towing service
While moving a car without the keys is physically possible, there are a couple of situations where moving it may not be allowed.
You’re not the owner or authorised person
When authorising any towing job, there’s paperwork that will need to be filled out prior to loading the vehicle up. Among other things, this paperwork confirms that you’re authorised to have it towed in the first place.
If you sign this paperwork, have the vehicle towed and it turns out you didn’t have a legal right to have this done, there are serious repercussions involved.
The are not authorised to move your vehicle, even if you are the owner
As an example, if your car has been towed for illegal parking or impounded by the police, you won’t be authorised to have it towed. The same applies to situations where you may have outstanding fees owing, like having it towed from your mechanic without permission.
In any kind of abnormal situation like this, always check that you’re authorised to have it towed before calling an operator! If you’re unsure, give the WeTow team a call and we can help you find the right answers.
A job that’s best left to the professionals
When you don’t have the keys, equipment and experience, DIY towing can be a risky move. Since your drive wheels are likely in Park or in gear and the handbrake on, you risk damage your drivetrain and tyres.
Even if you ‘only’ need to drag the car a couple of meters, this can be enough to cause some costly damage to your transmission. Much more than the cost of a professional tow truck service. While there are times where towing your own vehicle can make sense, this is just not one of them. Give our friendly team and call and leave it to the pros!
When to contact a towing operator to get that vehicle moved
If you’ve just locked your keys in the car, we can help you get access to your car again without a tow truck. As mentioned above, we can also help you out with minor things like a jump start if that’s all you need to get back on the road safely.
On the other hand, there are a few instances where it’s simply time to get a truck on the way.
You’ve lost your keys and don’t have a spare
If you’ve completely lost your keys, there’s no quick fix for this one. A dealership will be able to set you up with a new set but this often takes weeks to arrange. While you wait, you can have your car towed to your house rather than leaving it in a public car park somewhere.
You’re broken down and your keys are locked inside
This one happens more often than you might think. You’ve had a breakdown, call for help the go for a walk to the servo for a drink while help is on the way. . . then realise you left the keys in the car before you locked it.
Getting the keys back out is simple enough, but if the car also needs a mechanic, you’re going to need a tow truck.
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Overall, moving your car without the keys is a simple task for a professional towing operator. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, give us a call and we can give you a quote and ETA over the phone.