Hey, i just have some general questions about being towed. Firstly, MINI recommends only using flatbeds, if my car gets towed and is damaged in the process, who's liable? Also, are there any tips or tricks to avoid being towed (aside from parking legally) I'm asking because my girlfriend lives in a complex where visitors parking is ALWAYS full, whereas resident parking is usually empty. I'm probably just going to see about buying a parking pass for myself because I'm here often enough, but in the mean time i was curious in finding out some anti-towing techniques. What happens if i leave my car in 1st and crank that E-brake as high as i can?

 

If they really want to tow your car they will, any car can be towed no matter what you do with the transmission or steering wheel. You could take all four wheels off and they will still be able to tow it, they just jack it up, put it on those mini wheels, and off they go...

 

Never hurts to try and avoid it, maybe you'll just end up with a ticket. Pull in forwards, crank the tires all the way to the left and lock the wheel after you pull the key out. If they can do it at least you'll have made them earn it.

 

What seems a lifetime ago I drove wreckers. I've done repossessions, illegally parked cars, police tows and everything else. There is NOTHING that you can do to prevent your car from being towed short of blocking it in with 4 or 5 other cars and even then that might not be enough. I once repossessed a car with a HUGE Rotty chained to the driver's side door. I simply towed the car at a very low speed for a few blocks as animal control was on the way to meet me to get the dog.

If you crank your wheels hard in one direction, put the car in gear and set the hand brake, all you are doing is adding a dolly fee (right now that is about $75 extra around here) to your bill. In short, park legally or not at all. It's cheaper in the long run and a lot less hassle.


If your car breaks down and must be towed, a rollback can do as much, if not more damage than a conventional wheel-lift wrecker if the driver is inexperienced. If you do have to have it towed, make the driver note all existing damage in writing (preferably on a carbon copy type receipt) before he touches your car. Make sure that both of you look at your CV boots and note their condition. Some flatbed drivers hook to the lower control arms on the front, which is normally not a problem but, the "J" hooks, when placed under tension to pull the car up on the rollback, can stand up and bind the CV boot thus ripping it to shreds or twisting it until it tears.

If they send a wheel-lift wrecker, make sure that they tow your car with the front in the air and make sure that there is plenty of clearance between the wheel lift crossbar and the oil pan of your car.

 

Good infor Warped, I will be keeping the cv boot info in mind.

 

My Mini's steering wheel doesn't lock.

 

Quick word of advice: Does your girlfriend have a parking pass? If so or if not, get her (if she lives there) to go get a 1st or 2nd parking pass. Maybe say something like she has someone staying with her for a couple of months and the guest spots are always full.

If she pays the rent, she has a much better chance of getting a second pass.

Or maybe that she got a second car!

 

In some states, such as the one where I live, it is illegal to tow a car with front wheel drive on anything other than a flat bed.

Check your local ordinances with regard to motor vehicle towing. This may be a moot question.

 

They deleted the steering lock sometime earlier this year.