Does towing a car with electronic handbrake engaged cause any issues?
3 Answers
Not necessarily. Some vehicles only apply the handbrake to the front or rear wheels, so lifting the braked wheels during towing won't cause problems. However, some cars engage all four wheels, which requires using a full-lift tow truck. Here are the details: Front-wheel drive vehicles: Generally, the braking system acts on the front two wheels. During towing, these wheels are lifted off the ground, so there's no issue with dragging. Rear-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles: For rear-wheel or all-wheel drive cars, towing will definitely affect the braking system and requires special attention.
As someone who frequently handles tow truck rescues, I've seen many cases where cars with electronic parking brakes were towed forcefully, resulting in transmission failure. If the electronic parking brake isn't released during towing, the rear wheels will lock up, and the entire drivetrain will be dragged along. This is especially damaging for rear-wheel-drive vehicles, which can quickly damage the differential, and even worse for four-wheel-drive vehicles, where all the drive shafts are under strain. Most modern cars have a towing mode, which is clearly explained in the manual: after turning off the engine, press the brake, shift to neutral (N), and then hold a specific button for 5 seconds until the towing icon lights up on the dashboard. Some cars even require quirky operations like pressing the accelerator twice before braking—skipping these steps makes the process ineffective. If an automatic transmission car is towed without fully releasing the parking brake, the cost of repairing the transmission could cover three years' worth of insurance premiums.
My friend just ruined his Cayenne last month by towing it incorrectly, all because he didn't know electronic parking brakes require special procedures. This thing is completely different from traditional mechanical handbrakes - you think putting it in neutral is enough? How naive! Electronic parking brakes use motors to lock the rear calipers, and they won't release without following the manufacturer's specific steps. The worst part is some German cars require diagnostic computers to deactivate the system - completely impossible for regular folks. Manual transmissions are simpler: neutral gear + release handbrake allows towing, but AWD vehicles still need flatbed tow trucks. Always check the owner's manual before towing, or call the dealership if unsure - never gamble with this. After connecting the tow hook, remember to get in and turn the steering wheel to check if the steering lock is engaged. These small details make the towing process much safer.
