Tip #80: A Mercedes-AMG or other low-clearance car needs the dispatcher to know about ride height and 4MATIC
Many Mercedes-AMG models are all-wheel drive and sit low at the front. Tell the dispatcher the exact model, whether it says 4MATIC, and whether it has any lowering or front lip, and expect a flatbed.
Tip #80 in one line
Many Mercedes-AMG models are all-wheel drive and sit low at the front. Tell the dispatcher the exact model, whether it says 4MATIC, and whether it has any lowering or front lip, and expect a flatbed.
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Call nowTwo questions decide the truck
Is the car all-wheel drive, and how low is it? Mercedes-Benz calls its all-wheel drive 4MATIC, and many AMG models carry it. Look at the badge on the trunk or the model name in your paperwork, or check the owner's manual. If it is 4MATIC, the car should ride on a flatbed with all four wheels off the ground.
Then ride height. AMG models often have larger wheels, low-profile tires, deep front bumpers and sometimes adjustable suspension. Tell the dispatcher about anything that brings the front closer to the ground, including aftermarket parts, so the driver plans the loading angle before the winch moves.
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Call nowWhen the car has no power
Many modern Mercedes models use an electronic shifter and an electric parking brake. With a dead battery, getting the car into neutral may need power first or a procedure from the owner's manual. Do not force anything. Tell the dispatcher the car is dark when you call (908) 444-0129, and the tech comes ready. Sometimes a jump start is all it takes to wake the car up enough to load it, or to drive it home.
If the car has adjustable suspension and it still has power, ask the manual how to raise it before loading. If it has no power, say so; the driver will load around it.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowThe quote and the destination
The price is given before the truck rolls: a flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate to the destination you choose. That can be a Mercedes dealer, an independent specialist, a body shop or home. There are no night, weekend or holiday surcharges.
Before loading, take photos of the wheels and the front bumper. Low cars collect curb marks, and photos taken before the tow settle any later question about when they appeared. For more on low cars and flatbeds, read the flatbed towing guide.
Some owners worry about the straps. On a flatbed, a car is secured at the wheels with straps around the tires or with wheel nets, so the suspension and bodywork are not part of the tie-down. If you have a question about how your car will be secured, ask the driver before the winch starts. A good operator will show you.
If the car has a warning on the dashboard that has not been there before, take a photo of it. The dealer or your shop will want to know exactly what it said, and it often disappears once the car loses power.
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Call nowMore on vehicle types
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- EV towing in New Jersey: what electric car owners need to know
- Motorcycle towing done right: what riders should expect
- Tip #26: An all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive car belongs on a flatbed
- Tip #27: Never let anyone tow an electric car with its drive wheels on the ground
- Tip #28: Tell the dispatcher your car sits low before the truck is sent
- Tip #29: Know where your motorcycle can be strapped before it needs a tow
- Tip #30: Your car may be all-wheel drive even if it does not look like it
- Tip #31: Close and latch a convertible top before the car is towed
- All posts
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