Is my car flat towable? Check the exact vehicle

Find the recreational-towing instructions for the exact model year, drivetrain and equipment. Use an explicit four-wheels-down approval and its complete preparation procedure. A transmission label or a similar owner’s experience does not establish eligibility for your vehicle; confirm any transfer-case preparation separately.

A specific approval: 2026 Maverick HEV

Ford’s 2026 Maverick Hybrid Electric Vehicle manual allows four wheels on the ground with Neutral Tow enabled, forward-facing travel, the parking brake released and speed no higher than 70 mph. It also describes battery and restart requirements.

Requirements from that specific Ford manual
RequirementTrip consequence
70 mph maximumA higher posted road limit does not raise it
Start at each day’s beginning and every six hours or fewerPlan the specified restart procedure into the day
Battery power needed for Neutral TowVerify battery condition and the prescribed power arrangement
Add-on towing brakeFord specifies an external 12-volt battery power source for the tow

For an assumed 8 a.m. start, six hours later is 2 p.m. That is the latest interval under a six-hour requirement, not permission to skip the manual’s procedure during shorter stops. Follow the ignition-specific instructions and current manual for the actual vehicle.

Read preparation and return-to-driving steps together

The same Ford section gives a three-minute powered-on period after re-enabling Neutral Tow before continuing. It also specifies a 15-minute wait with doors closed and no interaction before starting the engine after its Neutral Tow-off sequence. These details make an abbreviated “put it in neutral” instruction inadequate.

Confirm eligibility before buying hardwareMatch year, drivetrain and equipment to the correct manualThen: Read towing approval and every preparation/operating conditionThen: Confirm return-to-driving steps and compatible installed equipmentConfirm eligibility before buying hardwareMatch year, drivetrain and equipment to the correct manualRead towing approval and every preparation/operating conditionConfirm return-to-driving steps and compatible installed equipment

Do not turn a feature into a universal rule

A manual gearbox is not automatic approval. An electronic parking brake is not automatic rejection. Different vehicles can have different lubrication, steering, parking-brake and battery behavior, even with a similar drivetrain name.

If approval or a required step is unclear, obtain vehicle-specific clarification from the manufacturer before towing. An aftermarket lubrication pump or driveline modification needs its own documented application and limitations; do not assume it preserves factory approval or warranty coverage.

Once eligibility is established, match the baseplate and tow bar, braking and lighting to that same vehicle. The availability of a baseplate is an equipment-fit fact, not a substitute for approval.