Roadside Assistance -> Instructions for Transporters for Your Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

Instructions for Transporters  
dollies. With this method, Tesla recommends the vehicle  
facing forward so that the front wheels are lifted and the  
rear wheels are on dollies.  
DO NOT TRANSPORT WITH  
WHEELS ON THE GROUND  
The motors in Model Y generate power when the wheels  
spin. Always transport Model Y with all four tires off the  
ground. Ensure that the tires are unable to spin at any  
time during transport.  
WARNING: NEVER TRANSPORT YOUR VEHICLE  
WITH THE TIRES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY  
CAN SPIN. DOING SO CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT  
DAMAGE AND OVERHEATING. IN RARE CASES  
EXTREME OVERHEATING MAY CAUSE THE  
SURROUNDING COMPONENTS TO IGNITE.  
CAUTION: Enable Transport Mode (see Activate  
Transport Mode on page 223) before winching Model  
Y onto a flatbed truck (see Pull Onto Flatbed Truck  
From Rear on page 224). If Transport Mode is not  
available or the touchscreen is not accessible, self-  
loading dollies or tire skates must be used to load  
the vehicle into the approved transportation  
position. Tesla is not responsible for any damage  
caused by or during the transport of Model Y,  
including personal property damage or damage  
caused by using self-loading dollies or tire skates.  
NOTE: Transport Mode is only intended to allow for  
winching Model Y onto a flatbed truck or repositioning  
the vehicle out of a parking space. While in Transport  
Mode, the tires are allowed to rotate slowly (under 3  
mph or 5 km/h) and for a very short distance (less than  
30 feet or 10 meters). See Activate Transport Mode on  
page 223. Exceeding these boundaries can lead to  
significant damage and overheating that is not covered  
by the warranty.  
Do not transport Model Y using any method that is not  
specified by Tesla. Adhere to the instructions provided in  
the following sections and observe all warnings and  
cautions provided. Damage caused by improper  
transporting of your vehicle is not covered by the  
warranty.  
WARNING: Model Y is equipped with high voltage  
components that may be compromised as a result  
of a collision (see High Voltage Components on  
page 165). Before transporting Model Y, it is  
important to assume these components are  
energized. Always follow high voltage safety  
precautions (wearing personal protection  
equipment, etc.) until emergency response  
professionals have evaluated the vehicle and can  
accurately confirm that all high voltage systems  
are no longer energized. Failure to do so may  
result in serious injury.  
NOTE: Tesla is not liable or responsible for reimbursing  
services not dispatched through Tesla Roadside  
Assistance.  
Approved Methods for Transporting  
A flatbed truck or comparable transport vehicle is the  
recommended method of transporting Model Y. The  
vehicle can face either direction when using a flatbed.  
Activate Transport Mode  
Transport Mode keeps the parking brake disengaged  
while winching Model Y onto a flatbed truck. When  
active, Transport Mode displays a message indicating  
that the vehicle will remain free-rolling. To enable  
Transport Mode:  
• Low voltage power is required. You will be unable to  
use the touchscreen to activate Transport Mode if  
Model Y has no power.  
If Model Y must be transported without a flatbed truck,  
then wheel lifts and dollies must be used to ensure that  
all four wheels are off of the ground. This method may  
only be used for a maximum of 35 miles (55 km), and  
must not exceed the manufacturer speed rating of the  
• Model Y must detect a key. Transport Mode is  
available only when a key is detected.  
To activate Transport Mode:  
Roadside Assistance  
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Instructions for Transporters  
1. Ensure Model Y is in Park.  
2. Chock the tires or make sure Model Y is secure.  
3. Press and hold the brake pedal, then on the  
touchscreen, touch Controls > Service > Towing. The  
touchscreen displays a message reminding you how  
to properly transport Model Y.  
4. Press and hold the Transport Mode button until it  
turns blue. Model Y is now free-rolling and can slowly  
be rolled (no faster than walking speed) or winched.  
To cancel Transport Mode, shift Model Y into Park.  
NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with a lead-acid low  
voltage battery (see Jump Starting on page 227):  
Transport Mode may cancel if Model Y loses low voltage  
power after Transport Mode is enabled.  
3. Fully insert the tow eye into the opening, then turn it  
counter-clockwise until securely fastened.  
CAUTION: If the electrical system is not working,  
and you therefore cannot use the touchscreen to  
activate Transport Mode, use self-loading dollies or  
tire skates. Before doing so, always check the  
manufacturer's specifications and recommended  
loading capacity.  
Pull Onto Flatbed Truck From Front  
NOTE: If Model Y has no low voltage power, you need an  
external low voltage power supply to open the hood or  
use the touchscreen.  
CAUTION: To avoid damage, only pull the vehicle  
onto a flatbed truck using a properly-installed tow  
eye. Using the chassis, frame, or suspension  
components to pull the vehicle can result in  
damage.  
4. Attach the winch cable to the tow eye.  
CAUTION: Before pulling, make sure the tow  
eye is securely tightened.  
1. Locate the tow eye. The tow eye is located in the  
front trunk.  
5. Activate Transport Mode.  
6. Pull Model Y slowly onto the flatbed truck.  
Pull Onto Flatbed Truck From Rear  
NOTE: If Model Y has no low voltage power, you need an  
external low voltage power supply to open the hood or  
use the touchscreen.  
CAUTION: To avoid damage, only pull the vehicle  
onto a flatbed truck using a properly-installed tow  
eye. Using the chassis, frame, or suspension  
components to pull the vehicle can result in  
damage.  
1. Locate the tow eye. The tow eye is located in the  
front trunk.  
2. Release the front tow eye cover by pressing firmly on  
its top right perimeter until it pivots inward, then  
gently pulling the raised section toward you.  
NOTE: The front tow eye cover is connected to the  
vehicle's black negative (-) terminal.  
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MODEL Y Owner's Manual  
   
Instructions for Transporters  
CAUTION: Before pulling, make sure the tow  
eye is securely tightened.  
5. Activate Transport Mode.  
6. Pull Model Y slowly onto the flatbed truck.  
Secure the Tires  
The vehicle's tires must be secured onto the truck using  
the eight-point tie-down method:  
• Ensure any metal parts on the tie-down straps do not  
contact painted surfaces or the face of the wheels.  
• Do not place tie-down straps over the body panels or  
through the wheels.  
2. Release the rear tow eye cover by pressing firmly on  
its top right perimeter until it pivots inward, then  
gently pulling the raised section toward you.  
CAUTION: Attaching the tie-down straps to the  
chassis, suspension or other parts of the vehicle's  
body may cause damage.  
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with a hitch receiver cannot  
be pulled from the rear tow eye. Use the tow bar or  
hitch receiver only to pull the vehicle to a safe  
location, such as onto a flatbed truck. Do not  
transport the vehicle with wheels on the ground.  
If Vehicle Has No Power  
If Model Y has no low voltage power, perform the  
following steps to open the hood or jump start the low  
voltage battery.  
3. Fully insert the tow eye into the opening, then turn it  
counter-clockwise until securely fastened.  
1. Open the hood. See Opening Hood with No Power on  
page 21 for more information on opening the hood if  
the vehicle does not have power.  
2. Jump start the low voltage battery (see Jump  
Starting on page 227).  
NOTE: Tow providers: See Running Out of Range on  
page 226 for more information on transporting the  
vehicle to a charging station and preparing the vehicle  
to charge.  
CAUTION: Because the windows automatically  
lower slightly when you open or close a door,  
always connect to an external, low voltage power  
supply before opening a door if the vehicle has no  
power to avoid breaking a window (see Jump  
Starting on page 227).  
4. Attach the winch cable to the tow eye.  
Roadside Assistance  
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