Can You Tow a BYD Atto 3

Can You Tow a BYD Atto 3? The Flatbed-Only Guide Every Owner Should Read

Yes, you can tow a BYD Atto 3, but only on a flatbed with all four wheels off the ground. The official owner's manual is clear: towing on the front or rear wheels can damage the high-voltage components, and the car must never be pulled with ropes or chains. The correct method is a flatbed, with the car in Neutral and secured by over-the-wheel straps.

Quick-Stats: Atto 3 Towing at a Glance

Measurement What the BYD Atto 3 Owner's Manual States
Approved method Flatbed only, all four wheels off the ground
Rope or chain towing Prohibited
Wheels-down towing Risks high-voltage component damage
Gear for loading Neutral (N)
Tow eye location Tool box under the boot cover flap
Emergency rope-tow limit No more than 5 km/h, short distance only
Rated to tow a trailer No, the manual says do not tow other vehicles
BYD Roadside (Australia) 1800 270 711, 24 hours

Why an EV Cannot Be Towed on Its Wheels?

A petrol car can be towed in neutral on its own wheels. An electric car cannot.

The Atto 3's wheels are permanently linked to its electric motor. Any time the wheels spin, the motor spins too, and a spinning motor feeds uncontrolled voltage back into the system.

  • This is the same principle behind the way your Atto 3 recovers energy through its electric motor, except nothing is managing it.
  • The manual instructs owners to keep all four wheels off the ground when the car is moved.
  • It warns that towing on the front or rear wheels alone may damage the high-voltage components.

The Damage Wheels-Down Towing Causes

Drag the Atto 3 on its wheels and you force the motor to generate power with nothing controlling where it goes.

  • Voltage can be pushed into the inverter and power electronics from the wrong direction.
  • The motor, inverter, or wider high-voltage circuit can be damaged.
  • These are the most expensive parts in the car, far beyond a routine visit. See our breakdown of what scheduled BYD servicing actually costs in Australia.

How to Request a Flatbed Through BYD Roadside?

If your Atto 3 will not drive, do not let any operator hook it up by the wheels. Call BYD Roadside and confirm a flatbed is being sent.

BYD Roadside Assistance (Australia): 1800 270 711, available 24 hours. Have ready:

  • Your location
  • Your VIN or registration
  • A short description of the fault
  • Confirmation that the car cannot be driven

New Zealand owners should use the roadside number printed in their BYD warranty handbook.

Preparing Your Atto 3 for Flatbed Loading

The operator winches the car up the ramp using the supplied tow eye. Only this tow eye should take the load.

  • Find it: the tow eye is in the tool box under the boot cover flap, with the warning triangle and reflective vest.
  • Open the cover: gently pry open the tow eye cover on the bumper with a flat tool such as a cross screwdriver.
  • Fit the eye: screw the tow eye firmly into the threaded opening.
  • Secure on the bed: the operator uses professional straps with the over-the-wheel method. Straps must never run through the wheels or be tied to the chassis or suspension.

Neutral, Not a "Transport Mode"

You may have read that the Atto 3 has a separate "transport mode" you switch on before towing. The owner's manual does not describe one.

The step that matters is putting the car into Neutral so the wheels roll freely while it is winched on.

What If Only a Dolly Truck Turns Up?

A tow truck that lifts only two wheels leaves the others turning on the road. That breaks the manual's rule and is not a safe substitute for a flatbed.

The manual allows one narrow exception, only to move the car out of immediate danger:

  • Car in Neutral, with steering and brakes working normally
  • A driver seated inside to steer and brake, no other passengers
  • Speed no more than 5 km/h, over a short distance only
  • No rope or chain, no jerking, hazard lights on both vehicles

Once clear of danger, stop and wait for the flatbed.

Can the Atto 3 Tow a Trailer?

This is where the web and the manual disagree, so we went to the source.

  • The manual states the Atto 3 is designed to carry passengers and should not be used to tow other vehicles.
  • It notes that towing harms the car's maneuverability.
  • So BYD does not rate the Atto 3 for trailer towing in its official documentation, whatever figures appear on forums or third-party sites.

If you need to tow a caravan or boat, the Atto 3 is not the right tool.

Insurance and Warranty Implications

If a rope tow or dolly damages the high-voltage system, that damage may not be covered.

  • The BYD warranty terms disclaim indirect and incidental losses.
  • Repairs done incorrectly or by non-authorised parties can affect coverage.
  • Always use the flatbed method and an authorised provider, and keep the roadside callout records.

This is general information rather than formal legal or insurance advice, so check your own policy and warranty handbook for the detail that applies to you.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

  • Accepting a rope or chain tow. The manual prohibits it outright.
  • Letting a wheel-lift truck take it. Two wheels on the road still spins the motor.
  • Forgetting Neutral. The car will not roll freely onto the bed otherwise.
  • Using the wrong anchor point. Only the supplied tow eye should take the winch load.
  • Assuming it can tow a trailer. The manual says it is not designed to.
How to tow a BYD Atto 3 safely
Back to blog